nurse locater devices

Pipsqueak, ADN · Aug 30, 2005

Our ID badges are used to allow us to gain entry to the stairways and to allow us to go through staff entrances to the facility. Times are recorded in the system when you swipe your badge, but there is no locator on ours that can tell your exact location in the building. I have never heard of this. What was your employers reason for issuing new badges?

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Aug 30, 2005

We're expecting these within the next year. As far as I'm concerned, they might as well just put a bell around our necks and call it good.

Meow. :stone

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2005

No, we use those badges too. It simply allows access to places and time clocks. There are no microchips in anything to track your movement in the hospital.

Some facilities use a pager system, others use cell phone type devices to ensure quicker contact with their Rn's, but its not to keep track of who's spending to much time in the cafeteria or bathroom im sure.

If their intent was to "keep track" of where you are and how long im sure they would be more than willing to let you know that was what they were doing.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2005

They generally tell you if you are wearing locator badges.

And since most of them have some form of signal transmitter on them, batteries, and the rooms themselves must be set up with something to receive a signal receiver, it generally is obvious whether they can monitor your whereabouts. The locator tags are larger and heavier than an a common ID tag.

misschelei · Aug 30, 2005

I did a travel assignment where they had those. I felt so violated. I took the thing off any time I wasn't doing pt care.

EDValerieRN, ASN, RN · Aug 30, 2005

I wore one yesterday. The ED is doing some sort of "productivity assessment." They tag patients and nurses, and see how many times my tag comes close to the patient tags I guess. They're solid black, and about the same size as my ID, but heavier. They've set up things all across the ED that will monitor which room we are in, how long we are in there, and everywhere else we go. It's anonymous (I think) because they don't write down who has which tag. We just grab 'em out of a box. I'm glad about it, because maybe they'll realize I don't spend all day sitting on my bum in the breakroom, and (believe it or not) I'm actually busy running around.

Val

jmgrn65, RN · Aug 30, 2005

We use a Hil Rom system we have what is called a locater badge it only picks up on the floors, if you enter a patient's room and thier call light was on then it will automatically go off. There is a main station at the USC desk and if they need to talk to a nurse or cna then they can see where they are at and ask. If you go off the floor it doesn't show you, so if you are in the cafe, then they don't know where you are. THis is in place of our old pager system.

sunnyjohn · Aug 30, 2005

A Nurse lo-jack?

:uhoh3:

webbiedebbie · Aug 30, 2005

We use a locater and I never really thought about being paranoid about it. I like them only for the fact that if I need help I know where my coworker is. Especially since there are only 2 of us on the floor.

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Aug 30, 2005

Have seen them, never used one. Here the hunters would figure out some way to use them to track their coon and bear dogs. Since these little gadgets are very pricey, I wonder what makes a facility think they are needed? Love the Lo-jack crack.

Jolie, BSN · Aug 30, 2005

OMG! I thought I had heard it all! I would never consent to wearing one of these devices. What an invasion of privacy. If an employer suspects that a nurse is spending time inappropriately, then address it. Don't put On-Star around everyone's necks!

I'm quite sure the administrators aren't wearing "locators".