Selling products to Patients?

Specialties Home Health

Published

I need to be a little vague here...a Home Health Nurse is educating clients on an "alternative" treatment (essential oils) and selling this product to clients. I have the impression that the agency is aware of the activity, but can't be sure. I only have second hand knowledge of this, but through two separate, reliable sources. Should I do anything in this situation?

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I personally feel this is inappropriate for a variety of reasons.

I would talk to her directly and/or whomever your manager is and flat out ask if she is selling the stuff and take it from there.

I would be finding a new agency to take care of my family member if someone who was hawking a product instead of behaving professionally and appropriately for what they were hired to do.

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I see this as a big problem and would make sure that the supervisors are aware of this practice. Sounds highly inappropriate and unprofessional to me.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

huge conflict of interest!

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Specializes in retired LTC.

I would think that licensed staff would surely understand the impropriety of selling involved, but I have seen where the CNA/HHA staff would sell things.

I would also refrain from BUYING anything. Any exchange of monies could be risky.

But in Home Health, don't HHAs do lite grocery shopping if it's care-planned? Or am I being too overly cautious?

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Specializes in Pedi.

Well who are you in relation to this nurse/patient?

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I can think of far worse situations (such as direct abuse/neglect/abandonment/nurses "living" at the client residence/insurance fraud) with full agency knowledge and continuing episodes, even as long as years in length. The agency will reassign the nurse who makes waves by, yet again, bringing it to their attention. Eventually, the agency will find other "fault" and get rid of said nurse. If I were you, I would not say anything, especially if you have no direct knowledge of the unprofessional behavior. The agency most likely will only retaliate against you instead of dealing with the problem.

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