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?

When my kids were young they were very aware that if they called me at work I would ask them, 1) is it oozing like capillary blood or is there actual spurting more like arterial? and 2) are there flames involved?

In other words, learn how to deal with the minor inconveniences of life without having your mommy on the phone, is what I tried to teach them. Definitely I'm here for you whenever you NEED me...but you are going to have to learn to defer minor issues until I get home from work.

Based on that, some would say I wasn't a very good mom.

Specializes in IMCU.
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 thought exactly the same thing. In fact so much so I have shown my instructors what I am doing. I guess I am paranoid.

Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.

Like all things, if it gets in the way of work or care, it is unprofessional. If you have a few minutes of downtime, then no problem.

Specializes in Telemetry/PCU.
However, if I want to know a lab and I'm in a different hospital or on the road, texting is wonderful.

So texting while driving? Don't want to end up as your patients roommate!

Our unit got so bad with texting and inappropriate use of the computer that now both are banned. Sucks for the rest of us, but something needed to be done. Unfortunately it was only a few nurses that were abusing, too bad they didn't just write them up.

Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

I don't really care if people text while at work, as long as they aren't constantly doing it, and not doing it around patients. Doing it once and awhile to check on the kids or whatever is fine by me. Same as a quick 2 minute phone call to check on things is fine by me. But having conversations via text really isn't cool with me. Nor is several or extended phone calls during non break times. Just don't do this stuff in front of patients or when things are BUSY and I have no problem.

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

As a shift supervisor, I do not tolerate staff texting or talking on a cell phone when working with residents. I'm OK with them using their phones on breaks---I figure what they do on their personal time is their own business---but I don't want to see an aide stopping in the hallway to text or chat, and if I catch anyone doing it in a resident's room, it's a guaranteed write-up. It's unprofessional and RUDE to boot!!

Where I work, some *doctors* are so busy texting and IMing their buds. Yes, and others too, including nurses and paras. I wish people would focus.

Specializes in Labor & Delivery Tech.

Wow a lot of angry people on this board. My floor has a policy about no cell phones. They are supposed to be off at all times. This is unpractical. Co-workers (RN, MD & PCA) usually text between ourselves. 90% it is patient care related, 10% it's about misc. stuff. The thing I have an issue with on my floor is that you barely have time to take a break, in fact we have assigned breaks on a sheet, but they are never taken, so when we do text on our down time it's bad, but my charge nurse and the smokers can go out three times a night for ten minutes.

well, the people texting on their iphones at ED where I work are not texting work-related texts. they are showing their drunken pics from recent nights out on town, updating FB, fwding jokes, etc. obviously, work-related texts, or even short, personal texts, phone calls, etc., are expected on long shifts. :eek:

Specializes in Telemetry/PCU.

We had an aide that was sitting and would update her FB from her phone about how she had just watched 2 movies and how she couldn't believe they were paying her for it. Well I guess she forgot that she had many coworkers on her FB and word got around. Needless to say she isn't with us anymore.

Specializes in IMCU.
I don't really care if people text while at work, as long as they aren't constantly doing it, and not doing it around patients. Doing it once and awhile to check on the kids or whatever is fine by me.

I don't know how I survived my obviously neglectful parents when growing up. They never checked up on me.

Specializes in IMCU.
Wow a lot of angry people on this board. My floor has a policy about no cell phones. They are supposed to be off at all times. This is unpractical. Co-workers (RN, MD & PCA) usually text between ourselves. 90% it is patient care related, 10% it's about misc. stuff. The thing I have an issue with on my floor is that you barely have time to take a break, in fact we have assigned breaks on a sheet, but they are never taken, so when we do text on our down time it's bad, but my charge nurse and the smokers can go out three times a night for ten minutes.

Don't get me started on smokers getting more breaks than others.

Now back to our regular programming....

Should you be texting patient updates? Probably not. Can't possibly be a secure method of treating pt info.

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