personal cell phone and the internet and impact on staff moral

Nurses General Nursing

Published

OK I am a fist time blogger so I have a question for the nursing population at large, I am a icu nurse in a large treahing hospital. I see a distubing trend in our icu and am wondering if this is happing all over. I see staff using personal cell phones for personal calls durirng there working hours, texting durring teaching rounds. This looks poor and very unprofessional. Also we see alot on staff on the pc, using it for face book personal shopping, twitter, taking up alot of time that should be spent with patients. Then the offending staff person is the first to ask for help when they have not gotten there work done. I have addressed this issue with my mannager and she doesn't see it as a issue. The rest of the staff is just as upset over this increasing trend in our icu. The rest of us have had it with the offending nurses. To add to this mix also is an ethical issue many nurse use face book add informantion about patients in the icu, no names are given but if you work in the unit and are on face book you know who the patient is. God help them I'm sure this is against heppa regulations. Any one running into thess issues and have you been able to cle ar them up?

Specializes in OB.
If it doesn't harm the pt then what business is it to anyone if a coworker uses their cellphone or the internet on down time. I mean really jeesh.

But it does affect the patient. He/she may not say something directly to you - after all they are feeling dependent on you for any care, but it will be said later. I've had a patient talk to me, very disturbed on the night shift about the nurse on the previous shift who had carried on a personal phone conversation her whole time in the patient room while performing care! The patient was quoting the conversation to me but indicated she was hesitant to say anything since she was going to be on the unit for some time (high risk preterm antepartum patient).

And for all those with children as their reason for a "live" cellphone while on duty, I can point out that untold generations of kids survived to adulthood without the electronic umbilical cord. If it's important enough they will find a way to contact you. And since most of the parent side of the conversations heard at work seem to consist of :No you can't go there or Give it back to your sister now or just wait til I get home and you're in big trouble I really doubt that it is that urgent.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
i am surprised you are able to access facebook on your facility's computers. where i work it is a banned site, along with twitter and other "entertainment" sites.

maybe something similar could be done at your hospital? that would solve that problem..

our facility blocks facebook -- as long as you use internet explorer. so people get around that by downloading firefox and running it. we can't install firefox, but we can run it. or they access facebook on their smart phones. i know several people who have gotten in trouble for their actions on facebook.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have never seen a nurse not giving a pt proper care becasue she received a call from home or logged on the internet for a few seconds. So my statement still stands it does not bother me if a fellow nurse has to make a call or goes on the internet for a few seconds. Again, I don't work with the type of nurses that you guys must work with. The nurses I work with are professional all the time when it comes to work. So it does not bother me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm a student, so take this with a grain of salt.

I have been in clinicals where nurses were on Facebook on hospital computers, and I thought it was very unprofessional. Agreed.

But I do have small children, and I appreciate being able to carry my phone in my pocket in case of emergency. I've never responded to a call on my personal cell phone except once when my child was ill...And even then it was a very abbrieviated conversation.

Also, I have an iPhone with apps on it that apply to my job, and I use it as such. It has proven to be quite handy, and I'm glad my clinical instructors haven't thrown a big fit about it.

As another poster said, you can't make a rule for everything--Sometimes, you just have some sense about you and be adult enough to not need a rule. Kind of like you can't make laws to fix stupid. Stupid can't be fixed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
i have never seen a nurse not giving a pt proper care becasue she received a call from home or logged on the internet for a few seconds. so my statement still stands it does not bother me if a fellow nurse has to make a call or goes on the internet for a few seconds. again, i don't work with the type of nurses that you guys must work with. the nurses i work with are professional all the time when it comes to work. so it does not bother me.

the problem comes when the phone call or the internet lasts more than a few seconds, a few minutes or even a few hours. the problem comes because some nurses are on the phone, texting or on facebook for most of their shift, to the exclusion of being aware of lights going off, monitors alarming or fellow nurses needing help. unfortunately, i've seen that all too often. i wish i worked with your colleagues!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
If it doesn't harm the pt then what business is it to anyone if a coworker uses their cellphone or the internet on down time. I mean really jeesh.

Really? There was once when you didn't have to be constantly wired to an electronic device and people learned patience by WAITING for you too call back! I have no issue with the phones on the nurses person IF and I mean IF it is strictly used for looking stuff up. The internet is a valuable resource in looking thing up that have to do with the care of their patient. I too look up disease processes, meds ect.........but that information is not on facebook. Down time???? Really????? Where do you work? You may be a saint and can adhere to your "down time" but it has been my experience that if you can't leave it in your locker you can't keep your hands off of it. I don't mean to pry but what could possibly be so important that it can't wait til later. This excludes and family issues but my kids know not to call me just because "he's bothering me" and they are 14. My family knows I am a nurse and they respect it and that I can't always be immediately available to them 24/7. I am really confused at this debate because I don't want to hear you business in the grocery store let alone at work. Talk about professionalism.............while your pocket vibrates.......

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiology.

I agree that handheld devices can be useful for looking up info. I intend to get one that is specifically for that- I just asked my clinical instructor the other day if they are permissible, and she said yes. HOWEVER, it will not have a phone (or a camera) and I will practice strict infection control guidelines- the one I buy will ONLY be for work, nothing else, and I am looking into an iPod Touch specifically because it will be easy to clean and does not have a lot of crevices for germs to hide out in.

Did I mention that I hate texting in general? I find that many people are very rude about it. We're having dinner, a convo, whatever, and their pocket beeps, and they immediately stop what they are doing to pay attention to someone else who isn't even there. Dinner is over- I don't have time in my life for people who can't make time for me without being interrupted. Patient's deserve even more respect than that- their health depends on the care that we give them. The last time I worked in that atmosphere, texting didn't exist, and thank goodness for that- I'm not looking forward to dealing with nurses using their phones when they should be caring for patients. My "downtime" back then was used for charting and I made any calls I needed to make on my actual breaks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

Our policy has a zero tolerance for any cell phone whipped out under any circumstances except the break room and it includes the hallways.

We provide internet Micromedex and Uptodate on the laptops for all the necessary web searching needs. anything else is considered in violation and a written warning will ensue.

It's that easy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiology.

I wish we had a zero-tolerance policy. On paper, we do, but my boss won't back me when it comes to these issues, and I am a first-level supervisor without much say when it comes to disciplinary issues- I can recommend them, but can't carry them out. Otherwise I'd fire half my staff just for using those bleeping phones....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Addiction / Pain Management.

From the IT world I had a younger 23-26 developer I was trying to mentor.

He kept texting and surfing. I simply added more duties and responsibilities. He complain to my boss. I explained to my boss what was happening and we both watched the young guy after I relieved him of some the added duties.

My boss watched him as he texted and surfed and then he relieved the young developer of ALL of his duties.

I would think that if a facility has a camera system then the above is going to happen.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gerontological Nursing, Acute Rehab.

Did I mention that I hate texting in general? I find that many people are very rude about it. We're having dinner, a convo, whatever, and their pocket beeps, and they immediately stop what they are doing to pay attention to someone else who isn't even there. QUOTE]

:yeah::yeah::yeah:

Drives me absolutely batty!! Also, when so-called "professionals" are attending inservices/meetings, etc and are texting under the table. Or in plain sight. Not just one text, repeated texts. Absolute height of rudeness.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Vascular Access Nurse.

I'll admit I keep my cell phone in my pocket when at work....most of us do. It's on vibrate and if goes off I'll check it at my next available free moment. I don't answer in a pts room and I don't text in pt care areas. I will text when I'm in a non-patient area if needed. I have teenagers....they don't "call".....they text. I'm not even sure they know what that call button on their phones are for! It works for our facility. Heck, the nurses on the floors have hospital issued cell phones during their shift to be easily reachable. As far as the internet goes, our facility has most sites blocked...no facebook or ebay; you can google things though. I think part of it is a generation thing. Of course no one should be texting or answering their phones in pt rooms, but I think we have to face the fact that cell phones are here to stay. Most in their teens and twenties will not be separated from their cell phones......and this forty-something won't be either!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment