No Internet access at work

LydiaNN · May 18, 2005

As is probably evident by the amount of time I spend on allnurses during work hours, we do have internet. We have to log in, but my Internet usage has never been addressed in evals or supervision meetings. I have never let it interfere with getting my work done, and I follow the protocol and don't download games, music, etc.

imenid37 · May 18, 2005

We don't have it at work. In some ways, I'd love to have it BUT we have a lot of people who can't limit their use of the telephone, so God only knows what they would do on the net all day and night! It is a shame when the whole group gets the heat for a few bad apples.

Great idea to add some other approved sites.

PMHNP10 · May 18, 2005

We have it. One of our nurses was looking up the weather, saw a picture of a suspect from a bank robbery that day. Realized it was the same guy as a psych patient we had just triaged in! Called the PD, and they came and arrested the guy...taken to jail after getting cleared.
One of the evil nurses still wrote him up for using the internet for a non work-related purpose though.

Please please tell me the nurse refused to sign it or at the very least wrote the "evil nurse" up for harrassment. Strange, I just got this strong urge to slap someone. :angryfire :angryfire

Nesher, BSN, RN · May 18, 2005

Wow I am sorry to hear you don't have access.

My institution has enormous access - not only the internet, but also UW library access so we can research anything we need - there is so much I am not even aware of all the different types of sites embedded into the system.

This type of access is neccesary to provide the most up to date care for your patients as well as allow you to provide educational tools for the patients and their families. It is also needed to keep you up top to date.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · May 18, 2005

At my hospital, we are not allowed internet access. The computers are on line, but everything except the American Heart Association is blocked. There never has been access, so it's not that it was taken away for misuse. A lot of us feel that access to the internet would be well used for researching diagnoses, treatments, pt education, etc... We ask and ask and get no answer. We can't even e-mail our manager from work. I'm wondering how many of you have access, how is it used, how often is it used, how is it monitored? Do you feel that having access enhances your ability to care for patients? The only other reference material we have are some old books donated (not provided by the hospital) by doctors and some of us.
Responses would be well appreciated!!

I BELIEVE THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR DRUG AND RARE DISEASE RESEARCH ETC....

IT WILL ALWAYS BE PRONE TO ABUSE BUT CAN BE CONTROLLED SOMEWHAT IF EVERYONE USES A PERSONAL SCREENNAME (ACCESS CODE) THAT WAY YOU CAN PINPOINT WHO IS ABUSING IT OR NOT.

JESSICA

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · May 18, 2005

We have it. One of our nurses was looking up the weather, saw a picture of a suspect from a bank robbery that day. Realized it was the same guy as a psych patient we had just triaged in! Called the PD, and they came and arrested the guy...taken to jail after getting cleared.
One of the evil nurses still wrote him up for using the internet for a non work-related purpose though.

Doesn't that make you feel all warm and fuzzy towards your coworkers? :angryfire

I just can't believe some of the vindictive people out there.

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · May 18, 2005

we have it at work. it is to be use for continuing education and to research medical dx. it has come in handy more than a few times.

talaxandra · May 19, 2005

All the computers on my ward (N=7) are linked to the net. It's invaluable - we frequently have patients coming in with rare and unusual conditions, and I don't know how we'd be able to find out relevant information otherwise. Not to mention keeping up to date with drugs, new procedures, and the wonderland that is all nurses!

I agree with other posters about using it in downtime like other activities, though it is sometimes abused. I think the reason we have viruses is partly because people download inappropriately, but mostly because our antiviral protection, firewalls etc are a joke.

CseMgr1, ASN, RN · May 22, 2005

Doesn't that make you feel all warm and fuzzy towards your coworkers? :angryfire
I just can't believe some of the vindictive people out there.

Damn typical. Once upon a time, I was able to look up procedures on the internet that were not listed on our own company's website. Now I can't even do that anymore, as only the supervisors have been allowed access.

Ah, who cares? I'm leaving as of the 31st, anyway. Let them do the dirty work from now on! :angryfire

palesarah · May 22, 2005

we were given internet access sometime in the last year or so (there was one computer that already had access, now they all do). We don't have to log in with passwords or anything, so usage is not tracked indivually, but I'm sure big brother is watching- some people have been talked to about innapropriate usage. Our managers have also conspicuously posted the hospital policy on internet usage (basically, no personal use on work time) next to each computer.

NurseFirst · May 22, 2005

we were given internet access sometime in the last year or so (there was one computer that already had access, now they all do). We don't have to log in with passwords or anything, so usage is not tracked indivually, but I'm sure big brother is watching- some people have been talked to about innapropriate usage. Our managers have also conspicuously posted the hospital policy on internet usage (basically, no personal use on work time) next to each computer.

I remember reading a book when I was young, which was about getting kids to read. The way they did this was to let the kids read anything -- anything -- (well, maybe not Media...but that wasn't such an issue in those days)--in particular, they started many of them off reading comic books.

What's my point? Well, it seems to me that one of the problems people have talked about (in general) is computer ILLiteracy, especially among health professionals. What better way to get people familiar with computers than have them around, especially if sometimes they use them to be "government work" :)?

Most of the places I've done clinical, it was possible to access the internet. If people abuse it, it should be handled the same way phone abuse is handled. BTW--our public library has computer access, but it's very tight--you can either use word or surf the internet (but not both at the same time.) Can't download anything.

I'm all in favor of computers--but then, I worked in the computer industry for 20 years...

NurseFirst

synkitty · May 22, 2005

we have internet access, i don't know for how long though, they are throwing a fit about games being played. but when there are no patients in the hospital for more than a week (i work in a tiny little town with a very healthy population it seems) and everything is so clean that i am tempted to just throw things around so i have something to do, it's inevitable that we end up on the internet. the internet is invaluable for patient information and research, but on long boring nights you have to do something to keep awake.