Nursing Performance and Mobile Phone Use: Are Nurses Aware of Their Performance Decrements?

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Technology
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Mobile phone use by healthcare professionals is a growing concern.
• Previous research indicates potential negative impacts on medical care.
• This study investigates hospital registered nurses' awareness of mobile phone-related performance issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare self-reported performance with observed performance regarding mobile phone use among hospital registered nurses.
• To assess nurses' awareness of mobile phone-associated performance decrements.

Main Methods:

• A validated survey was distributed to 10,978 members of the Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses in March 2014.
• Responses were analyzed using a two-proportion z test to compare self-reported and observed error rates.
• Demographic and employment confounders were tested for significance.

Main Results:

• A significant difference was found between self-reported and observed error rates in work performance, missing clinical information, and making medical errors.
• 69.5% of respondents believed nurses' personal mobile phone use negatively impacts patient care.
• Nurses reported personal mobile phone use as a distraction, with 13% always finding it so.

Conclusions:

• Hospital registered nurses may have an overinflated sense of their ability to manage mobile phone use risks.
• Nurses might not accurately assess when it is appropriate to use personal devices at work.
• Findings suggest a potential gap between perceived and actual performance regarding mobile phone use in nursing.