Nursing student theft

Nurses General Nursing

Published

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?

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?

From the information you have provided, everything you have on her is circumstantial. Although she was found with your property, you did not see her take it yourself, therefor I am not sure your police report would hold any ground.

In regards to getting your steth back, I agree with others about communicating with them, and give them your facts in writing. Legally they cannot hold it. (as far as I know, I do not live in the US :)

Good luck, I am so sorry you have experienced this. It must be so frustrating.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

I would demand that stethoscope back AND send them the bill for the new one. I'd also give your legal department a buzz and ask their advice.

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Don't do anything you don't want to do. Period. Good Luck

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*****************UPDATE***********

Just wanted to update on the long lost super expensive steth that I had stolen.

I received a phone call yesterday stating that I can pick up my stethoscope at THE SCHOOL. I went in to get it and the lady at the desk in the nursing dept gave me an update on what happened with the student. The lawsuit was finally settled a few weeks ago. The criminal part was done a long time ago, most charges were dropped and she was given community service and was trespassed from our hospital and is not allowed in. She sued the school, but they settled somehow, I was told she was kicked out of the Nursing program but not the college, apparently she had some other trouble with the law since then and has more crimes on her record which will prevent nursing anyway. She hasn't been attending school for more than a year now but is now allowed to go back. My unit manager had enlisted the liaison person that handles the clinicals at our hospital way back when to get my stethoscope back. I had to fill out several statements and have them notorized saying it was stolen and describing it and last word I heard was it was LOST and the school didn't know if they had ever had it (lies) The reason I am updating is because It magically turned up when all the lawsuit was settled, how convenient, and it had been lost but now was found. One again, I am FURIOUS at how this was handled. It was my Master Cardiology stethoscope, which was really expensive and I got it back all beat up and basically ruined. I sent a pretty unpleasant email to the Dean of the college, because of how poorly this was handled. I almost immediately received a phone call from the Deans assistant and was told my stethoscope will be replaced, she asked all the details about brand, color, etc and apologized profusely. They want me to come in for a meeting with the Dean so he can personally apologize and give me the new one. They are going to call me to schedule the meeting in a few weeks.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

What a clustereff.

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Specializes in ORTHO, PCU, ED.

Unbelievable. How downhill this world is going. I am immensely sorry for what all you have gone through thanks to a thief who wanted to steal from not only you but also patient's cell phones!!! I just cannot imagine such. Completely flabbergasted here.

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Sorry for all you went through, but very glad they are replacing the stethoscope!

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First off, I was disappointed that the thread didn't live up to it's title. I thought somebody had stolen a nursing student.

Dear Nursing School,

As you know, you have my stethescope, which was stolen by your student, Mary Wantfrieswiththat. Please return it today. If not, I will be filing a police report naming you for knowingly receiving stolen property, which is a crime.

Sincerely,

Nurse Reallytickedoff

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