I work with some immature nurses.

[RN1982]

The other night at work, a couple of the other nurses at work were messing around on facebook, leaving each other rather inappropriate messages....while at work. Well apparently they got called into the office for it and then this morning, one of them confronted me and asked me if I was the one who turned them in. I did not. It just sets such a bad example for the newer nurses, to be honest, these nurses haven't been here on the unit that long. Anyways, it really ticked me off that they assumed it was me who turned them in, I wasn't the only other nurse working that night. I ignored their little immature activity because I was too busy with my own patient to care at that time. If they had acted professionally maybe they wouldn't have gotten into trouble.

[ellakate]

For my own knowledge --

Do these computer/messaging nurses wash their hands after playing on the filthy keyboard?

[sasha2lady]

Been there ! We have an employee complaint hot line...and we all got called in and asked if we called it....it was a complaint about mgmt or something...anyways...the nurse that was with me..thought it was me and told everybody it was me who called in the complaint when it wasnt. That made me soooooooo mad because she was putting that idea in 20 different peoples minds and of course.....its a small place so it got around fast....turns out it was some cnas that did it that ended up quitting within weeks of their call....one of them pretended to be a nurse.

[caliotter3]

you know, i would have immediately added, that, "no, i wish it would have been; but someone else already beat me to it..."

in other words, you're signaling that you not only disapprove of their behavior, but more importantly, that you're not afraid to turn them in either. this sets the tone that you expect professionalism on their part, especially when you're around. further, since it wasn't you that turned them in, the web surfers and time wasters will understand then that more than one person on the unit will report them. this will go a long way into limiting this sort of unprofessional behavior.

i totally agree that this is the best way to handle the situation.

[AOx1]

I completely disagree with behavior such as using cell phones, social networking sites, online shopping, etc at work. I am too busy when on the floor to do things, and on the very rare occasion when I have nothing to do, I ask a coworker if he/she needs help.

I must say however, that I think part of the problem is that most of us don't get real breaks. If we get a break at all, we pee at top speed, inhale food while standing up in the break room or while charting or fielding work phone calls. I think we would see less of this behavior by most people if each nurse was allowed to actually take an hour's worth of uninterrupted break during a twelve hour shift. As an agency nurse, I once worked at a hospital where breaks were always an hour in a twelve hour shift, there was a nurse to cover you that was experienced and trustworthy (this assignment went to the most experienced nurses on the floor and they took admissions the rest of the day), and you were never interrrupted for anything short of a code. I can honestly say it felt like a dream, a very good dream. It was one of the busiest floors that I ever worked, yet my stress level was so much lower. You were not to answer your phone, chart, or do anything on your break other than eat and relax. It made me realize how little respect nurses are given in most facilities. I didn't get to work there for long, as they only needed agency help on that one floor due to two nurses retiring and another two taking maternity leave all at the same time. Otherwise, turnover for that facility was incredibly rare. Gee, I wonder why, lol.