Nurses’ self-reported smartphone use during clinical care

Abstract

The Nursing Executive at a large tertiary hospital was concerned that nurses using smartphones on duty could be distracted and more vulnerable to clinical error. However, the nursing executive also recognized that smartphones could deliver on-the-job benefits. As a result, they were unsure how best to manage smartphone use. To guide policy, we designed a questionnaire study to survey nurse smartphone use and attitudes towards use at the hospital. Results showed that 57% of the 299 respondents did not carry their phones on duty. There were significant positive correlations between reported frequency of use and nurse unit manager (NUM) attitude, with most NUMs banning cell phones. Nurses found smartphones disruptive and inappropriate while delivering patient care. However, many nurses liked to be contactable by family/friends, and technically competent nurses used phones for work purposes. Age and technology acceptance were significantly negatively correlated, and use/technology acceptance was more prevalent among younger nurses than their older colleagues. The adoption of smartphones by younger nurses suggests that policy should be formulated around allowing phones.