**RING** Cellphones in class...

Nursing Students General Students

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UHHHHHH! I have to vent! My ONE pet peeve during class is not the student who asks a zillion questions, the student who always knows someone with the condition that is being discussed, or the student that works somewhere that always performs interventions differently :rolleyes: ....it is the student who REPEATEDLY forgets to shut of their #### cell phone! And during a test is the worst!

Our policy is that cell phones must be shut OFF and if yours rings you must immediately leave the classroom, and receive an absence for the day. However, I have never once seen them implement this action. It just irks me! And now they have started a new policy that NO phones can be used in the building, even on breaks because of the excessive ringing in class...but still they do nothing when it happens.:madface:

I'm sorry, but there is absolutely no emergency that cannot wait for the 1-2 hours a person is in class. What do you think schools and hospitals/law enforcement/etc. did about notifying people of emergencies before cell phones were ubiquitous -- you know, 10 years ago?

The notion that a person absolutely, positively MUST be reachable at all times is a fallacy.

Yes, yes yes!!! I absolutely agree. I am so tired of everyone in my class using the "But I have kids" excuse for bringing their cell phones to class. I have kids too, and yes, I do worry about them while I am in class. But I leave my cell phone in the car and check it at every break. I haven't missed an emergancy yet. I guess I can only speak for my school, but we have a secretary in our Nursing Office that will kindly take any message and deliver it to the person it is intended for.

We have only had cell phones ring a couple of times, and I swear the last time it happened, one of my instructor's face turned so red I thought it was going to explode!! One of the girls in my class (not in my clinical group thank God!) has made at least one personal cell phone call every week at clinical. Not an "I just want to check on my sick son" call, a "Hi, how are you? I'm in clinicals! Cool, huh?!? Blah, blah blah" sort of call. I can't believe how stupid some people can be!! I'm sure she'll get caught one of these times, in the meantime all I can do is shake my head. To the beat of "Hips Don't Lie" playing on a 37 year old's phone in class. There's a mental picture I could have done w/o!!

~t

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I have caught myself almost wanting to scream the same thing. I just stare at the instructor in disbelief...like, why are you not saying anything to her? YOU have the authority in here!?

I'm taking an English class, and twice the instructor has taken phone calls on his cell during class. Needless to say, he doesn't care if the students' phones go off. :eek:

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I'm sorry, but there is absolutely no emergency that cannot wait for the 1-2 hours a person is in class. What do you think schools and hospitals/law enforcement/etc. did about notifying people of emergencies before cell phones were ubiquitous -- you know, 10 years ago?

The notion that a person absolutely, positively MUST be reachable at all times is a fallacy.

Hear! Hear! I have to admit that I have a cellphone, and I'm a parent, but I can't stand cellphones sometimes. I turn mine off at work, and my daughter or her school can call my unit, and I will be paged if there is an emergency. Believe it or not, this was the way people used to reach someone without a cellphone for many decades, and they somehow survived. While the cellphone is a great invention, it just seems like it has made people more inconsiderate of those of us who don't want to hear them ringing (and having the subsequent conversations) in class and at work.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
our school has your family leave a message with the assistant in the nursing school's office, and they will send someone to the class to get you......just like they did in the good old days before cell phones.

AMEN! Some people just act like the world would just come to an end if they could NOT have their dang phone. :stone

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
I can promise you that most cellphone calls in class are not emergencies...it's just people yacking "hey, whatcha doin'? Nothin'. How're you doin'? Fine. REALLY? No way!!!" In all the many years I've been in school,I have never ONCE seen someone get up from class after a cell phone call and say they had to leave for an emergency. NOT ONCE.

Now, if there is a true emergency, our school has your family leave a message with the assistant in the nursing school's office, and they will send someone to the class to get you......just like they did in the good old days before cell phones.

Exactly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But the real problem is that the people that "have to have" their cell phones at all times, are going to continue that when they get a job. And the kids/DH/friends will be calling all the time.

Children existed before cell phones and the human species continues to thrive.

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I have an instructor that promises to answer your phone FOR you if your phone rings in her classroom and she also promises to embarrass "the pee out of you." I say that's enough threat to keep us from letting them ring...absolutely NO phones have even thought of ringing so far this semester! I'm a happy camper!

I also had a professor this summer that would give us a quiz every time a cell phone went off in his class. We had 2 beginning freshmen that just couldn't seem to grasp the concept so about 2 weeks and 3 cell phone quizzes into the course, before the professor got there, we'd kindly remind these newbies to turn their phones OFF so that we would not have to endure yet another quiz due to their stupidity.

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How about when the cell phone actually rings, and the student answers, start talking while exiting the room.

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Specializes in Corrections, neurology, dialysis.
Exactly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But the real problem is that the people that "have to have" their cell phones at all times, are going to continue that when they get a job. And the kids/DH/friends will be calling all the time.

Children existed before cell phones and the human species continues to thrive.

Tell me about it!!! I've already seen that at the job I have now. My co-workers are forever sneaking off the floor to talk on their cell phones. Last week at clinicals the CNA's more or less left us to fend for ourselves while they went sneaking off to talk on their cell phones (I know this because I "caught" one doing it).

I remember when cell phones were becoming more common I read an article about cell phone ettiquette that said "you shouldn't use a cell phone anyplace that you wouldn't smoke." Boy that idea has gone out the window.

It's just unprofessional to walk around gabbing into a cell phone when you're supposed to be working. It's no different than hanging around someone's desk or being on a regular phone in full view of your boss. Pretend you are a surgeon or in court. You couldn't talk on a cell phone then. There's no reason why anyone else should either.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
Now, if there is a true emergency, our school has your family leave a message with the assistant in the nursing school's office, and they will send someone to the class to get you......just like they did in the good old days before cell phones.

I agree with this 100%. Phones should be shut OFF...completely...no exceptions. Vibrating phones are just as disruptive and annoying as a ringing phone..."HMMMMMM..HMMMMMM...HMMMMM" Everyone starts looking around to see where the vibrating is coming from! Believe me, if it is a TRUE emergency...you WILL be found!

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Specializes in OB.
I'm sorry, but there is absolutely no emergency that cannot wait for the 1-2 hours a person is in class. What do you think schools and hospitals/law enforcement/etc. did about notifying people of emergencies before cell phones were ubiquitous -- you know, 10 years ago?

The notion that a person absolutely, positively MUST be reachable at all times is a fallacy.

And setting phones to vibrate is only minimally less annoying than letting them ring. The vibration is very easily heard. The cell phone of the woman who sits next to me in pharmacology vibrates loudly every class period, about 10 minutes in. The whole class virtually grinds to a halt while we watch her fumble for the phone, check the caller ID, and then put it back in her bag.

It may come as a surprise to people like this, but *I* have some rights, too. Your right to keep your cell phone set to ring or vibrate at all times does not trump MY right to a peaceful learning setting.

People need to get over the idea that life cannot go on without them. It can, and it does, and you need to TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONE IN CLASS. Honestly, the world will not end if you do. :jester:

[i want to note I am not singling out Dawn in a personal attack. My intent is to take issue with the general idea that Dawn postulated, namely that the possibility of an emergency arising is enough to warrant leaving one's cell phone turned on.]

I disagree. My dad was on a vent in ICU when I was in my second semester. it was important to me and my family that I could be there quick if needed. I kept my phone on vibrate, and no it COULD NOT wait "the 1-2 hours I was in class"

there is school and there is life. I do realize that having it on all the time is unnecessary and annoying, but sometimes it cannot be helped. Is mine on now? no, of course not, but if you would have told me that it had to be off during that time I would have chose my dad over lecture

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"I can promise you that most cellphone calls in class are not emergencies...it's just people yacking "hey, whatcha doin'? Nothin'. How're you doin'? Fine. REALLY? No way!!!" In all the many years I've been in school,I have never ONCE seen someone get up from class after a cell phone call and say they had to leave for an emergency. NOT ONCE."

I do not "yack" on my cell phone in class. It is STRICTLY used in case of emergencies. I will not ever turn off my cell phone in class. My kids must have a way to get ahold of me. I will not put the responsibility of notifyingme of an emergency in the hands of a total stranger. I can absolutely promise you this....my cell phone is on vibrate or silence (sitting in front of me on my desk) during school hours.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

In regards to the two previous posters:

Moongirl, sorry about your tragedy. But by the same token, many of us have had issues with being far from loved ones in critical condition. We accept that if something untoward happens, my school would be notified and someone would personally come to notify. In some families, to call someone about a tragedy and to expect them to calm themselves and drive themselves home/hospital in a distressed state would end up in w/ another loved in the hospital. There are advantages to having someone from the office come to give you this news.

My grandmother died during my first term of nursing school. I did not carry a cell, as she expected me to keep focused on my studies. That was her wish.

But I do not begrudge you the use of a cell.

As far as Dawn:

While there are some people that have a "need" to always be reached by their kids, many of us have survived, raised healthy responsible children, and been raised to be responsible adults, without cells.

A lot rides on the definition of "emergencies". When I was growing up, we did not disturb our parents at work unless someone was bleeding profusely, or in need of police or EMS care. "Emergency" calls maybe occurred once every two years or so. That despite both my sister and I having chronic health conditions that we have to this day. We took care of ourselves such that "emergencies" did not occur often. As such a cell was highly unnecessary.

I do have coworkers that have kids that make "emergency" calls two or three times a week. Frequently it is one kid tattling on another, beating up on each other, wanting to know when Mama will be home for dinner, what will be for dinner, can I go to Stacy's for dinner. I didn't get elected prom queen, I failed math, Bobbie doesn't like me anymore, I have a pimple. Then Mom starts yelling on the phone, threatening about homework, and "If you don't straighten out now, I'm coming home right now". And then Mama gets so distraight over often trivial issues, she is no good at work anyway. And a distracted nurse is a dangerous nurse.

When someone kid calling repeatedly for "an emergency", distracting Mom, and then Mom has to handle a code, it gets problematic.

Even when they call during shift, they hold up every other nurse, all of whom want to get home to their kids/SOs, who responsible enough not to call.

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Issues with these "emergency" calls have occurred in virtually every facility that I have ever worked. And the calls are maybe once a month (for the entire unit) about a true emergency.

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If you keep the phone use for true emergencies, we have no problem. But if you are getting more than 1-2 emergency calls a month, maybe you need to be spending more time at home, or upon graduating, find a position that permits you to be able to drop things at a moments notice, to be with the kids or on the phone. There are many nursing positions where that is not possible or safe...for you or the patients.

There are lives in our hands. We know that family comes first but when family issues endanger patient care (and often repeated phone calls and the stress they cause do), something has to give. And it is not fair to the patient to put them perpetually second, if family issues are so disruptive.

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