NR 361 Week 7 Graded Discussion: Use of Personal Communication Devices in Patient Care Settings
How can the use of the nurse's personal communication
... [Show More] device(s) impact patient care either positively and/or negatively? Are there ethical and legal implications? Does your facility or school have a policy on personal use of cellphones while at work/school? Locate an article, and share a brief summary of that article with your classmates.
ANSWER
Bingley Response:
Neft & Greenier (2013) review the revision and development of new materials for the Professional Practice Manual for the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Position 2:18 position statement relates to mobile device use. This position statement purpose is to review the risks and benefits of such devices. “The position statement acknowledges that mobile device use is becoming more integrated into the delivery of patient care and has the potential to positively affect patient care by increasing productivity, increasing communication, reducing medical errors, and readily providing clinical resources” (Neft & Greenier, 2013). Neft & Greenier further discuss the risks and benefits of mobile devices (2013). Other considerations for mobile device use in the operating room discussed in this position statement include using sound clinical judgment when applying information provided by mobile applications, the potential for bacterial contamination, the potential for interference by mobile devices with medical equipment, the impact of the availability of camera phones and video capabilities, and the role of social media. I know that mobile devices are now part of our lives, but there is the chance of distractions and not paying attention to our patient. Healthcare providers need to avoid recreational use of mobile devices during patient care. According to our reading in Week 7, lesson, “Legal issues can range from professional malpractice to corporate wrongdoing related to information security”. Confidential information should be shared only with the patient’s informed consent, when legally required or where failure to disclose the information could result in significant harm. Beyond these very limited exceptions, a nurse is obligated to safeguard confidential information.
When Facebook became accessible by smartphones nurses would take pictures at that nurse’s station or in the department and post them. Worse yet, nurses would post comments regarding their patient assignment or how their day was going. Often, you would see healthcare workers constantly checking their smartphones for Facebook page updates/comments, checking emails, sending text messages or checking text messages at the nurse’s station or patient care areas. In 2014 HR updated the telephone and cellphone use policy. The policy states that excessive personal phone calls whether on CCF telephone or personal device is disruptive to patient care and safety. Personal phone should be restricted during work hours and personal phones should be used in non-working areas or avoid patient care areas during lunch periods or during scheduled breaks. Healthcare workers cannot post pictures of themselves or peers during work hours in patient-care areas, nor can they post anything work-related regarding patients or work-related issues.
Reference
Chamberlain College of Nursing. (2016). Week 7 Lesson: Communication systems, security, & confidentiality. Downers Grove, IL: Online Publication
Hebda, T., & Czar, P., (2013). Handbook of informatics for nurses &healthcare professionals (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson
Neft, M., & Greenier, E. (2013). An Update From the AANA Practice Committee: Application of the Evidence-Based Process. Practice News, 81(1), 12-12. Retrieved from Ebschohost. [Show Less]