to report or not to report...

Nurses General Nursing

Published

i posted this once, but i'm not sure it posted, so i'm doing it again....hopefully i don't double post

So, we all know that we work ourselves to the point of exhaustion and sickness....I reached that point the other day. I work in an ECF and the night was just one of the worst i have had in a long long time. By the end of the night i was feeling very nauseated and wondered if i could call my doctor and just ask her to call in an order for me. I asked the other nurse on duty if she thought my doctor would comply. She actually looked at me and told me to take some off the cart. She brushed it off to say that the medicine wasn't of much importance and it wasn't like taking narcs or other meds used for specific diseases. Don't worry, i DIDN'T take it off the cart, but now i'm wondering more and more. There had been rumors flying around about this nurse and how she supposedly had been fired from other jobs for stealing meds. Of course i had heard it and got just as much amusement from hearing it as everyone else did, but i didn't actually believe it. I mean we all know how the gossip mill works....most of the things we hear only have a tiny bit of truth in it. So, now i'm pretty convinced that those rumors may have more truth in them. Now i do work with this nurse fairly often. Everyone that follows her complains about her, but she is an RN for several years and an LPN many years prior to that....and i'm a new grad LPN with about 8 years of aide experience....so most of the time i just don't question the things she does. I do what i need to do and if she needs help i help her, if i need help i ask for it. I NEVER give her my keys (thank god i don't do that with anyone) but i'm starting to become paranoid. What is my obligation here? should i report it? i mean it wasn't like i saw her take anything or that i've ever seen anything done wrong. She's done things differently than i would have on many things, but i just always say "i'm the new grad." but i just don't want to be in a situation where things come up missing or because i work with her i should "know what she's doing all the time." any suggestions on what i should do to CMA (cover my a**)

Hands and Heart

217 Posts

We all know rumors can be very hurtful and damaging to a person's reputation. Unless you actually saw this nurse commit an unlawful, unethical, unprofessional act you really have nothing to report except suspicion and there appears to already be some of that surrounding this nurse. I suggest that you continue to be vigiliant in performing your duties to the best of your ability and not open yourself up for suspicion by not engaging in any of the shoddy practices of the other nurse. Keep your eyes open for inconsistencies. But until you have cold hard facts there is nothing for you to report.

mpccrn, BSN, RN

527 Posts

Specializes in ICU.

i agree with hands and heart. if she's doing something unethical, she'll eventually hang herself. keep your keys with you at all times and do your job to the best of your abilities. :heartbeat

Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.

My vote is not report, Hands and Heart said it all, no proof, just worry about doing your job, I don't see any need to CYA in this instance. Even if the rumors are true, it doesn't mean she is still doing this at this job. Many of us dole out Motrin or Tylenol to each other if we need it , I don't think that equates with unethical behavior or stealing narcs. If she is stealing narcs, she'll make her own bed.

Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

Unless you are actually witnessing this, I would NEVER report it. All you have is hearsay and a "hinkie" feeling. Cold, hard facts would be needed to even consider reporting someone....

Vito Andolini

1,451 Posts

do not report it. do not give anyone your keys. ask her to explain things she does when you don't understand.

you are not her mother. you're a peer. she's responsible for herself.

keep your own counsel. do not gossip or "share" that she advised you take meds off of the cart. you should, however, let her know that that is stealing and that licenses could be lost over such behavior. not to mention she must answer to the highest authority, that is my religious belief anyway. do not be officious when you tell her. just be calm and quiet and keep it just between the 2 of you. maybe she will open up to you about her troubles and you could possibly help her y listening and recommending she see her clergyman or a counselor for help. is there eap?

encourage her to do better, to live up to what she must know is the right way to behave. a good name, a clear conscience - these are pricelsss. so easy to lose, so hard to replace. although, i do believe we can have forgiveness with god just by asking him to forgive us and then accepting that he did, since he already paid for our sins, via his son, jesus. much more easily than with man, as man cannot forget our misdeeds. man must choose to overlook them and to recognize that he is subject to the same weaknesses as the one he is judging. god gets to forget. not fair! :wink2:

ktwlpn, LPN

3,844 Posts

Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
...I work in an ECF and the night was just one of the worst i have had in a long long time. By the end of the night i was feeling very nauseated and wondered if i could call my doctor and just ask her to call in an order for me. I asked the other nurse on duty if she thought my doctor would comply. She actually looked at me and told me to take some off the cart. She brushed it off to say that the medicine wasn't of much importance and it wasn't like taking narcs or other meds used for specific diseases. Don't worry, i DIDN'T take it off the cart,)..

Excellent advice from everyone else-many of us have taken OTC meds from work.It IS stealing so it certainly should not be something to brag about.I am guilty my self of taking a few tylenol from stock in an emergency.BUT-the last time I got a flu -like thing I left-and I missed 3 more days ...I am not going to play martyr any longer-if I'm sick I'm leaving or calling off and I won't feel guilty about it....You should have done the same.We have to take care of ourselves before we can care for others...

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