Nursing student theft

[beeker]

I had a nursing student steal my stethoscope in early October. I left it on my cart in my patients room. My patient reported to me that the nursing student took it. I asked her and she denied it. I didnt see it, i should not have left it down, so I dropped it. I told the instructor and considered it gone forever. It was an unusual color and has my name engraved on it. Well, just got a call from the school that they have it, she is being kicked out of the nursing program and threatening to sue. They have a number if complaints with her,and apparently they have had my stethoscope since October when they found her sing it at clinical. Instead of telling me, they kept it as they were " building a case" against her. She was caught and arrested for stealing cell phones from patients.So they want me to file a police report and create a paper trail. I don't want any part of it. I feel like they were dishonest with me and now trying to make me the fall guy. I just don't want any part o f it. What would you do?

[BundokSaint]

Can't believe this school is making you jump through "hoops," instead of bending over backwards, sending you flowers, and FedExing your scope to you yesterday to smooth over the situation. My school and clinical instructors were very sensitive to not ******* off the hospitals and possibly losing those clinical sites.

...Well, just got a call from the school that they have it, she is being kicked out of the nursing program and threatening to sue. They have a number if complaints with her...

(bolding and underlining mine)

I guess it shouldn't surprise me, but this entitlement attitude even in the face of wrongdoing that is pervasive in today's society is sickening. Next, we're going to hear from her mother that she was a sweet child and never did anything wrong.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I can't believe the gall of a school that would hold someone's stolen property without notifying them for two months. I also can't think that this would reflect positively on a continued relationship between the facility and the school for continued clinical opportunities. I think your administration needs to be aware of not only the multiple incidences with the student but the fact that the school is withholding stolen property from the rightful owner.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

I would demand the stethoscope back. Stat. As for filing charges against her, I wouldn't waste my precious time on that. The school and police already have enough evidence on her, they don't need to drag you into it.

And shame on them for not returning the stethoscope immediately.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

You can't file criminal charges against her--only the state can. You could take her to civil/small claims court to be reimbursed for the cost of the replacement steth.

To be honest, even if you did file the police report, the DA may not press charges given it's been a while since the theft and the school had it in their possession for so long. That being said, you could always call your local police station and see what they say.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

I wouldn't be comfortable with myself knowing that I didn't speak up when a nursing student (no less) committed a crime. Personally, I

think it's an obligation to make sure that this person can never granted a nursing license.

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

So let me get this straight- the school was internally building a case and trying to keep it all under wraps, and then she went and got herself arrested because the hospital people actually knew how to take care of things?

[Mulan]

They just want you to do their dirty work for them.

[ADN2B]

Let the school reimburse you for your stethescope. Who knows what nasty bacteria is on the earpieces. I have seen pus drain from abscesses in ears.

[NurseDirtyBird]

Since when is a school a law enforcement entity that has the right to retain evidence in order to "build a case?" Maybe instead of filing a report with the police, you should contact a lawyer for legal advice.

[Paws2people]

It's like they are holding your stethoscope hostage. The school did not handle this situation properly. I'd request my scope back in writing, and make it clear you don't appreciate them being deceptive.

What a shame, here you are tackling nursing school and you have the added stress of this unnecessary drama.

[JBudd, MSN]

Paws, the OP is a hospital nurse, not in school. It was student that stole her scope, and the student's school who hid it.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

Since when is a school a law enforcement entity that has the right to retain evidence in order to "build a case?" Maybe instead of filing a report with the police, you should contact a lawyer for legal advice.

I went to school in Massachusetts, where all public college police, as well as Harvard and Brandeis campus police, are legally "special state police." The officers go to the state police academy and have police powers on campus. The stethoscope should still be returned ASAP.