This was a new one on me and I thought I would throw it out there to the nurses and get your opinion. I was a patient today in an outpatient clinic. I was getting my vitals taken, and as the nurse was putting the blood pressure cuff on me, she pulled out her smart phone and said "wow, three text messages!" I said, "Oh, do you have a child emergency?" She said, "No, a friend with a job crisis," and then as the blood pressure machine was taking my blood pressure, she started reading through/responding to her texts. Then, when the machine was done with the reading, she realized she didn't have a pen to write down the vitals, so she took a picture of the machine readout with her phone (which I thought was...creative).
Now, as an employee of the facility at which she works, I know that it's against policy to carry around a personal phone and be seen texting while on company time. I personally would never dream of texting while walking around in the halls, but to whip out a phone and start texting while taking someone's vitals? That's just a whole 'nother level. I was completely at a loss for words. Am I the only one who finds that completely appallingly unprofessional, or is that just how it is nowadays? I brought this up at another message board (not nursing related) and another person said that as long as she knew what she was doing and practiced safely, it was all good. I'm of the opinion that I expect my care provider to practice safely AND be professional.
Yep agree with Canadiandude. Even tho it may not be "professional", it is what it is and it is here to stay until something better comes along which it will. And speaking of "professional"? In the olden days it was not "professional" to wear ones hair down. One had to wear all white. It all changes. I will say that there are times that I share something of my life with my pts by showing a photo or two and they LOVE it. So it can be good emotional care and can make a shift easier with certain pts.
exactly. Its a perfect example of old people not embracing technology and vewing it as negative because they don't connect the same way as others. The point is times are changing and it is what it is. Being on your cell phone at work is not automatically rude. Smartphones give us the power to access so much knowledge in the blink of an eye. Text messaging is just very convenient. The reality is that its not that horrible to have a phone on you. But like I said, people are so judgmental. I'm not worried because the amazing thing about time is that the people with old age views will eventually retire (hopefully). And to the person asking what we did before cell phones......that's like asking what we did before cars and light bulbs. We made due with what we had until something better came along. Mulitasking is possible. I don't care about people telling me "studies have shown" unless they did the study themselves
I use my smart phone to look up ID9 codes, policies, safe practice, scope of practice, labor laws, proceedures, figure out short hand abbreviations from medical records, etc and have used the note feature to write down the VS or verbal doctors orders when my pen died (no names). It is not unusual for my colleagues to ASK me to find out info for them. I used to lug around medical texts -because I can not stand not knowing safe practice and no place ever seems to have everything in their policy proceedure book, drug book, etc no more - yay! I can also do calculations on it and set alarms for when I need to do a task timely. It's the most marvelous thing ever invented.
First was this an RN or an aid or medical assistant? Second report this person through a phone call to her supervisor. Do it by phone or in writing. This is inexcusable for anyone and I am pretty sure it is not condoned as a patient care expectation for care by anyone in charge. Third, seriously consider a different clinic that is more professional if at all possible.
exactly. Its a perfect example of old people not embracing technology and vewing it as negative because they don't connect the same way as others. The point is times are changing and it is what it is. Being on your cell phone at work is not automatically rude. Smartphones give us the power to access so much knowledge in the blink of an eye. Text messaging is just very convenient. The reality is that its not that horrible to have a phone on you. But like I said, people are so judgmental. I'm not worried because the amazing thing about time is that the people with old age views will eventually retire (hopefully). And to the person asking what we did before cell phones......that's like asking what we did before cars and light bulbs. We made due with what we had until something better came along. Mulitasking is possible. I don't care about people telling me "studies have shown" unless they did the study themselves
I'm going to apologize up front if this is unnecessarily harsh as I am having a bit of a ridiculous day.
However.....
That said....
I cannot believe for a second that you would not consider it rude if a nurse or a doctor whipped out their cell phone and told you all about their drama (friend drama, baby mama drama, work drama, what EVER!) and started texting back. And if you think I'm just some old bitty that you're waiting to (hopefully!) retire, think again! I am young and at the very beginning of nursing. This is NOT an age thing. This is a common courtesy and decency thing. If a person is sitting in a room with you, for which you are receiving payment in order to perform a service (i.e. medical care), you OWE that person enough respect and decency to focus on THEM, not your cell phone. It absolutely is rude to do otherwise.
Explain to me how the second half of the bolded does not contradict the sentiment of the first half, and please tell me how the second half is not offensive.
Edit to add: I'm afraid of a time when all of the people who use manners and attentive care are gone. Thankfully, it wont be happening in my lifetime.
It blows my mind that there are people defending someone texting a friend on a personal matter while in the room with a patient doing patient care. This nurse was not looking up pertinent info or answering a page from a colleague. This was a personal text that had no place being handled in the room with the patient! What if you were a patient and a nurse picked up the phone in the room and called a friend while taking your vital signs? Is that not rude and unprofessional? Is it different that the same thing was done via text on her cell phone?
This has nothing to do with generational issues or being anti-technology. Personal matters do not belong in the patient's room or during patient care. Period. My God, what are we coming to that this is defended as acceptable?
Pagers are becoming obsolete-doctors are texted now and in the OR we have to screen their texts read them out loud to the doctor who then decides to have us call back or not.
I will say the smart phone has it's applications in the hospital, but managers have yet to get an appropriate handle on it, mainly because they are using them for their own personal use as well. Hard to discipline yourself.
Our hospital phone system stinks. Many times phone calls don't go through on the mobile system, which is hospital-wide. If we didn't carry our personal phones many urgent calls would not go through.
This is something that needs to really be discussed. I do know several actions that have been taken for social networking to see what nurses are texting on the job-especially pictures etc. It will be a challenge to regulate.
Having been a patient frequently and a nurse, I have to say, texting while actually providing patient care is a big no, no and pictures? Don't even get me started. OOPS too late. I did home health and a physician wanted a picutre sent to him of a patient's wound. I had to have a release form signed in triplicate. Our legal people were very hip on HIPPA. I'm afraid I would have reported her. Because, even if you work in the same facility you were not an employee at that time but a patient who deserved her respect and undivided attention. She could have stepped out and gotten a pen. Who's to say the next patient wont' get treated the same way. What if it was one of your parents or your child?
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
exactly. its a perfect example of old people not embracing technology and vewing it as negative because they don't connect the same way as others. the point is times are changing and it is what it is. being on your cell phone at work is not automatically rude. smartphones give us the power to access so much knowledge in the blink of an eye. text messaging is just very convenient. the reality is that its not that horrible to have a phone on you. but like i said, people are so judgmental. i'm not worried because the amazing thing about time is that the people with old age views will eventually retire (hopefully). and to the person asking what we did before cell phones......that's like asking what we did before cars and light bulbs. we made due with what we had until something better came along. mulitasking is possible. i don't care about people telling me "studies have shown" unless they did the study themselves
i'm not old; i'm a professional who knows that taking a personal message in front of a patient is rude, and than taking a picture of the vitals is even ruder and poor practice. try to read the op again; the nurse in question wasn't using her phone to access information to improve her patient care. i have plenty of apps on my iphone (yes, i really do have one) that help me with patient care. i just don't use my phone for personal matters while providing patient care.
you may sigh and moan over "old people" and their ways, but believe me, we "old" nurses equally sigh and moan, hoping some (not all) younger nurses would just grow up and act responsibly. in reality, this isn't even a generational issue. i've seen nurses older than me using their phones for personal matters while ivs are beeping and patients need help with something. it's unprofessional.
if you don't believe in any studies unless they were done by the person telling you about them, how can you function for even an hour as a nurse?
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
i'm going to apologize up front if this is unnecessarily harsh as i am having a bit of a ridiculous day.
however.....
that said....
i cannot believe for a second that you would not consider it rude if a nurse or a doctor whipped out their cell phone and told you all about their drama (friend drama, baby mama drama, work drama, what ever!) and started texting back. and if you think i'm just some old bitty that you're waiting to (hopefully!) retire, think again! i am young and at the very beginning of nursing. this is not an age thing. this is a common courtesy and decency thing. if a person is sitting in a room with you, for which you are receiving payment in order to perform a service (i.e. medical care), you owe that person enough respect and decency to focus on them, not your cell phone. it absolutely is rude to do otherwise.
explain to me how the second half of the bolded does not contradict the sentiment of the first half, and please tell me how the second half is not offensive.
edit to add: i'm afraid of a time when all of the people who use manners and attentive care are gone. thankfully, it wont be happening in my lifetime.
good for you! nursing needs more young people who have the energy for the profession, and the commonsense to boot.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
this was a new one on me and i thought i would throw it out there to the nurses and get your opinion. i was a patient today in an outpatient clinic. i was getting my vitals taken, and as the nurse was putting the blood pressure cuff on me, she pulled out her smart phone and said "wow, three text messages!" i said, "oh, do you have a child emergency?" she said, "no, a friend with a job crisis," and then as the blood pressure machine was taking my blood pressure, she started reading through/responding to her texts. then, when the machine was done with the reading, she realized she didn't have a pen to write down the vitals, so she took a picture of the machine readout with her phone (which i thought was...creative).
now, as an employee of the facility at which she works, i know that it's against policy to carry around a personal phone and be seen texting while on company time. i personally would never dream of texting while walking around in the halls, but to whip out a phone and start texting while taking someone's vitals? that's just a whole 'nother level. i was completely at a loss for words. am i the only one who finds that completely appallingly unprofessional, or is that just how it is nowadays? i brought this up at another message board (not nursing related) and another person said that as long as she knew what she was doing and practiced safely, it was all good. i'm of the opinion that i expect my care provider to practice safely and be professional.
thoughts?
our call light system and monitor alarm system are both tied to phones we're supposed to carry with us all shift. to communicate with providers and with each other, we text. i don't like it, but that's our policy. the unprofessional part -- or the most unprofessional part -- was the "a friend with a job crisis" comments. at least she could have pretended it was a family emergency or company policy!
Don't even get me started. 
OOPS too late. I did home health and a physician wanted a picutre sent to him of a patient's wound. I had to have a release form signed in triplicate. Our legal people were very hip on HIPPA.
I'm afraid I would have reported her. Because, even if you work in the same facility you were not an employee at that time but a patient who deserved her respect and undivided attention. She could have stepped out and gotten a pen. Who's to say the next patient wont' get treated the same way. What if it was one of your parents or your child? 
lilhelper
26 Posts
Let's see..rude, unprofessional, unprepared...