At work, I’ve recently been given the opportunity to bring a laptop home to complete work without distractions from others and theoretically cut back on hours.
In theory, this seems like a good idea, but I’m not sure how well this would actually work. If anything, this might resolve in me working even more since I would have access to check up and follow up on things over the weekend and other days I have off. I can see myself checking in frequently too, since I almost always have at least one or two patients I’m worried about.
Your post tells us you already know the correct answer to your question (and I happen to agree with your assessment), so why are we doing this? What need does it fulfill? This forum is full of people who’d be happy to help. We’ve chosen to work in healthcare after all. But you have to want help in order for it to work.
When I created this thread, my goal was to see if maybe being able to do some work from home might overall create a better work schedule and reduce anxiety. I was wondering what the thoughts of others were, and if others have had success in working from home. However, the more I think about it, the more I believe that completing work from home will probably only enhance my anxiety since I'll have access to monitor patients continuously. Knowing myself, I'll probably end up logging in multiple times a day. So you're probably right in that I likely knew the answer to my question even before I asked. I'm off-the-walls at times, but realistically I'm not completely unintelligent either.
Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.
16 hours ago, SilverBells said:
I can see myself checking in frequently too, since I almost always have at least one or two patients I’m worried about.
If you aren't on the clock and directly responsible for the patients in question, isn't that a HIPAA violation? Unless you are directly responsible for the care of a patient you should not be accessing their chart and information. And if you're not on call, or their primary care provider, I don't think you qualify as directly responsible.
I'm also glad to see that you feel that this move may not be in your best interest for finding a good work life balance.
This sounds like something I would do. I worry about work and patients who aren't doing well even on days I am gone. In theory, I'd like to be able to monitor patients, even from afar, with the hopes of preventing anything bad from happening. Unfortunately, it seems that no matter how much I keep an eye on patients, some of them end up declining anyway.
Sweetheart, people are not eternal. We are not meant to live forever, and sometimes it's just time. It doesn't mean that the people who are at work aren't competent, or that you are going to be supernurse and swoop in via computer for the save. If you get in everyone's charts off the clock and away from work, you are also setting yourself up for trouble. You really can't claim a need to know at that point. There are limits to your responsibilities.
I know you form strong attachments to your patients. Honestly, I think you should look for a role where you have "normal" 12-hour shifts with acute care patients who won't be in your life more than a week or two. Just a thought. Your current workload is not healthy to your body or mind.
If you aren't on the clock and directly responsible for the patients in question, isn't that a HIPAA violation? Unless you are directly responsible for the care of a patient you should not be accessing their chart and information. And if you're not on call, or their primary care provider, I don't think you qualify as directly responsible.
I'm also glad to see that you feel that this move may not be in your best interest for finding a good work life balance.
Valid point. Whether or not it could be a HIPAA violation could be a "gray area" as my hours aren't really defined. Although I typically work Monday through Fridays, I technically can be available any day of the week. Because of this, I never "clock in" even when I'm at my workplace. I can see where concern might come in though.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
8 minutes ago, SilverBells said:
Valid point. Whether or not it could be a HIPAA violation could be a "gray area" as my hours aren't really defined. Although I typically work Monday through Fridays, I technically can be available any day of the week. Because of this, I never "clock in" even when I'm at my workplace. I can see where concern might come in though.
It’s not about your hours/clocking in or not, like JBMmom said “Unless you are directly responsible for the care of a patient you should not be accessing their chart and information.” So for instance at 9pm if one of the staff members didn’t call you, you really have no valid reason looking through a patients chart at that time.
Sweetheart, people are not eternal. We are not meant to live forever, and sometimes it's just time. It doesn't mean that the people who are at work aren't competent, or that you are going to be supernurse and swoop in via computer for the save. If you get in everyone's charts off the clock and away from work, you are also setting yourself up for trouble. You really can't claim a need to know at that point. There are limits to your responsibilities.
I know you form strong attachments to your patients. Honestly, I think you should look for a role where you have "normal" 12-hour shifts with acute care patients who won't be in your life more than a week or two. Just a thought. Your current workload is not healthy to your body or mind.
"Swoop in via computer for the save..." ? Sorry, that did make me laugh.
As for the rest of the post, all valid points. As I mentioned in a previous post, I never clock into work even when I'm at the facility, so HIPAA/privacy concerns are a "gray area." With that said, probably better to play it safe and not look if I'm only wanting to make sure someone is doing alright. This gives me a much needed break away from work while ensuring that there's no chance there is no breach of privacy.
I also have been looking at other jobs. Non-management positions. I think I may do better in a position where I focus on my job only and don't feel responsible for everything that happens to every patient. Because as of right now, I blame myself for everything. If I send a patient into the hospital, I blame myself for the patient being ill in the first place and not having caught something sooner. If someone else sends a patient in, I also blame myself, because I start ruminating on any change in condition I may have missed.
FYI: As of right now, I am having technical difficulties logging into any work application other than my work email. In other words, I cannot access any patient charts to do any follow ups, charting, monitoring, etc.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
7 minutes ago, SilverBells said:
FYI: As of right now, I am having technical difficulties logging into any work application other than my work email. In other words, I cannot access any patient charts to do any follow ups, charting, monitoring, etc.
Maybe these technical issues are a blessing.
You should never need to do any “monitoring” in your specific role when you aren’t at work, period. There is no gray area here. None.
You should never need to do any “monitoring” in your specific role when you aren’t at work, period. There is no gray area here. None.
I would say for most positions this would be the case. However, I've been given permission to work from home if needed. My hours aren't clearly defined either, so that makes things a bit tricky, too.
Regardless there is no concern at this point since I'm unable to access the charting system altogether.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
Just now, SilverBells said:
I would say for most positions this would be the case. However, I've been given permission to work from home if needed. My hours aren't clearly defined either, so that makes things a bit tricky, too.
Regardless there is no concern at this point since I'm unable to access the charting system altogether.
No, this isn’t about what time it is that you’re accessing a chart. This is about WHY you’re accessing a chart, and one of the reasons you listed was “monitoring.” Your position does not require any monitoring when you aren’t physically at work, or aren’t being called by staff for a patient need. There is no excuse to open a chart at all just to “monitor” the patient.
No, this isn’t about what time it is that you’re accessing a chart. This is about WHY you’re accessing a chart, and one of the reasons you listed was “monitoring.” Your position does not require any monitoring when you aren’t physically at work, or aren’t being called by staff for a patient need. There is no excuse to open a chart at all just to “monitor” the patient.
I see your point. A lot of it stems from anxiety and making sure I haven't made any mistakes, but you're right that this wouldn't be a good reason to access a patient chart. As far as I know, self-reassurance isn't a valid reason to check in on a patient, and in any other position, this wouldn't be allowed anyway.
This just affirms that it is probably for the best that my at-home access doesn't work.
Valid point. Whether or not it could be a HIPAA violation could be a "gray area" as my hours aren't really defined. Although I typically work Monday through Fridays, I technically can be available any day of the week. Because of this, I never "clock in" even when I'm at my workplace. I can see where concern might come in though.
I don't understand how they got you to accept this job where you are supposed to be available 24/7 and do the workload of several people!
Also to the point of being concerned about your patients and wanting to prevent any decline, you are NOT God! You aren't even a Dr so you can't order meds or tx. Even Dr's don't work 24/7, they usually have colleagues help take call.
As another OP said, we can't live forever. But we can keep people alive much longer, but many are very fragile and may crash at any time and need a tune up in the hospital.
Are you truly management? Because it seems a lot of the work you do is that of a bedside nurse and that should be paid hourly and you deserve OT, not salary. Whichever, I still advise getting another job elsewhere.
SilverBells, BSN
1,108 Posts
When I created this thread, my goal was to see if maybe being able to do some work from home might overall create a better work schedule and reduce anxiety. I was wondering what the thoughts of others were, and if others have had success in working from home. However, the more I think about it, the more I believe that completing work from home will probably only enhance my anxiety since I'll have access to monitor patients continuously. Knowing myself, I'll probably end up logging in multiple times a day. So you're probably right in that I likely knew the answer to my question even before I asked. I'm off-the-walls at times, but realistically I'm not completely unintelligent either.