Texting While Working

[Ruby Vee]

I recently flew to the midwest to visit my mother (in a nursing home with end-stage Alzheimer's, but that's a different topic) and the last leg of the journey was in a very small aircraft over familiar territory. I was absently enjoying the neat farms with their strips of corn and hay laid out neatly . . . and then we flew over a farm where the corn seemed to follow no particular order. The rows wandered aimlessly, in one case running right through the middle of a field of hay. The farm house kinda looked familiar . . . .

The next day, I happened upon my cousin when I dropped by to visit my favorite aunt. I asked about his corn fields, and he instantly flushed bright red. "Uh, yeah," he stammered. "Texting while driving the tractor." When I laughed and said I hoped the child in question had learned his lesson, my cousin turned even redder. "That was me," he admitted sheepishly. "Fighting with Chris via text."

The guy who runs the street sweeper through our parking garage at work rammed a support beam while texting, looked up, backed off and then sideswiped it again while continuing to text. I guess now I'll believe DH's explanation about how the dent in his car magically appeared while it was parked at work!

A guy who picks up the trash with those enormous bins . . . walking down the hall with one hand on the bin and the other -- you guessed it -- texting. I've noticed that most of the other folks who use those back elevators know to stay out of his way.

A nurse, thumbs working continuously as she instructed her orientee how to titrate the vasoactive drips. I'm not sure she was following the thread of either conversation accurately, and I cannot help but wonder how it looked to the patient's family.

What's you're favorite texting while working story?

[drowningdaily]

My phone stays in my locker at work. I think it looks unprofessional when there are cell phones all over the nursing station. And, from an infection control perspective....yuck!

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I keep my phone in my pocket at work.......to use as a timer/ alarm. Only.

The only phone call I have ever answered at work was from my 85 year old dad- if Dad calls, you answer! :)

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

I work at a restaurant part-time, and it's really sad to see so many families who come out to eat and spend the entire time staring at their phones. The worst is when I see couples that come in regularly and just spend the whole time glued to the screen of their phones.

My husband and I are people watchers. He and I have constant conversations no matter where we are. On many occasions we have both watched a couple both sit with their phones up to their faces and they surfed the net, texted, played a game or whatever it was they were doing with their phone. Not one word said between them...so sad. Then you watch the older generations who didn't grow up with this technology and like my husband and I they are having full conversations complete with laughs, facial expressions and real human interaction. My daughters both have smart phones..both know..they are NOT allowed at the dinner table or when we go out to eat. The 3 most important people to each of us are right in eye sight of us...so there is NO need to have the phone with us to answer it.

[rubato, ASN, RN]

We are a no phones family also. I am saddened every time we go out at what people consider acceptable anymore. We were bowling (don't judge) and a mom and 5 year old boy came to the lane next to us. He was the cutest thing any of us had ever seen and having such an amazing time. When we were done bowling I told his mom that we had enjoyed watching her son so much. My husband then said "Too bad you missed it all." which of course, totally embarrassed me. But it was true. She didn't see one second of her son's antics because she had her stupid phone in front of her face. We are missing so much because of technology. Boy, I sound old.

[RNOTODAY, BSN, RN]

I'm half guilty, I DO text /FB etc while @ work, on the occasional DOWN time / breaks

I would NEVER do it during a surgery , but I know plenty who do...

[Neats, BSN]

My feeling about this cell phone attachment is that is a bunch of hooey!

Recently on the news statistics revealed car /pedestrian accidents are up over 22% because people are texting and driving or walking and paying attention to their cell phone...

bam get hit or hit something or someone.

There is a solution:

Situational Awareness... people you need it in todays society.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

My feeling about this cell phone attachment is that is a bunch of hooey!

Recently on the news statistics revealed car /pedestrian accidents are up over 22% because people are texting and driving or walking and paying attention to their cell phone...

bam get hit or hit something or someone.

There is a solution:

Situational Awareness... people you need it in todays society.

I read an article about a sculpture in England. It was moved because people texting on their phones kept walking into it.

Sculpture moved after texters kept bumping into it

I have a Smartphone and I like it - within reason. There is no message so important that I have to answer it while driving.