Unethical? Illegal?

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

My best friend recently visited me over the weekend and she was telling me about her neighbor's daughter who recently had T&A surgery. The neighbor offered the OR nurse $50 to pierce her child's ears while she was under GA. Lo and behold, the daughter had pierced ears when I saw her, and was bragging that she had it done at the surgery center. The child is 9.

I was flabbergasted. Although the neighbor WANTED this done, the CHILD wanted it done, and the OR nurse apparently carried out the ear piercing herself, I am still in shock. I didn't see the consent of course, and I know that it could have been included...but the OR nurse accepted the $50. Isn't that illegal? Or is it just unethical?

Anyone else hear of such a thing?

[LACA, BSN, LPN, RN]

Some doctor's offices DO pierce ears, my niece had hers done at a dr in Florida when she was 8 months old. I'm not sure about it being at the surgery center and the $50 being exchanged though.

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

Wow. Don't know what to say. I personally think this should be illegal and unethical. The nurse should not use her employers time and supplies to do the piercing. I just think this whole scenario is bad.

[j621d]

I would imagine it would be against some policy of the facility - or they will be writing a new policy soon. I would say it is unethical, as there was no written consent for it to be done in the facility.

[BluegrassRN]

I'm skeptical of the details. 3rd person and all.

As noted above, some offices provide piercing services. I don't know how the nurse would have done this on the sly. She would have needed supplies as well as sufficient time alone with the pt while the pt was under. I don't buy it. I suspect it was a service legitimately provided, and the charge was $50. Or the neighbor is fabricating parts of or the entire story, or your friend didn't get the details correct.

You would have to pay me a lot more than $50 to perform an act that could lead to me losing my job and possibly my license.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

"I'm skeptical of the details. 3rd person and all."

I agree!:smokin:

On 2nd thought though.....that would be a nice way to get it done.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Not buying it -- period.

Any nurse who has worked at an outpatient surgery center knows the time pressure that can ensue throughout the day -- extraneous procedures which are not consented and/or not worked into the day's schedule are just not part of the deal.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

While doctor's offices sometimes pierce ears, is it the nurse who does the piercing? Is this within scope of practice for a nurse? I can't remember that ever being part of our scope.

The "bribe" of $50 to do it makes it so not ok.

[d'cm]

At very least it is a violation of Corporate Compliance.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

I'm skeptical of the details. 3rd person and all.

As noted above, some offices provide piercing services. I don't know how the nurse would have done this on the sly. She would have needed supplies as well as sufficient time alone with the pt while the pt was under. I don't buy it. I suspect it was a service legitimately provided, and the charge was $50. Or the neighbor is fabricating parts of or the entire story, or your friend didn't get the details correct.

You would have to pay me a lot more than $50 to perform an act that could lead to me losing my job and possibly my license.

I was skeptical myself when I heard the news. My BFF's neighbor is one of those women who LIVE for a bargain. If you comment on how much you like her shoes, she immediately ticks off how much they cost in XYZ store, but she got them for $10. She can get sort of obnoxious about putting a price tag on everything...which made me doubt her story. She continues to swear up and down that she gave the nurse fifty bucks though. She thought she was getting a bargain and wanted EVERYONE to know how clever she was by having the nurse pierce her daughter's ears while under anesthesia. That part of the story I totally believe because it fits her personality. I don't doubt that the nurse did it, because I saw the child myself. My issue was her giving money to the nurse with a "wink wink, nod, nod". I can't imagine that the piercing was not on the consent, because how else would everyone stand there and let the nurse do something that was not on the consent?

Very weird.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

While doctor's offices sometimes pierce ears, is it the nurse who does the piercing? Is this within scope of practice for a nurse? I can't remember that ever being part of our scope.

The "bribe" of $50 to do it makes it so not ok.

I have no idea what the answer is to that question. That's part of the reason I posted the question...because I had never heard of this type of scenario before. The day surgery center is well known and has a stellar reputation. I have a hard time believing that a nurse would accept money for piercing ears...maybe she WAS making that part up. Why would she lie like that though? It is confusing at best...just wanted to see if anyone else had heard of or witnessed something similar.

[PiedPiperRN]

Are you sure that the mom bribed the nurse and didn't just pay a $50 fee for the service? I know a friend who wanted this, but she decided to just grit her teeth and have it done at teh mall, as the hospital wanted three times as much as a standard peircing.