Patients Calling your Cordless Extension???

lsyorke, RN · Jan 11, 2006

We have one floor that it "trialing" cordless phones(I float). We put our numbers on the patients boards in the room. Reality is that I think I've gotten maybe 1 or 2 calls from a patient. They just don't use the number. The call bell has been the standard for calling a nurse for so long, the patients just don't feel comfortable "calling" the nurse on the phone.

I hate the phones. Once of the big problems is that if you don't answer the phone(say your starting an IV at the time) the few patients that do use it think that you're ignoring them. Our phones don't keep a record of where the call came from, so you can't even determine who called when you were busy. PLUS they are bulky to carry. The "range" of the phone is short at best and there are ALOT of dead spots even within the confines of the floor itself.

I just don't see any advantage over the call bell/beeper system and in some cases alot of disadvantages.

RN-TO-BE · Jan 11, 2006

I work on Medical unit. We also use the cordless telephone and are required to write our numbers on the white board in the room. I very rarely have a patient call me on the phone, they mostly use the call light. I think that I would actually prefer the pt. to use the phones b/c then I would know exactly what they wanted and would not get everything second hand and cause me to make multiple trips down the hall without what the pt. wants. That is just my preference.

SharonH, RN · Jan 11, 2006

They started this on the floor I was working on just before I left 3 years ago. As it has already been stated, the patients rarely call for some reason. But they are comforted in knowing that they have direct access to you if they need it. Also, they are bulky and uncomfortable. Sometimes I would refuse to wear mine because it was a pain in the butt.

HappyNurse2005, RN · Jan 11, 2006

Our floor has mostly beepers, but does have 3 phones. I prefer the phone, so when the secretary needs you/needs to relay a message, she can jsut call you and tell you, you don't get a beeper message that says "come to nurses station" and then you go all the way up there.

We don't write the phone's number in the pt's room. Thank goodness! I'd rather them go thru the secretary so I don't get called in teh middle of a complicated dressing change, for example, to help someone to the bathroom or get someone a cup of coffee. The secretary then can filter requests to the appropriate staff member.

pricklypear · Jan 12, 2006

I hate the phones. Once of the big problems is that if you don't answer the phone(say your starting an IV at the time) the few patients that do use it think that you're ignoring them.

Really good point. I could see tons of complaints being generated on that happening. Of course, it would be all your fault. It's not unreasonable to expect you to answer the phone promptly with one hand and start a difficult IV with the other. You've got several fingers, don't you?

dreamingofbeing · Jan 12, 2006

As a tech I have to wear the phone especially on weekdays when all the supervisors are on the floor. We also wear little badges that turn the call lights off when we walk into the room and also track our movements and show where we are at any given time. I have yet to have a patient call my phone but the nurses and supervisors do if they need me for something. I have been called at inappropriate times and I have broken my share of the phones by simply bending over for something and the phone falling to the floor.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jan 12, 2006

Our cordless phones are wired so that when a pt. pushes their call light, the number flashes on the phone's display.

She also wants us to write on the white board when we give them pain med so they will "know when the next dose is due."

I'd argue privacy violation (as in, advertising that this person is even on meds)

hipab4hands · Jan 12, 2006

I'd argue privacy violation (as in, advertising that this person is even on meds)[/qiuote]

I'll second that. It's a Hipaa violation.

Town & Country · Jan 12, 2006

Well that would be a good point, except how is this a violation of HIPPA?

Being that the white board is in the patient's room....?

princesscakes · Jan 12, 2006

We have system like yours and it works well for contacting co-workers for help. Things to remember... dont drop the phone in the toilet:chuckle while helping a patient. Shut it off if you go to the washroom your self (everyone calls when im in there:angryfire).

Our phones are a pain to management as they have to figure out how to replace broken phones due to being droped many times in toilets and bath tubs... :rotfl:

hipab4hands · Jan 12, 2006

Well that would be a good point, except how is this a violation of HIPPA?
Being that the white board is in the patient's room....?

It's medical information that anyone who goes into the room has access to. It's the equivalent of the old days, where patient's charts were left in the patient's room for anyone to browse through.

I guess if the patient gives permission for this info to be displayed on the board, then it's not an issue. But, some patients may not want their visitors to know what meds they are getting.