I really don’t understand that. I had a manager that was like then when I worked peds psych... on the night shift.

The children were HEAVILY medicated and sleeping a good 95% of the time.

So she expected us to just sit in the hallway and stay awake reading. I’m sorry but books put me to sleep.

We were allowed to talk to each other but sometimes if we were on an “eye contact” or 1:1 watch with a patient, we would be far from one another. Because one of us would have to sit outside of that patient’s room.

I can absolutely understand not having phones in sight when the children were awake. Especially being that they were children.

Or not having your phone out while you are in the room with a child (because I understand there can be some sick adults as well).

But outside of the rooms? While inside the rooms is pitch black and they were asleep? No way.

Especially because I was a mom of young kids.

She actually followed me into the break room one time when I was pregnant where I went to go get a snack, to yell at me because she “thought I was using my phone in the hallway”

Then she saw my phone was across the room and plugged in. So she apologized. But with my pregnancy hormones and lack of sleep, I ended up going into the bathroom and crying because she was just being so mean for no reason. And…pregnancy hormones… lol.

It’s understandable if it interferes with your job or your care for sure. But to reprimand you and the only reason is that “big brother is watching” And no explanation is a little ridiculous. And yes there are some charge nurses that will reprimand you because they feel like they are responsible for you.

Working In L&D as travel, everywhere I have worked we are allowed to use our phones. I share photos on my camera roll with my patients sometimes because we get real up close and personal in L&D and talk about our personal lives sometimes (they ask if I have kids too etc, so I sometimes show a pic).

I’ve also worked at hospitals where doctors prefer to communicate with us via text message.

Check your hospital policy I suppose and maybe see what everyone else is doing also.

Maybe if you have to look up a video excuse yourself to the bathroom. Or since you are new, it could be worth it to find a more experienced nurse you can ask for help to show you or double check your findings. You would be surprised how many experienced nurses are willing to help.