No phones at clinical

[cmonkey]

Bummer, I loaded epocrates, skyscape, etc., on my phone, and because it has a camera (hard to find a phone w/o one), I can't use it in clinicals. I wonder if I taped over it or something... I sure don't want to get a PP or anything after coughing up all the money for books and tuition. Anyone hear the same thing? There must be some kind of workaround. Maybe I'll need the ipod touch after all.

[elkpark]

The nursing programs in which I've taught have had the same policy -- no cell phones at clinical (and not just because of the cameras; because of the phones). And there was no "workaround" -- "no cell phones" meant no cell phones.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Its not uncommon for many areas with highly sensitive material to not allow cell phones. Because of this, you can get Blackberry's with no camera but most other phones you are SOL. And hurry up on the iPod touch, looks like they are getting cameras soon.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Have you considered actually doing the old fashioned way, without the epocrates, skyscape, camera or cell phone? You know like many licensed nurses do, and have done for ages.

You will find many workplaces will also bar anything but their own technology, anyway.

[Selene006, BSN, LPN]

There was never a secure, designated area for students to store their "stuff" at clinical sites. Therefore, I locked my cellphone and valuables in the trunk of my car. Sure, I felt isolated from the world whenever I went to clinical, but the world would go on whether or not I was available to text message. :)

[theconfusedone]

Our school has a strict no personal electronics policy for class and clinical. I'm pretty bummed out because i wanted to use my iPod touch for clinicanls.

[healthstar, BSN, RN]

We are allowed to use cellphones only in our conference room and they can't leave that room.

[Coriander, BSN, RN]

We're encouraged to bring our iTouches to clinicals, but all cellphones must be kept in the locker room. I give my family the floor phone number in case of emergencies.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Have you considered actually doing the old fashioned way, without the epocrates, skyscape, camera or cell phone? You know like many licensed nurses do, and have done for ages.

You will find many workplaces will also bar anything but their own technology, anyway.

Yes lets try to hinder the use of technology. Some people like to use electronic media. Look at class, some type n computers some write it out. Dont go out bashing someone on personal preference on what they want to try.

[Anne36, LPN]

What do you do about your kids? If they get sick or you need to leave clinical do you fail?

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Yes lets try to hinder the use of technology. Some people like to use electronic media. Look at class, some type n computers some write it out. Dont go out bashing someone on personal preference on what they want to try.

No one said that I do not like electronic media...nor that my facility doesn't use it - they use plenty. I did not bash it - I offered a common sense suggestion.

And given that they usually create the policies that many other hospitals follow and currently are considered one of the top teaching hospitals in the world (not just the US, but the world), they must be doing something right. And given that there is this rule in many schools, there seems to be a great deal of acceptance of this.

Part of working there means that we are required to have the knowledge to do our jobs....not reference an itouch, or look up the data. Often there is no time for this. You need to KNOW it and have it memorized.

As an RN, I often have to present cases to the team...consisting of 10-20 people covering all the pts systems, when I have been on the fly trying to keep the pt alive. And if the Attendings saw me fumbling through an offsite piece of technology or I had an off site cell, I would get rightly kicked to the curb. The residents and attendings are generally limited to approved technology and flash drives. That everyone is uniform in their data and formulas, their med/BSA calculations, and you do not have massive violations of HIPAA due to pics taken or data recorded on outside technology.

And as a nurse, you will deal with facilities with varying amounts/types of technology. You will have to learn to adapt to those issues and work with them. Nursing school is trying to accustom you to it. You will have to work within the facility's P&P, not whatever data is loaded on your personal electronic helper. For clinical, you need to be DOING the procedure, not reviewing with your application... and if there are questions, reviewing the hospital's P&P. The Ipod/cp cannot go with you to the bedside.

There is big difference between class and clinical. In class, you are learning and in clinical, you are doing what you should have learned in class.

Ipods/Itouch/CPs are nice little crutches for learning. But in clinical, it's time from you to ditch the crutches. And, really, if you do your job and are working at good facility, you should not need them.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

There is big difference between class and clinical. In class, you are learning and in clinical, you are doing what you should have learned in class.

Ipods/Itouch/CPs are nice little crutches for learning. But in clinical, it's time from you to ditch the crutches. And, really, if you do your job and are working at good facility, you should not need them.

Yeah the difference is a good nurse knows where to look to find information. You simply cannot know everything no matter how much you prep yourself the night before and at some point you know you might just have to look something up. I would be MORE worried if someone claims they know everything and never looks anything up.