Should we be told of a surveillance camera in pts room?

caliotter3 · Feb 9, 2008

The purpose of having the surveillance camera is to catch you unaware and to have evidence. Arguments could be made both for and against warning the nurse about a camera. I've worked in many places where they place a baby monitor to listen in on the patient's room for times when there is no nurse and even when the nurse is there. Not so inviting as far as I'm concerned. Don't care for the feeling that I'm always being watched (for many reasons). The family members always have the option to walk in on you while you work anyway. But cameras, recorders, noise monitors, creates an atmosphere of distrust that tells me I should not be there. You are always free to leave an assignment if you are dissatisfied with any of the conditions under which you are expected to work. That goes for surveillance. And one of the first things I do on a new case is to search the area for such. I told one of my managers that I do this. I don't trust these people any more than they trust me. The street runs in both directions.

trmr · Feb 9, 2008

I think if you are in the patients house, you can be survaillenced all they want. You have to think of it this way....obviously they have family that love them very much and are concerned for their well being. There is nothing wrong with that. And if you are doing the job you should be doing and treating the patient the way you should, you don't have anything to worry about anyway. If it were my family or my child and I was hiring a nurse or a nanny, you better believe I would have cameras all over the place. I trust no one, and there are too many ( what ever you want to call them ) out there hurting people.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Feb 9, 2008

I'd have no problem if they told me at the beginning of the job that surveillance might be used. I feel uncomfortable about someone suspecting me of something and setting up cameras instead of talking to me outright about their concerns.

Ks mommy nurse · Feb 11, 2008

My experience was that I was told after the shift was done that there was a camera. My feeling about it though is that I felt offended or betrayed, because again, if I did something to the pt, it would be misinterpreted even though I know that I did my job right. I.E. I could be suctioning and it might look like I'm shoving the catheter too deep when I'm not. I just think that all persons entering a pts room SHOULD be made aware of recording devices. It not only would protect the pt, but also the nurse, because knowing you are being recorded, you will definetly not slack off. Not meaning with the pts care, but with yourself, by not dozing off, not being on the phone too much, etc. :twocents:

caliotter3 · Feb 11, 2008

What are the laws in your state about recording another without their knowledge or permission? I can assure you that the only reason you were told at the end of the shift was the family's way of trying to skirt lawsuits. They should be honest up front. They are very lacking in this regard. I would not work for people like this. One act of dishonesty and deceit does not preclude others. Many clients make false accusations about nurses to get what they want. That doesn't make the "customer always right." The agency bears responsibility in this for not informing their employees and giving them the option to opt out of the assignment. If the agency doesn't know, which I doubt is the case by now, then inform them. Tell them that you don't appreciate what happened and that they have an obligation to inform nurses about this before sending them to that house. And no nurse should use the presence of a camera as an excuse not to sleep or spend the shift on her cell phone. I've had many clients tell me that they have caught nurses doing or not doing various things. They didn't need a camera to do their spying. They were just observant.

radrook · Feb 12, 2008

I completely understand about the feelings you have about being betrayed and the bad feelings you would get being told this afterwards, but if you did stop for a min and just be THE PARENT in that situation and think of your own child you may do the same thing for different reasons. Not saying you did anything wrong or that they are suspecting you of anything, Im just thinking like a parent myself. My home, my child, I would think I have every right to do it. Try not to take it personal and maybe they feel like they have no control when the nurse is there and maybe this is just some way they think they can gain control? A number of things could be going through there minds. Hope that makes sense to you.

Jo Dirt · Feb 12, 2008

I discovered a surveillance camera in a home several months after I started working there, and this made me very uncomfortable. I wondered what they had seen me doing when I thought no one was looking (you know, scratch where it itches kind of stuff) but as far as worrying about my actions being misinterpereted I didn't worry about.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Feb 12, 2008

If I had a person in my home caring for a loved one I would most likely have a surveillance camera. I've worked many private duty cases in the past. I don't know if they had a camera or not but I wouldn't have been upset about it, not in the least.