Mobile phones in work time

Re: Mobile phones in work time

Phrin Vernon RVN — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:46:00 GMT

At my last practice the vets had practice mobiles as it was LA. Nurses worked 3 times a week at a remote branch with no land line, and so it was kinda expected that you had your mobile on you at all times. I have had bosses/HN/PM etc call on my mobile during work hours, as I have called them. Worked well for me as this was my first job since becoming a Mum, so it meant I was always instantly contactable with regards to nursery/school. Also as I had tons of free minutes which I never used, I liked to be able to call owners from my mobile (with 141!) and be able to talk to them as I was actually with their pet. All our practice phones were stuck to the wall - no cordless :(

However, I have seen some members of staff take the pee a wee bit with it - always texting, taking non urgent calls in theatre etc.

Previous to this, all other jobs have expected mobiles to be left in the staff room.... but then they were all SA only jobs which meant the vets had the same rule.

Re: Mobile phones in work time

SmegSlayer — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:21:41 GMT

[quote user="Caro Laithwaite VN,"]

Ok so l have to say this sorry but:

A lot of you like your vibrators!

**I shall now slink off very innocently into the morning haze**

[/quote]

LMAO!!!!!!!

I used have mine on vibrate only in the leg pocket of my green combat-style nursing trousers and unfortunately (or possibly not) would very rarely feel it vibrate....

Re: Mobile phones in work time

Caro Laithwaite VN — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 08:09:15 GMT

Ok so l have to say this sorry but:

A lot of you like your vibrators!

**I shall now slink off very innocently into the morning haze**

Re: Mobile phones in work time

Sarah Bolton — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:48:59 GMT

I keep mine with me at all times on silent. We use Vet-One which is an internet based programme so its really handy when I cant get access to a computer or the computers are down. I also use it for my calculator when working anything out.

Re: Mobile phones in work time

A-J — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:50:59 GMT

Mines with me all the time, like Stuart said i also use it for calculator, stopwatch, great when we had to refer a neuro case so got video footage of px, taking photos of potential cruelty cases, also great for a quick on the spot google for info related to work.

have it on vibrate.

Re: Mobile phones in work time

Nicola Smith — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:24:22 GMT

We have them left in the staff rom unless its something where someone is waiting for an urgent call. I think it is a distraction to have them going off or vibrating in the surgery.

Re: Mobile phones in work time

BengalcatRVN — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:14:54 GMT

I have my phone on me, or did till I lost it! Silent and not on vibrate. It often started off in the bag, until after ops were finished. I use it to have a break sometimes (like smokers with cigs) and although I used to be very obcessed, I've slowed down. I use it to call my partner (usually while on route to the shop) and he calls or texts me. Better than the clinic phone, as I won't use it to make outgoing calls at a cost to the clinic. I don't feel I take the micky on my phone, as I usually use it out the back or on the way to the shops.

I am against bbm-ing every 30 secs, phones in consults and taking personal calls when in front of clients (unless emergency, in which case I'd get called on the landline)

Re: Mobile phones in work time

Gemma Burden RVN — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 19:39:47 GMT

I am alone in my practice at never having my phone on me, it stays in my bag all of the time and I take the attitude that anyone who will need me urgently will know where I am and be able to get hold of me at work. All of the other nurses keep their phones on them all of the time, but I don't actually feel that this is appropriate as they end up a distraction - if you dont know you have a message etc then you dont feel the need to reply to it straight away. I have worked with nurses that are obsessed with their phones, and as someone who isn't always that great at checking their phone I do find this really annoying. And as others have said, I have seen them interfer with equipment. Overall I just can't see the need to have them with you at all times except for in exceptional circumstances.

Re: Mobile phones in work time

PHA86 — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 19:22:38 GMT

[quote user="PHA86"]

I use mine to time pulse/resp rates, as fob watches always end up in the washing machine. I'm not the only one in the practice to do this, nobody minds as long as you're not talking the Michael.

[/quote]

TAKING the Michael, even!

Re: Mobile phones in work time

Steph Worsley — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 19:20:25 GMT

most of the staff at work have mobiles on them, we have work ones but we can also have our own as long as on silent/not on them all the time.

I have seen them affect ECG's/dopplers but only when tying to pick up signal/recieving messages/calls etc not all the time, same as if they are close to speakers there is electrical interference. But saying that clippers can affect ECGS as well in a similar way

I am not totally against them unless people are not doing their work cos they are on them all the time

Re: Mobile phones in work time

PHA86 — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 19:20:16 GMT

I use mine to time pulse/resp rates, as fob watches always end up in the washing machine. I'm not the only one in the practice to do this, nobody minds as long as you're not talking the Michael.

Re: Mobile phones in work time

Katie Mansfield — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 19:11:42 GMT

In my local NHS hospital there are signs up telling people not to have mobiles on cos they interfere with the monitors, altho all the docs have them instead of pagers ( a nurse told me they were on a different frequency to normal mobiles). Does anyone know if mobile phones actually do interfere with ECGs and monitoring equipment? Might be important - esp in theatre!!

K x

Re: Mobile phones in work time

Sal the 1st — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 18:56:03 GMT

I have only very recently started having my phone in my pocket on silent at all times since my mother hasnt been well. I dont like people carrying phones around I have to admit, and when I was HN my policy was your phone either goes in your locker whilst you are working or stays at home unless there were special circumstances - too much of a distraction, and yes I did enforce it, especially after having to listen repeatedly to a Nellie Furtado ringtone during a very involved x - lap fb retrieval because operating vet had left phone in his pocket - and there was no way on earth I was going fishing for it to turn it off/ answer it even tho I was asked

Another thing to mention is that mobiles can seriously screw up some of your lab machines in the same way that radios can if they are too close - some of them can be really upset by 'noise' so if you want happy lab machines protect them from bad music and inane chatter

Re: Mobile phones in work time

Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 18:03:02 GMT

I have mine on me all the time - it's like an extra limb!

As far as the phone goes that's on silent and the vibrate is off... but it's my calculator, stop watch etc etc etc... I use it for lots of non-mobile things throughout the day...

If I ask special permission I can have the volume on - for example if my relatives are in hospital back home. I just have to remember to leave it outside the consult room when doing PTS's etc... but I've only ever had to do this once and it never went off!

If your practice have a rule it should very much be a blanket rule and not something that the nurses have to but the management don't!!!

Re: Mobile phones in work time

Catherine Raymond — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 17:24:25 GMT

It's annoying when phones go off when you are in the middle of something. Our policy is no mobile phones during work time.. Not followed by all. When my mum was in hospital I had my phone on silent in my pocket as I was between the two surgeries and so quicker to get hold of me, otherwise in an emergency everyone knows to call work.

Re: Mobile phones in work time

Julie-Anne Wilson — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 16:53:10 GMT

I don't think my current work have an actual policy on them, if they do no-one's ever told me it. I currently carry mine in my pocket on silent. I don't check it all the time though and if I feel it vibrating, I'd only look at it if I wasn't busy and even then I'd only answer it if I thought it might be important. My family are the only people who would contact me and they generally wouldn't do it during working hours anyway.

Re: Mobile phones in work time

GremlinNurse — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 16:17:44 GMT

This is a real bugbear of mine lol

I think they should be in bag/locker and only used at break times or if you're expecting an urgent call such as from docs, partner, bank etc. Other calls can come through the work line, as long as it's not a half hour conversation

Having heard of people using them at really inappropriate times and being totally distracted by them I don't mind being hardline about them!

Re: Mobile phones in work time

Nicola Jamieson — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 12:47:33 GMT

I think as long as people are sensible and have it on silence, not texting etc when clients in view i don't see it as a problem for people to have their phone in their pocket. Some work places do not like people taking personal calls at work.

Re: Mobile phones in work time

Anonymous — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 12:22:17 GMT

in the job before this on phones had to be off and in your bag. in my current job you can have them in your pocket. i do think if its important call then they should ring you in work on the work line but if its just to check facebook or ask whats for tea then it should be in your bag as i think it doesnt look very good if a client walks in and every one is on there phones.

Re: Mobile phones in work time

Lauren Innes Bsc(hons) , RVN — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 11:31:13 GMT

I leave mine on silent in my bag, there is no signal in the practice anyway so carrying it would be fruitless. I think they can be distracting at work, totally understand if there is a serious and genuine reason for phone carrying, but to tweet, check FB and text your BFF about last nights TOWIE?, no.

Re: Mobile phones in work time

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 11:21:46 GMT

Mine goes everywhere with me but given the way things are with mum tough l have no choice between her, psychiatrists, social workers, hospitals etc etc & all the attending mess in life l have no choice. Happy to not carry it if anyone wants to take over my life.