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?

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Sounds to me like the school has enough on her without having to drag you into it. I say let them figure it out. You probably have bigger fish to fry anyway. This student seems to be hanging herself just fine on her own.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

I would send a letter requesting the return of your stethoscope without delay, as they are holding onto your property without your consent; especially since you notified them at the time! They can't put conditions on you to get your own property back. Registered mail no less.

If they don't, I'd take it to your administration. The school deserves to lose your hospital as a clinical site, not for the actions of the student but for their own failure to return your scope at the time.

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Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.

If they already have a case against her, its up to you. In either case, they need to return your scope and possibly even reimburse you if your purchased another one. Since they admitted they had it since October, this has cost you money. They didn't need to hold onto it for a case against her. They could have given it back and had you sign something with the date and time of the incident to keep it on record. The whole situation sounds like a mess. Hopefully you get your scope back and can be done with this. Sounds like the student hung herself.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

Counterpoint:

Most of the other victims are patients, probably focused on getting better? If every other victim has the attitude of "they can get along without me," then nothing may happen other than she gets kicked out of school. Anyone stealing from a patient needs a conviction to be sure that person isn't able to gain entrance to some other school down the line.

Of course, if you reported & generated a theft report at the time, the paper trail would already exist.

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Specializes in Med Surg.
I had a nursing student steal my stethoscope in early October. What would you do?

File a report.

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.

I would be ****** enough to bring charges against her. My stethoscope was a graduation present from my extended family and has a lot of sentimental value. BUT I would be ****** at the school for holding on to it when they knew it had been stolen. I think writing a letter outlining what you saw and what was told to you should be enough, along with a demand for your stethoscope back.

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I would type out a statement of what I saw/heard, if that's what they wanted.

But filing an actual police report, as in going to the station and wasting half a day and dragging me into what could be a tedious, drawn out legal process? No, sorry, not my problem.

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Counterpoint:

Most of the other victims are patients, probably focused on getting better? If every other victim has the attitude of "they can get along without me," then nothing may happen other than she gets kicked out of school. Anyone stealing from a patient needs a conviction to be sure that person isn't able to gain entrance to some other school down the line.

Of course, if you reported & generated a theft report at the time, the paper trail would already exist.

I did not actually see her do it, and she denied it. Although I was pretty sure she had, i was not 100% sure and I did not want to file a report and falsely accuse her in case I was mistaken. Seems ridiculous to file it now, because its convenient for them. Know what would have been convenient for me? Getting my scope back instead of buying a new one. I think I am more mad at the school. They held my belongings and are now trying to use me. She's already been arrested for stealing cellphones while in the hospital, so that hospital is pursuing charges. I want my scope back.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

See if your employer or risk management can help. Were they kind enough to make their request in writing as they are basically holding your stethoscope hostage & in illegal possession of known stolen property? (Hope so as this will be beneficial to you)

I'm guessing the hospital lawyer might have a thing or two to say about their botched handling of the situation. How can you file a police report if you have no first hand knowledge? The school is being ridiculous !!!

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The police will frown on you for filing the report late and creating useless work. I would request the return of your property. If you want to write a statement, that should be sufficent.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Contact the school, advise them to take a nice glossy photo of your scope and let them know you will send in a notarized testimony outlining the stethoscope incident. Have them send you back your scope post haste. Number one, the police may not be willing to do a report about a theft that happened over 2 months ago and has been perhaps in their eyes "resolved" by the college. But it may be worth inquiring if you're interested in pursuing it. I know i wouldn't be. Number two, they have more than enough other evidence to "build a case". Are they holding on to the stolen patient's phones as well? They should just return your property. Beyond that they should have contacted you right away when they found out she had your scope - not 2 months later. I agree with the above poster that said that perhaps it's worth mentioning to your administration that this event was handled in such a way. Lord knows what they would do if a student stole from the hospital - would they drag their heels the same way?

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