I'm a nursing student currently working in LTC as a CNA this summer. The policy is that we should not carry or use or cellphones at work.
I personnally feel uncomfortable if I don't have those 3 things on me while I am not at home: my keys, my wallet and my cellphone, because if anything happens I'll probably need one of these things, so I always carry them in my pockets. I put my phone on do not disturb so it won't ring or vibrate. I'd NEVER use it or look at it while im on the unit, only during my break ofc. But today (third day of orientation), it fell off my pocket while I was picking something on the ground and there was like 4-5 CNA around me and an ergotherapist.
The ergotherapist was " ooooh you should keep that in your locker!! " and all the CNA's were really cool about it and told her that the hospital could call me ANYTIME (and they can), etc. I just hope I won't be reported for a thing like this.
Is it REALLY such a big deal to carry your cellphone even if it's turned off? I totally agree that nobody should use them, but I don't see what's wrong with carrying them..
No, I mean I get that is what she is literally saying.
Between her wanting to get hostile with her employer over the cell phone policy, and the potential of not having an epipen on her causing her fits as well, I'm saying I don't believe her.
If you're using an Epipen 12 times a week in a medical environment, I have a hard time believing the other nurses/medical employees you work with wouldn't already know you have an issue. If I were using an Epipen twice a day, everyone I ever met would know about it, because I obviously have a severe allergy issue and I would want everyone within a mile of me to know about it in case something goes wrong.
Specializes in Float Pool - A Little Bit of Everything.
There is a zero tolerance policy for cell phones at every hospital I have worked at. I never carry mine. I do give the number to my work, for emergencies, to my husband. Otherwise I only touch the phone on break and in the break room. I will say the SNF facilities that I worked at were pretty lax about their "zero tolerance" policies. So when I needed to find someone for help or to check on how they were doing with their patient load, where were they? On their cell phone. That really ticked me off. In the hospitals I had worked it, it would not have flown. Cell phones are, in my opinion, a distraction from getting your work accomplished MOST of the time. Some people do use them responsibly at work but some people don't and it sets a bad precedent for everyone else. It is a waste of my time to have to tell a person to get off their phone and do their job. It turns into an argument and panties being in a bunch most of the time.
Nope. You're of the entitled generation who feels that your NEED to carry your phone 24/7 (as well as your keys and wallet--still having trouble wrapping my mind around that one) should and does trump the policy set in place by your place of employment.
Really? Just because they're a student you're assuming their a certain age and then calling them entitled? Yikes.
I have my phone on me while I'm at work, I check it when I'm at lunch. I'm 26. I check my phone far less than my 45, my 50, and my 38 year old co-workers who will show pictures of kids or funny things on facebook while we're at the nurses station. This is thins I would never do because I have a very strong work ethic and if I felt the need to fiddle on my phone I would take a break and go into the nurses lounge. Don't judge people based on their age. Nurses should know that best.
Well I can't speak to the work flow at any place besides my own. We are very busy and I manage about 30 patients in an average clinic day (not all directly seen by me; some only need my nurse). Certainly there are days when I don't have time to pee, let alone check my phone. But I am lucky to work in an environment that is not at that level of craziness on a regular basis. We have time to laugh, socialize and bond with each other, and enjoy our work. We are dedicated to our organization and it shows in the level of care we give our patients, AND in the level of employee satisfaction and retention.
I am lucky, I admit that. And you guys are right that not all work environments allow for this kind of thing. I am grateful that I work in such a supportive environment, one that values both patient care and employee contentment. And of course, being outpatient means I do not have the level of acuity that many of you are describing.
I work in outpatient as well. Our environment is generally very "supportive," but we are balls to the walls almost from the time we walk in. There would be absolutely NO time to spend checking facebook unless we are at lunch, at which time we are allowed to use our phones. Today my facility provided lunch for us in honor of June birthdays. It was very nice, very tasty, and much appreciated. And then I went back to work, where I had absolutely NO time to check facebook, send flirty texts to my husband, or check on my kids. When I was done, I was exhausted, and the last thing I wanted to do was hang out to socialize.
I am very thankful that I work PRN and only when I decide I will work. I couldn't do this every day anymore. I am sitting on the couch right now after a typical day of work; my whole body hurts, and I have just poured a very generous glass of chardonnay to ease the pain. Maybe my problem is age vs. work environment, lol.
I'm probably going to catch heat for this but as a fellow CNA, I always keep my cell phone in my scrub pants side pocket. At many facilities I've worked in, employees have often discovered their stuff has gone missing at work out of the lockers, and at another job we only had a "break room" to put our stuff in. We of course had policies to not use our phones but not that we couldn't keep them on us so I guess I didn't technically violate any policy. In your situation if you have lockers you are able to lock I would utilize them but if you don't feel your items are secure in there, do what you need to do.
We have a "no cell phone" policy at work, but it is not well enforced. I can't tell you how frustrating it is to be elbow-deep in poop in a patient room, call out for the PCT to help, and hear back "just a sec, I have to finish this text I'm writing." And yes, I did report it. And no, nothing has changed.
It's the autoimmune lifestyle I guess. I also have aquagenic urticaria which I still doesn't fully believe is legitimate. It has to be something in the water because as is its just impossible sounding. It's been like this since I was a child and I actually qualify for permanent disability with my allergies being a factor but that IMHO personally would be my own hell. I need to work. I need to be productive. I need to be a contributing member of society helping others. Plus disability hardly would pay enough to sustain a comfortable lifestyle.
i considered myself lucky. I have met patients younger than me with far worse SLE and far more debilitating RA. I can walk freely and live my life to a pretty good fullest so I am lucky
Excellent attitude! I love that you don't have a "victim mentality" Good for you!!!
I'm probably going to catch heat for this but as a fellow CNA, I always keep my cell phone in my scrub pants side pocket. At many facilities I've worked in, employees have often discovered their stuff has gone missing at work out of the lockers, and at another job we only had a "break room" to put our stuff in. We of course had policies to not use our phones but not that we couldn't keep them on us so I guess I didn't technically violate any policy. In your situation if you have lockers you are able to lock I would utilize them but if you don't feel your items are secure in there, do what you need to do.
Which is why you are not going to catch any heat.
The OP's facility has a policy against even having her phone on her person.
One facility I work at has a no cell phone policy. I don't use it, not that I'd have time. My other facility does not have such a policy. I have surfed the web when I'm circulating during a long surgery and I don't really have anything else to do. The anesthesiologists do the most surfing of anyone!
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
I am going to make one last comment on this and leave it alone. I am sure others here have made this point but I for one am old enough to remember a time when people followed the rules because they were the rules. I am so tired of this "I'm a special snowflake, and the rules just don't apply to me!" attitude. Rules are in place for a reason. They keep them orderly and businesslike and can even protect you. What would happen if a patient you were supposed to be monitoring went south and the powers that be could prove by your phone records that you were on your phone at the time. Not even malpractice insurance is gonna cover that one. Some years a ago a young staff worker went to jail for criminally negligent homicide when she was on her phone while watching kids under her supervision in a swimming pool. A child drowned and it was proven that she was on her cell phone at the time.
Every place you work there are going to be rules - if you don't like the rules work else ware! It's that simple.
I for one am old enough to remember a time when people followed the rules because they were the rules. I am so tired of this "I'm a special snowflake, and the rules just don't apply to me!" attitude. Rules are in place for a reason.
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Every place you work there are going to be rules - if you don't like the rules work else ware! It's that simple.
It is impossible for me to agree wth you any more than I do.
Stop thinking you're a special snowflake and just follow the gosh darned rules that come from the people who sign your paycheck.
Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
I didnt really worry about carrying mine on me til my mum was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.
I've had a chat to my manager and explained why I carry it and wont be pulling it out for anything other than a call about my mum and they fine with that and certainly not anything non work related.
I also have a couple of medication apps and medscape which is a great reference app and if I want to document the condition of a wound it is also handy. (any picture are immediately printed off and the photo is deleted well by the end of my shift). Its brlliant I have a patient with an SCC that is going mutant. By photo documenting the wound, it gives her doctor a chance to see it without having to take down the whole dressing which is anxiety provoking and extremely painful for the patient
mrphil79
154 Posts
No, I mean I get that is what she is literally saying.
Between her wanting to get hostile with her employer over the cell phone policy, and the potential of not having an epipen on her causing her fits as well, I'm saying I don't believe her.
If you're using an Epipen 12 times a week in a medical environment, I have a hard time believing the other nurses/medical employees you work with wouldn't already know you have an issue. If I were using an Epipen twice a day, everyone I ever met would know about it, because I obviously have a severe allergy issue and I would want everyone within a mile of me to know about it in case something goes wrong.
So yeah, I get that she clarified it.
I'm saying I don't buy it.