Nurses and smartphones

Re: Nurses and smartphones

Neal Palk — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:34:10 GMT

Niall Taylor's response is sadly the 'best' - there's all sorts of rules & laws etc in society mainly to legislate for the few who missed out on the common-sense gene at conception.

Introduce and write down a practice policy - in my opnion, no personal use during the working period - and ensure everyone has seen and acknowledged it. Get staff to sign it if necessary. You won't regret doing it.....but you may increasingly regret not doing it!

Re: Nurses and smartphones

Lorna McHardy — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:04:43 GMT

[quote user="Utlendigur"]

Including vetsurgeon.org?

We did have a ban on mobiles at work after one of the receptionists kept taking frequent personal calls - she'd half hide in the toilet doorway just off reception with her back to the desk (on the assumption that if she couldn't see the client, they couldn't see her?), sometimes leaving clients standing at the desk. I think it's been relaxed a bit now but most of the staff are sensible and don't abuse the system. Maybe I'm too old (or have spent too many nights on call) but I can't see the attraction - my own mobile is ancient, usually switched off and sports a nice collection of canine dental impressions.

[/quote]

Including vetsurgeon.org unless it's a post for clinical advice needed urgently I really don't see why there should be difficulty distinguishing between work related and social; it seems pretty clear-cut to me.

As you say, the vast majority of staff are sensible and don't abuse the system; and will restrict the social chitchat on whatever medium to breaktimes. But if one doesn't, it can become a habit quite quickly, at which point, it's up to the boss when to say something.

And now I've got to go to work :0)))

Re: Nurses and smartphones

Alan Tevendale — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 07:35:18 GMT

Work use only during work hours as far as I am concerned. We have a computer that staff can use for social use during a break etc. Our staff are generally pretty good at this.

Re: Nurses and smartphones

Gerry Henry — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 07:32:06 GMT

Phones may be carried out of sight in a trouser pocket, ring off - vibrate on, during a shift but any use other than to respond to an urgent family/personal matter (Principal's permission sought first) is a disciplinary matter and will occasion, on a second offence, a written warning. Subsequent offences will result in dismissal.

Re: Nurses and smartphones

Acrobat77 — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 07:04:02 GMT

It's easy (for them) to perceive that 'the vets are allowed to use their phones, why can't we'? I'm not saying that's right, just how it is. Have to say on the whole everyone's very sensible about it. The worst offender isn't a nurse, I must say...

Re: Nurses and smartphones

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 22:33:35 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]This is a habit all young people seem to have, my daughters included and I find it extremely irritating.[/quote]

Not only young people. People old enough to know better are tapping and faffing at their pointless gadgets in the cinema, the theatre,............. Whence this need to constantly communicate?

I may have been very fortunate: neither my staff nor my daughters indulge in this. I'd never allow it during work.

Re: Nurses and smartphones

Niall Taylor — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:36:05 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]I just wonder if it is a bit draconian in this day and age...[/quote]

Give them an inch and they'll take a mile - clamp down now before it becomes part of the culture.

Niall

Re: Nurses and smartphones

Utlendigur — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:28:42 GMT

[quote user="Lorna McHardy"]no social internet networking whatsoever[/quote]

Including vetsurgeon.org?

Re: Nurses and smartphones

Lorna McHardy — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:26:55 GMT

[quote user="Acrobat77"]

Current policy is no phones apart from break times but it is a bit tricky when the vets are receiving (work-related) emails and taking calls (LA vets).

[/quote]

Why would that be tricky? Phone calls/emails are either work-related or they're not, surely.

Re: Nurses and smartphones

Acrobat77 — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:19:28 GMT

I once had a nurse updating Facebook whilst 'monitoring' an anaesthetic and found that totally unacceptable. So did the bosses and gave her a true bollocking. Current policy is no phones apart from break times but it is a bit tricky when the vets are receiving (work-related) emails and taking calls (LA vets).

Re: Nurses and smartphones

Lorna McHardy — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:51:20 GMT

Correction: no social internet networking on practice computers whatsoever. I'd momentarily forgotten you can access the things from a mobile. In your break!

Re: Nurses and smartphones

Lorna McHardy — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:49:37 GMT

During breaks only, and no social internet networking whatsoever, would be my approach.

And I'm not that old

Re: Nurses and smartphones

Catherine Hemingway — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:34:15 GMT

Drives me crazy and I don't consider myself to be that old! We have a policy of no phones at all in theatre but it's no so clear cut for other areas in the practice. My phone stays in my bag all day in the staff room, I can be found checking emails/facebook/texts etc during breaks. I figure that if anyone needs to get hold of me in an emergency they have my work number. I don't consider it to be professional at all to be seen tapping away on your phone whilst you're working.

Re: Nurses and smartphones

patrick murphy — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:59:37 GMT

no, I do not think that it is draconian. would you expect to work for someone, and then spend paid employment time playing with your phone. I am afraid that I am absolutely rigid that my wife and I will not pay for people tp play with their phones, on our dime, when there are always things to do. mind I only went on line at work late last year because of nurse's training, so I am an old one.

Re: Nurses and smartphones

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:33:02 GMT

We do have a policy and it is: no personal use allowed during working hours. But I just wonder if it is a bit draconian in this day and age, especially if its a quiet day, but they are starting to take the Mickey a bit and before I clamp down I just wondered if it something us old farts are sensitive about and should be a bit more liberal minded.

Re: Nurses and smartphones

Dagmar Steele — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:40:46 GMT

we are a very small practice so no policy. I only allow phone use during breaks. They leave it in the staff room switched on (muted) so they can see if someone rang or texted, but no way they take it to consults/operations etc.

Re: Nurses and smartphones

Rob Loxley — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:33:21 GMT

Do you not have a policy already on personal phone use? Personal internet use?

Re: Nurses and smartphones

Bob Russell — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:23:28 GMT

Work related tapping or emergencies would be my suggestion. Perhaps we are a bit older here and find phones a bit of a pain in the ar*e!