younger generation of nurses and blackberries?

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Is it me or are the latest crop of nurses addicted to their blackberries? Our hospital policy is no cell phones, blackberries on the unit but i see nurses everywhere texting on the job. I've heard of nurses texting in a patients room, I've seen nurses on facebook in the ED and texting down the hall.

What is it with the lack of professionalism? If I was in a doctor's office and he texting in the middle of an exam, I'd have a coronary. So why do nurses feel that they need to be accessible 24/7?

It's really a huge pet peeve of mine. I wish more managers would report these employees and start a paper trail.

Anyone else notice this?

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
To the above poster who thinks I'm stereotyping. Yes, I should have said "the majority" of these offenders are under 30. I'm sure there are some "older" nurses who do it too. I stand corrected.

Some of the worst cell phone/texting offenders I've seen are definitely over 30. It's like they're making up for lost time.

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Shame on management for allowing this to go. Oh wait, they will enforce the rules when they decide there is someone in particular they want to get rid of and then that will be the reason they use.

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i am younger, i do carry my cell on me at work (vibrate) during the times my husband is deployed incase something happened to him/his unit and rear D needs to get in touch with me. if hes not deployed i still have my phone at work but keep it on vibrate in the staff room. nothing is that important that it cant wait a few hours until i have a break. i see lots of my co-workers using their phones on the floor, mostly young staff but not always. it looks so unprofessional! I have even seen nurses talking on their phones while they are at the med cart! thats an accident waiting to happen. I know some use it to look up medications, personally i am old fashioned and would rather go grab a book and look in there or on the computer.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Just to clarify - I'm 51 so I guess I'm making up for lost time - lol!

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Let me tell you, since apparently I'm part of the youngin group, the situation is NOT going to get better unless the system/policies in place weren't just text on a piece of paper.

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i am younger, i do carry my cell on me at work (vibrate) during the times my husband is deployed incase something happened to him/his unit and rear D needs to get in touch with me. if hes not deployed i still have my phone at work but keep it on vibrate in the staff room. .

My husband's deployed as well. His unit has my work number and hospital location. They will never call with that kind of news. I know this because, they arrived at my best friend's job to give her the news that no spouse ever wants to hear.

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You're exactly right.

Let me tell you, since apparently I'm part of the youngin group, the situation is NOT going to get better unless the system/policies in place weren't just text on a piece of paper.
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Specializes in Peri-Op.

I use it to text my nurses and techs all day as to which room they will be in next with what case an which surgeon. Text to tell them when to come in the next day. Which patient to go pick up.... all day. I'm 33 and in management. ... things that make you go hmmmmmmm

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My husband's deployed as well. His unit has my work number and hospital location. They will never call with that kind of news. I know this because, they arrived at my best friend's job to give her the news that no spouse ever wants to hear.

oh i know death notifications are in person. but the wives here have a key caller system, they will call to let you know if something happened in the unit (injury/death of someone not your spouse). but assuming he was injured, he would call me directly (if he was able to)

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Specializes in ICU.
I use it to text my nurses and techs all day as to which room they will be in next with what case an which surgeon. Text to tell them when to come in the next day. Which patient to go pick up.... all day. I'm 33 and in management. ... things that make you go hmmmmmmm

My nurse manager does the same. We all find it very effective and are always 'in the know' of things she needs us to know. I appreciate it, since she's often leaving as I get here for my shift, and I don't have a lot of time to ask questions or hear about changes in our department. :)

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Specializes in Neuroscience/Neuro-surgery/Med-Surgical/.

Yes, I see it too....but it also includes those over 30. And where I work, I just don't understand it. There is a computer in every patient room, and the EMAR has every drug referenced for purpose/side effects/etc... and there is connection to the internet if one wanted to look up diagnoses/treatment/etc.... So why is there a need to use their blackberry/iphone/cell phone? Because they are dependent on it.

I am a daughter of a nurse, and had directions to call Mom at the hospital EMERGENCIES only, and yes, Nurse Mom worked evenings and nights....so she wasn't always there to tuck us in at night, or say good night, or discuss our day at school, but we survived.

I don't carry my phone with me while at work purposely because I don't want to be distracted. I am there to work. My husband, and my folks know the hospital # to call me in emergencies only. Has not happened yet in all of 8 years of nursing (thankfully).

The last time I went without a computer and cell phone for a full week was last May while on vacation! I loved it!

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.

Im under 30 and use my iphone frequently at work to convert units, level transducers, look up drugs on micromedix, check lab references, and use the calculator. Im paranoid that people think Im texting, so I always just joke with my patient/family that Im not surfing my phone--Im using it for work.

I agree that its hard to judge people to be "texting" since they could be doing a variety of very work-related things too.

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