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 Med/Surg.

It is absolutely a generational thing, so I stand by my comment. Of course there are exceptions to the rule. There are exceptions to EVERY rule. But, you cannot argue with the fact that it is definitely "kids" that do more texting. My nephew is 10 and I can't believe how much the boy can text. For those that are older (let's say, 30 and up...I'm thisclose to 30), we didn't grow up texting, and while I do plenty of it on my offtime, my phone stays in my locker when I'm not on break. No exceptions. I was surprised the first time I even saw someone pull their cell out of their POCKET while working. That certainly isn't the work ethic I learned. I go on Facebook (at home) and the "textspeak" used in status updates is strictly limited to a younger generation of people (wonder why?). It's all related. I never go online at work, either; I see our younger generation of nurses updating Facebook from work. It was unheard of when I started at the hospital 8 years ago (and yes, at 21). For those nurses that are in their early 20's and don't do it, that is great. Seriously, I mean that. I'm sure there are plenty. But it is much more rare to see someone that is older than that constantly texting.

For those that think it's no big deal, even if it's not constantly...you wouldn't be TALKING on your cell phone constantly at work, and the principle is no different. When you're at work, you work. Done. Texting docs regarding patients is a totally different thing. If that's not what you're doing, put the dang thing in your locker until you leave or are on break. It should not be tolerated.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Okay, I admit it, I send a ridiculous amount of texts. Around 5,000 a month to be exact. I'm 19 and a student.

When I'm in clinicals, my phone is in my bag at all times. I think it is so unprofessional to use your cell phone at work when you're on the clock. I wouldn't ever dream of doing that. I'm so busy that I don't even bother checking it during breaks. Those texts can wait until I'm done. It is that simple.

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.
If I couldn't text at work I could not survive the shift

You work in med/surg and have the TIME to text? Why not ask a coworker if they need help instead of texting? Send someone on break and watch their pts instead of texting. Try restocking items instead of texting. There are hundreds of useful things you can spend time on instead of texting.

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.
I don't know how I survived my obviously neglectful parents when growing up. They never checked up on me.

They didn't check on you when you were sick? (assuming you were sick sometimes when they had to go to work, of course. Maybe that didn't happen.)

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

You can indeed text pt updates to providers provided you do not use their full name: for instance, I text first name and last initial - that is what our practice (and HIPAA) has deemed compliant.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
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.

Why is it unpractical? 5 years ago you would have never had a thread like this and things got done then. So it was a bit more work. Texting and cell phone are NOT a necessity to life, they are a convienence and should be treated as such.

You do not have a right to use you cell phone at work.

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Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.

I have to disagree. I have a perfect right to use my cell at work, and I do, for calls and texting. DH sends me puppy pics when he's home, since he knows I miss her. If he needs me, he'll either page me or text me to ask me to call. My cell is the only way most of my family have to reach me. My cell was the only way I knew that my GM had burned her house down (and herself with it). It was also the only way I knew how my father was doing during his cath (and the cardiologist HIMSELF was the one texting me the updates, after he persuaded me to go to school).

All of us have the same incoming text tone, so when one goes off, the whole of the room pulls their phone out, even the patient.

If the docs are allowed to carry and use them, then I have the right to as well. I did as a nurse, I do as an NP, and the first one to tell me otherwise without making it hospital wide will be getting an earful. THAT would not be fair, and I don't tolerate not fair.

I do agree that it is a generational thing. I can text in my pocket with one hand, my poor Daddy can't answer his cell without hanging up on me.

And don't get me started on the smoke breaks, either. That's a whole 'nother chapter in what is not fair, and every poster on here that does not smoke would agree, I'd be willing to bet.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Have I sent or received the occasional message at work? Sure - But if my phone chirps while i'm working, it's the last thing on my mind. My job and my patients are my number one priorities. Granted, I do have quite a few medical apps that I use when necessary, but i use them just like i'd use any other reference material.

Honestly, when I see what i consider to be the younger generation with their phones constantly in their hands and sending out messages i feel a little sorry for them - i mean the pressure to be in constant communication with so many other people must be overwhelming at times. Sometimes, I leave my phone at home so I am completely un reachable... where was I? what was I doing?? who cares?!

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

I would never consider looking at a received text while in a patient room, talking to other staff, a doctor, etc. It would wait until I had a second without anyone around for me to check. I think that is fine.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, educator.
Okay, I admit it, I send a ridiculous amount of texts. Around 5,000 a month to be exact. I'm 19 and a student.

When I'm in clinicals, my phone is in my bag at all times. I think it is so unprofessional to use your cell phone at work when you're on the clock. I wouldn't ever dream of doing that. I'm so busy that I don't even bother checking it during breaks. Those texts can wait until I'm done. It is that simple.

As an instructor, it's an instant write up for my students to even have a cell phone out during the clinical day....a few of those and you're outta there...not professional at all.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, educator.
I have to disagree. I have a perfect right to use my cell at work, and I do, for calls and texting. DH sends me puppy pics when he's home, since he knows I miss her. If he needs me, he'll either page me or text me to ask me to call. My cell is the only way most of my family have to reach me. My cell was the only way I knew that my GM had burned her house down (and herself with it). It was also the only way I knew how my father was doing during his cath (and the cardiologist HIMSELF was the one texting me the updates, after he persuaded me to go to school).

All of us have the same incoming text tone, so when one goes off, the whole of the room pulls their phone out, even the patient.

If the docs are allowed to carry and use them, then I have the right to as well. I did as a nurse, I do as an NP, and the first one to tell me otherwise without making it hospital wide will be getting an earful. THAT would not be fair, and I don't tolerate not fair.

I do agree that it is a generational thing. I can text in my pocket with one hand, my poor Daddy can't answer his cell without hanging up on me.

And don't get me started on the smoke breaks, either. That's a whole 'nother chapter in what is not fair, and every poster on here that does not smoke would agree, I'd be willing to bet.

MDs are not employees of the hospital, they are customers, and customers have that right....as an employee, if your facility is like most others, it's not your right. If you're on the clock, your time belongs to the employer, not yourself.
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Wow,

didn't realize that texting was such a big deal. Personally, I don't even carry my cell phone with me when I work; it's turned off in my locker. My wife has the unit's phone number and can and does call for "emergencies".

I think that texting, use of cell phones and use of "land lines" should be kept to a minimum and should only be done away from the bedside.

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