On numerous occasions, I've observed nurses playing music from their computers. Some of them are managers, which doesn't necessarily concern me since they aren't directly caring for patients. However, the other night, I noticed an ICU nurse playing music. The patient they were monitoring was obviously severely ill...on ECMO, CRRT, ventilator, many drips, tube feedings, etc. This did not seem safe to me, as music can be a distraction and with very critical patients, you need to be on top of all things at all times. What are your thoughts?
Jazz is not soothing to some of us. It's irritating. My thought is if the music is irritating your patient or your coworker, you ought to turn it off. No argument. Just turn it off.
I am thinking back to some study that I read about where music is played for ICU patients which was why I made my observation.
I agree with your thought. If the music is annoying to others, turn it off or keep one ear bud in your ear so YOU (generic you) can hear it but not the whole world.
Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
I listen to music when I can at work. Either with just 1 headphone in or turned down super low. I turn it off if other nurses are near me. It soothes me and helps me focus. ADD perhaps I am? 😎
I don't see anything wrong with a little music at the nurse station. It helps relax me and lower my stress level from all the alarms etc. It doesn't distract me from doing my job. We usually play pop or country and keep it low so it doesn't bother the patients.
We play music all the time in nights in a very busy ICU (ECMO, CRRT, IABP, LVAD). It doesn't bother us, it helps our night and we concentrate fine. We usually put on the same music channel on the patients TV so it plays in most of our rooms. And also if I hum, applewhitern, its because i am thinking and have a lot of thoughts in my head.
In the ER days us guys chipped in and bought a "fart" CD we played in the wee hours. I enjoyed that. It was funny every time we listened to it. Even the girls had to laugh.
When I saw this post my first thought was a bedside nurse wearing headphones and doing her work, and I thought heck no that's not ok.
There is a difference between playing music for the patient and playing for the staff. For the patient, during a bath or anytime I'm all for it! How is that different than the patient's TV being on?
Staff playing music is completely different. If a bedside nurse is playing music for his enjoyment only in a patient room, I'd say very unprofessional. Even at the nurses station probably isn't a good idea. But different places of work have different cultures and even within one institution on one unit it might be ok but not on another. However if you are a manager or educator and have your own office, soft music in the background would not be an issue with me.
We have fired nurses for using headphones in the unit at work and listening to music. If my mom was a patient there I wouldn't want you listening to music, I would want you listening for call lights, alarms, and calls for assistance.
We have fired nurses for using headphones in the unit at work and listening to music. If my mom was a patient there I wouldn't want you listening to music, I would want you listening for call lights, alarms, and calls for assistance.
Do you seriously think that people are incapable of doing both? I doubt people are rocking out to death metal. Soft music isn't going to interfere with one's ability to hear alarms unless they already have a hearing problem (from the death metal). Now headphones are another story.
Specializes in Med-Surg/Neuro/Oncology floor nursing..
It drives me insane when someone either plays music, or sings/hums when I'm working. Of course, I work in an ICU and need to be attentive at all times. The humming irritates me badly! When someone is humming while presumably working, I think they must not have a thought in their head! Drives me crazy.
I'm the same way. It drives me nuts when I hear people singing or humming especially because more often than not its off key and out of tune!
God forbid a nurse plays music like a physician, surgeon, plumber, pharmacist, fast food worker, etc... would. Angels don't play music, right?
Back to a state of reality, I have no issue with nurses who listen to music, as long as they do their job as well. Just as I don't care if anyone working listens to music as long as they do their job. Music helps many focus and actually work more efficiently.
Irish_Mist, BSN, RN
489 Posts
I am thinking back to some study that I read about where music is played for ICU patients which was why I made my observation.
I agree with your thought. If the music is annoying to others, turn it off or keep one ear bud in your ear so YOU (generic you) can hear it but not the whole world.