do you wear a watch?

NGYSUN, BSN, MSN, RN · May 16, 2015

Yes I do. I have this Casio electronic watch. Its water resistant and also shows time in military format. Which was why I got it. . It's sooo flat too... I get easily uncomfy with metallic watches that may scratch your skin or poke your clothes and predispose you to infection. I have had it for almost 3years and counting. Got it for just $19 bucks at Walmart.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · May 16, 2015

Why are there no vitals taken in your ltc? Is it not standard of care?

and if it's not allowed, why do you openly admit to carrying your phone? At my main job, we are not allowed to be playing on them, but as I said, we use them for calendars and calculators. In my prn position carrying is not allowed and if asked to turn out your pockets and get caught carrying your cell, there will be a write up. Not worth it. Staff follow the rules. Good staff does anyway...

Nope, in my LTC we do not take vitals. I carry my phone, but I am not supposed too :*

hookyarnandblanket · May 16, 2015

Why are there no vitals taken in your ltc? Is it not standard of care?
and if it's not allowed, why do you openly admit to carrying your phone? At my main job, we are not allowed to be playing on them, but as I said, we use them for calendars and calculators. In my prn position carrying is not allowed and if asked to turn out your pockets and get caught carrying your cell, there will be a write up. Not worth it. Staff follow the rules. Good staff does anyway...

I am wondering the same thing. When I worked LTC, we had to get vitals every weekend. Here at the hospital where I work now, long term care patients' vitals are every week, but our observation, acute, and skilled patients are anywhere from q2 to qshift. We occasionally use phones to do activities with patients or play music for patients, all personal use is done on breaks.

betm, CNA · May 17, 2015

Sometimes I wear my watch, sometimes I don't. :)

Kitsey · May 20, 2015

I carry my phone because I use it instead of a watch. I suppose my LTC has no good staff then because all of us, including the nurses, have their phones on them. Today I used it to take photos of the baby birds outside our unit to show the residents who can't see up into the nest. The residents and their families enjoyed seeing that.

As for vitals, I never asked why we don't. I was surprised when I started because during clinicals we of course took vitals quite often.

mindofmidwifery, ADN · May 20, 2015

I carry my phone because I use it instead of a watch. I suppose my LTC has no good staff then because all of us, including the nurses, have their phones on them. Today I used it to take photos of the baby birds outside our unit to show the residents who can't see up into the nest. The residents and their families enjoyed seeing that.
As for vitals, I never asked why we don't. I was surprised when I started because during clinicals we of course took vitals quite often.

^^this.

We aren't supposed to have our phones on us, but most of the staff do. The only person who's ever said anything to me about having my phone out was an LPN and I didn't listen to her because she has her phone out on her cart all the time. The DoN and none of my charge nurses have ever said anything to me. I like showing residents and their family members pictures of me when I had hair, my dog, and other relevant objects when we're having conversation.

FloatRN19 · May 22, 2015

I wear a timex ironman. It's great because it has an easy chrono feature so I have an easy reminder for things. Like I just gave a med throw something and i have to leave that tube unhooked for an hour etc. as for cellphone I have it on me, and then I usually end up just putting it next to the computer I'm charting on when I get fed up with it in my pocket. I don't ever really use it during work, except if I've got a weird drip protocol that's like if not in goal increase gtt by 1.5 percent. Or if my pen light dies in the middle of the night I'll just flip on the flashlight and use that.

CBlover, BSN, RN · May 22, 2015

Yes. Geneva watches. They come in all colors and are rubbery and cost like $5 and last a couple years. love 'em