What is it with nurses and cell phones? Just a vent.

Nurses Professionalism

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Recently my hospital has upgraded or introduced multiple new computer programs that have required almost every level of nurse from bedside to administration to attend class in order to use the new technology. I have assisted in teaching numerous classes and before each we ask that cell phones be silenced and put away, that if anyone must make or take a call or text to please exit the room and return when done, and not to text while in class or you will be asked to leave. Despite this every class we have multiple violators and the majority when asked to leave are not embarrassed but become angry when asked to follow rules and be respectful of educators and classmates. I can't say it's any one age group since I've had 22 year olds to 70 year olds as the culprits. Sometimes I just have to shake my head at what passes for professionalism these days. This is just a vent, not looking for validation. Have a great day!

Specializes in Allergy/Immunology.
I am a parent and cannot understand people's need to be reached every single second. If my husband is home with my son, he darned well better know what to do in an emergency, otherwise, he's not much of a parent.I could not agree more.My son or husband can wait 30 minutes to get an answer to pretty much any question either of them has. If they can't, they should be calling 911 instead of me.
I could not agree more.
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The kids should not be texting/calling to ask if they can go to the neighbor's house. That is not emergent. Spouses and caregivers are competent to make decisions in your absence. If there is a true emergency, family members should be instructed to call the unit you are on or campus police if you are in class. If you desire to be in charge of your loved ones, then don't choose to be at school or work. I had a teacher who pulled out her gradebook and deducted 5 points for every cell phone interruption. As for use while on the floor, at the hospital--unacceptable. HIPPA comes to mind, as well, concerning use while working.

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Specializes in Allergy/Immunology.
Yup. I will say it. I'm not putting mine away. EVER. I am a mother of three and a wife and if someone in my family needs me then I at least, want to know that someone called. Sure. I will step out of the room and will refrain from texting or emailing during class but otherwise, feel free to fire me for keeping the phone out on the desk. Go for it. Do I see the point in adopting the policy? Sure. Hopefully, the policy adopters also get mine.
I'm also a mother & wife, and in that exact moment, what could you do anyway, being in a class or lecture? I silenced my phone yesterday & told my husband I couldn't be reached & he'd have to take care of anything that came up. And why shouldn't he?
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I'd think deducting a percentage of the student's grade for each time the cell phone went off in class would have taught them the lesson much faster....... I may become one of the world's least popular nursing instructors, but unless the school policy forbids it, that may be my plan once I finish my masters and start teaching.

There are lots of professors that forbid cellphone use in class. Many kick the student out of class for the rest of the day. If they were getting ready to take an exam or quiz then it was just too bad. I only brought up that professor because what he did actually changed the behavior of the students. No one wanted to be the person that had to stand up and sing. And no one wanted to just leave class. Everyone knows that missing one A&P class can be the difference between an A or a B.

There is something to be said for public embarrassment/shame.... It's effective!

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Specializes in Allergy/Immunology.
It may be that they've all taken the class before, but I can't imagine anything more rude to the teacher than to have to look out at a sea of people ignoring them. I'd be tempted to just walk out the back door if it were me. So yeah, I do think even texting should be limited because generally everyone believes their reason is very important as we can tell by some of the examples here.
What about in nursing school when we haven't learned it before? ;)
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Specializes in Allergy/Immunology.
Some nurses are evil. I am not a nurse yet but will be. And I will make sure Im an exception.
Huh? What does that contribute to the conversation?
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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Not to seem dense, but how does staying in constant contact change this situation, other than you going straight to the hospital instead of home and then the hospital? And, if you wait until class is over and check your phone, you don't even have the detour.

My child is everything to me, but if he had a fall and needed to go to the hospital, I could wait to find out until it didn't interrupt everyone else. I think we have all just grown so accustomed to being available every second that we are unable to stand the thought of it not being so.

When my father-in-law died, my husband and I were camping and had no cell service. We didn't find out about it until the next day. There is NOTHING we could have done to keep him from dying by finding out the day before. It was horrible that we lost him, and we still feel his loss terribly, but he would have passed regardless of us having cell service or not.

But if you had been reached, would you have cut your trip short to go spend his last hours with him? That is the difference. If my daughter were injured, I would drop everything and go. And like someone else mentioned, it would be more of a distraction to me NOT knowing I can be reached if anything is wrong.

As to the PP who mentions the non-domesticated spouse who is the only option for daycare, I feel ya!

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Can you explain what this means, please?

Extra = doing too much. Uneccesary. Over the top. Lol. Guess I'm too young for you guys. Didn't think that was slang.

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We are no nonsense parents. That iPhone has been sitting in a drawer for over a year now. Its a 3rd generation and totally outdated now anyway. He used to ask when he's getting it back. As if.

Times are so different than when we were our kids' age.........years ago we walked everywhere and there were pay phones EVERYWHERE so that when we did something silly or needed our parents, we had a way to be in touch......I hope you never live long enough to regret being "No nonsense parents." There are so many crazies and dangerous situations out there that I would want my kids to be able to reach me IMMEDIATELY, whether its a call or a text message! A trak phone is cheap and unreliable. Texting is an add-on which YOU must have allowed when you gave him the other phone so what is a teenager supposed to do? Other than that, I can only imagine that you could hold your child hostage until he is old enough to move away from home and get his own phone service. Hopefully, he'll still want to be calling or texting you by then.

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Times are so different than when we were our kids' age.........years ago we walked everywhere and there were pay phones EVERYWHERE so that when we did something silly or needed our parents, we had a way to be in touch......I hope you never live long enough to regret being "No nonsense parents." There are so many crazies and dangerous situations out there that I would want my kids to be able to reach me IMMEDIATELY, whether its a call or a text message! A trak phone is cheap and unreliable. Texting is an add-on which YOU must have allowed when you gave him the other phone so what is a teenager supposed to do? Other than that, I can only imagine that you could hold your child hostage until he is old enough to move away from home and get his own phone service. Hopefully, he'll still want to be calling or texting you by then.

You can't find a pay phone anywhere these days. When I was younger my mom always put change in my pocket to call from a pay phone. These days, a cell phone is a necessary part of life, if it weren't then the government wouldn't give free cell phones and plans to deservant families. So thank you for reminding me of that. When your child is walking home from the bus stop, a text to know they made it home safe is a huge relief. Great point!

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But if you had been reached, would you have cut your trip short to go spend his last hours with him? That is the difference. If my daughter were injured, I would drop everything and go. And like someone else mentioned, it would be more of a distraction to me NOT knowing I can be reached if anything is wrong.

As to the PP who mentions the non-domesticated spouse who is the only option for daycare, I feel ya!

Im the PP who mentioned the non-domesticated spouse and thank you. It's not easy right? I'm right there with ya!

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I'm just blown away by the number of people who can't trust their children's other parent. There are some much deeper issues than cell phones.

I still stand by my assertion that anyone on the phone during an exam doesn't need to be there. I just don't understand the rudeness present in today's society, I guess.

You just don't get it, and that's ok but we have to do what we have to do. We are all trying to survive and make the best life we possible can for our families and you are in no position to judge

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