NR361 WEEK 7 DISCUSSION 2021 EDITION

Use of Personal Communication Devices in Patient Care Settings (graded) How can the use of the nurse's personal communication devices impact patient care either positively or negatively? Are there ethical and legal implications? Locate an article and share a brief summary of that article with your classmates. Respond This section lists options that can be used to view responses. Collapse All Print View Show Options Responses Responses are listed below in the following order: response, author and the date and time the response is posted. Sort by Read/Unread Sort by Response Sorted Ascending, click to sort descending Sort by Author Sort by Date/Time* Collapse Mark as Read Use of PCD in Patient Care Settings Deborah Scott Email this Author 2/15/2015 2:17:54 PM The article I chose, discussed a new trend emerging which was BYOD (bring your own device), discusses the pros and cons of using personal smart phones, or other devices, while on the job. While many employ these devices, it can play havoc with IT, trying to keep not only EHRs safe when someone accesses them from a smart device, but if that device were to become hacked or left unattended. Many utilize these devices to enhance their patient care, making sure that medication errors don't happen, accessing critical information or labs, or many other such ways of going throughout their days. There is discussion on utilizing these for patient call lights, or having them automated into a nurse's own smart phone for messages from a patient, but then you would need to safeguard each one of these employees phones for HIPPA compliance and safety regulations. This is definitely where nursing is going, but with it's own set of problems. We recently had an only-Spanish speaking teen on my unit, and while it was fine to take him into a separate room to use the Cyracom to conduct the shift assessment, or interviews, for quick questions, it seemed a bit much. Luckily, one of my new nurses remembered to access Google translator, and was able to translate via smart phone for simple questions. It saved a lot of time, for something like "are you hungry"? Technology is amazing, but we still have to remember the limitations when we cross into some territories, until we learn what they are. Respond Collapse Mark as Read RE: Use of PCD in Patient Care Settings Robyn Woodman Email this Author 2/17/2015 4:57:06 AM Deborah, Technology is wonderful and it changes so quickly. We have moved to the wireless phones for answering pt needs on the floors. I don't care for them. Well, I must say that we are one of the last floors to have the new system. I never know how to answer the phone, is it a phone call coming through or is it a call bell. Luckily I don't have to work on the floor too much at this time. Currently we are not allowed to have our cell phoned on the floor. I can understand this, some people just can't show restraint when using their phone. We use the Language line for communicating with other languages. It's wonderful for the most part. It uses two phones or you could use just one really. It connects to Spanish speaking people really fast. The only problem is it can be slow with more obscure languages. Great post, Robyn Respond Collapse Mark as Read RE: Use of PCD in Patient Care Settings Suzanne Martell Email this Author 2/17/2015 1:31:56 PM Deborah, I had no idea there was a google translator. That would have saved so much frustration in the past with using the old style translation phones. I think that is a very positive way to use technology and the nurse on your unit should be applauded. Respond Collapse Mark as Read RE: Use of PCD in Patient Care Settings Robyn Woodman Email this Author 2/18/2015 4:28:21 AM Suzanne, There are also translator apps for phones! So cool, Robyn Respond Collapse Mark as Read RE: Use of PCD in Patient Care Settings Joann Wagenhoffer Email this Author 2/20/2015 8:47:56 AM Hello Suzanne, Before you started using Google Translator you may want to check your facility's policy on the use of these services. To become a translator which is used by phone translator services you have to become certified to be a translator. When you call these services they provide you with a ID number which should be noted in you charting because if miscommunication does come into question you can refer back to the translator who relaid the message. Google translator is a handy services, but unless you know how to translate what they are saying yourself who knows what they are writing. You may think it is the message you want saying, but there is really no way to tell. Respond Collapse Mark as Read RE: Use of PCD in Patient Care Settings Vanessa Baker Email this Author 2/22/2015 10:12:50 PM Deborah, This is an example of what I mentioned about referencing. I have a translation app. I got it because I love language, and because we have so many Polish and Spanish speaking patients. I chose the language, type in what I want to say, the app translates. I usually just get a yes or no. If it's not in German- I cant understand an expanded response, but at least, I can get a feel for what's going on. I use this app multiple times a week. It was $3.00, and totally worth it. Respond Collapse Mark as Read RE: Personal Devices Shelly Earlywine Email this Author 2/15/2015 5:49:37 PM Modified:2/16/2015 5:20 PM It can impact both ways I would say.The article that I read gave some interesting information on both sides. Some of the positives are that it would increase productivity, lower patient wait time, and allow for better patient information management. The negatives seem to outweigh the positives. There are safety issues, Probable HIPPA violations, infection control issues, medical equipment interference, and a distraction of the professional. As previously stated, there are legal/ethical issues, mainly with HIPPA. The professional could possibly take a picture fo the patient without their knowledge and post it along with all their information included. According to this weeks leasson " Some nurses do not realize the implications of using social networking venues and the results they can have for the nurse and his or her employer, and more importantly, for patients." (CNN,2014) The issue with the device being owned individually and not by the business is that the employer can not dictate what the use of the phone is for and how it used. It is a major HIPPA violation, mainly because they can not be made to erase any information obtained thru out the day.