texting at work

Nurses Professionalism

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I don't know if it bothers anyone else, but I think that constantly texting at work (I mean constant, like their eyes never leave the phone) when you are suppossed to be taking care of patient's is so unprofessional. This is not just any job, we are nurses and we should be taking things seriously. It is so annoying to me especially when the person is ignoring their patients and the patient alarms, pumps, etc. Don't people know that you are at work and that you can not talk to them all day? What would you be doing before text messaging came around?

Specializes in IMCU.
If I couldn't text at work I could not survive the shift

Exactly how old are you?

Specializes in Critical Care/Teaching.

Who cares? It is their license!! I personally text when appropriate, never in a patient's room or seen by staff, patients or families....but why let it bother you so much? That just causes more friction between co-workers...and to all those complaining...have you ever confronted the nurse themselves??

I think texting is just another "behavior" that needs to be done in moderation and appropriateness!! My grandma pulled her foley out, got out of bed fell and died and the "40 ish" year old nurse was NOT texting but on a smoke break!!!

Specializes in Going to Peds!.
I think texting is just another "behavior" that needs to be done in moderation and appropriateness!! My grandma pulled her foley out, got out of bed fell and died and the "40 ish" year old nurse was NOT texting but on a smoke break!!!

*Just to play "devil's advocate"* And that may very well have been that nurse's only break all shift. Most of the time, I only pee once during my 12hr shift. If I am lucky, I get to wolf down my lunch in 10 minutes flat. If she went on a break, she (should have) reported her patients' conditions to the remaining nurses on the unit and they were the ones responsible for the lapse in care. If there was a bed alarm and grandma's nurse didn't set it, I could lay some blame at her feet too.

Specializes in Oncology.
If I couldn't text at work I could not survive the shift

Seriously? That's rather pathetic.

I text once in a blue moon at work. Doesn't seem to be an issue on my unit.

Specializes in Oncology.
23 years old. Enough said.

I'm 23 and have probably sent 2 text messages total at work in my 18 months as an RN, and those were most certainly during down time. My phone stays off in the locker room at work. Please stop generalizing.

My iPhone has apps for critical care and drug information - now I have to wonder if people think I'm texting when I'm checking compatibilities or referencing something work-related.

Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.
My iPhone has apps for critical care and drug information - now I have to wonder if people think I'm texting when I'm checking compatibilities or referencing something work-related.

I have a Palm Centro and I've wondered the same.

Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, educator.
I have a Palm Centro and I've wondered the same.

You can tell if someone is texting or looking up info......believe me, I have kids who live to text, and I have apps on my phone as well.....there is a difference, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out.

Specializes in Med/surg. ED. Palliative. Geront.

...just hope you remember to clean the superbugs off your phones before you go home...

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

And texting does have its place at work: the nurses in one ICU that I cover have hospital-issued cell phones and they text me (the APN) with pt updates as well as requests for orders. I must call them with an order...no texting of orders allowed. However, if I want to know a lab and I'm in a different hospital or on the road, texting is wonderful. It lets both of us do what needs to be done NOW and then allows us to wait for a response so we aren't interrupting each other.

My docs text too and again....its more productive. I text personally very little.

I think that, overall in our culture, there has been a shift concerning what is okay to do while at work. In the past I think employees had a very clear sense that one's time belonged to the employer who was paying for one's time, appearance, and attitude when dealing with both external and internal customers. Not just in healthcare, but everywhere from a Ford Motor Co manufacturing plant, to a hospital, to Denny's.

Somewhere over the past few years that has changed dramatically. People get upset that they cannot work with the public at Bed, Bath & Beyond (for example) while also having green hair and 20 piercings all over the face. Don't even get me started on people who are supposed to wear uniforms of whatever kind but insist on "personalizing" them to the point where you cannot tell who works where when you need assistance.

Personal texing on the job -- just like making personal phone calls, updating your Facebook, discussing the date you had last night with your coworkers where the public has to listen to it, applying tons of make-up or cologne for work, using foul language -- all these are things that should be saved for personal time off the job. Whether that means a break or your day off.

Texting for work-related needs is an entirely different deal. I believe that falls under the heading of the use of any new technology in the world of healthcare in that it can be a great tool and resource, but we must make sure it does not alienate our patients. We have to be mindful that there are many who do not use computers still, let alone texting and the use of smartphones for referencing info, and we need to be professional and let them know what we're doing when the situation warrants that.

Incidentally, age is not a factor here. Last week I sat next to a 50+ nurse in report who was wearing so much cologne I started to feel nauseous and lightheaded. It was a great scent, but should have been saved for her time away from the hospital.

Specializes in Critical Care.

I can remember when you didn't take personal calls while at work. If someone called for you (provided it wasn't an emergency) a message was taken and you called back on your break.

I NEVER take my phone out of my locker while I am supposed to be working. My children and spouse know not to call me between the times of 7 and 3:30 unless:

1. there is copious amounts of blood involved.

2. a body part has become detached.

3. there has been a loss of life.

I think is just plain unprofessional and rude to have a personal phone out on the job.

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