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?

If I couldn't text at work I could not survive the shift

Wow..I believe you're only saying this.

When it becomes a policy, you'd have no other choice but to abide by the rules.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
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 use Epocrates on my Blackberry...and if I get a quizical look from someone, I just show them the screen so they can see for themselves that's prolixin I'm reading up on, not some texts :)

As far as texting/e-mailing goes, I might do it when I'm on a break and located out of a patient care area. When I'm on duty, never--people can call me at the nurses' station if they need me, or it can wait until my shift is done.

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

And as the NP of said MD, hospital policy does not apply to me any more than him. We carry our phones, and no one says a word. Likewise, I don't say anything to the nurses and ancillary staff that carry THEIR phones. Live and let live. But, policy be danged, I will have my phone. With the health status of my family, mental or otherwise, I HAVE to be reachable. Family first is a point my doc and I agree on wholeheartedly.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, educator.

If you aren't employed there, whole different story, but the area where I live most NPs are employees of the hospital, therefore subject to the same rules that other staff are held to. And our policy states that having one turned on may be grounds for termination. And this came about per the wonderful Press Ganey and patient complaints about staff use of cell phones.

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Specializes in L&D, Med/Surg, Pretest, Int.Rad.PICC/Mi.

I don't know what is being taught in nursing school anymore but it isn't Nursing 101...............fundamentals of nursing, taking care of the patients is what you are supposed to be there for, boy what do we have to look forward to when we are patients, and the techno nurses are taking care of us, when we are extremely ill and in need of a caring nurse...............it's too bad these nurses who are doing these kind of things on the job can't imagine themselves or one of their family members in the position of their patients, what kind of care would they want for one of their own??????? Shame on the facility and the other employees who think this is ok..........

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I hate to say it, but I think most people these days are at work to... get paid. A lot don't think they actually have to WORK to earn that money.

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Specializes in L&D, Med/Surg, Pretest, Int.Rad.PICC/Mi.

It's too bad nursing has gotten into the business for making money and not caring anymore.......what happened to responsibility to the patient???

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Like it or not, texting is here to stay. We had a rule implemented that there were to be no cell phones on the unit (ICU). It lasted about one shift. While I agree texting, while in a patient room or when other things take priotorty, is inappropriate, texting is much less obtrusive than chatting online or on the phone. I do not text often but I like having the ability to be reached immediately by my family.

I have two small children and a wife that works from home. Texting is just a part of my life now and my responsibilities at home are not absolved just because I am at work.

Its not going anywhere. Thats just my opinion.

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If I couldn't text at work I could not survive the shift

Wow! Seriously??:eek: that's so sad. think what your patients must feel when they have to wait for you to pass meds because you are busy texting...

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And as an aside, I see a lot more nurses leaving the floor entirely multiple times during the shift to go OFF CAMPUS to smoke. Appearantly nothing can be done about that either. Its much worse to be completely absent from the unit than to go in a corner to text for 20 seconds.

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I work in a NICU. And its a toss up between what is worse....the younger nurses texting or the older nurses using the phone line to make personal calls and/or extended breaks!! I'm not just talking about quick phone calls to check on the kids/family, but multiple phone calls to have arguments with their sister or talking about what to do about little Jimmy's biting problem with their husband! Also the break issue....in our unit we have rooms and usually its 3-4 nurses depending on acuity per room. Often we stagger breaks so for 20 minute periods there is only 1 nurse in the room, usually when its a 3 nurse room. The other day I had an awful time working with a senior nurse who took a 45 minute breakfast break, a 45 minute lunch break, was in & out of the room constantly so that when I needed to go find a resident or get supplies, I couldn't; AND took a break at 5pm for over an hour!!!! I will take a texting nurse over an absent nurse anyday although I find it unprofessional to be glued to your phone all day. Oh and not to mention we have nursing assistants who are useless, and often walk around talking on their headsets on while "stocking" and other unknown tasks! The lack of work ethic really blows me away...so frustrating!

Thanks for the opportunity to vent! :angryfire

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I also have a problem with other staff members constantly texting and surfing the internet while at work.

I work in an emergency room on the ground floor and there is absolutely no reception for cell phones anyway.

If you leave your phone on it will be completey drained long before your shift is over anyway. I do, however have a blackberry and will receive and answer my hospital based email regularly. (not while in patient care areas) I just found out that if you receive or respond to emails through your own personal smart phone you are breaking hospital policy. Apparantly the phone needs to be bought through our IT department and have a hospital tag placed. Has anyone ever heard of this rule. I'm sure other hospitals do the same and if so alot of people could potentially be affected.

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