CNA-Rags to CNA-Ritches

you didn't do anything wrong. yes, declining a gift is part of the ethical profession but it also depends on the degree and the willingness of both parties (you and the patient/relatives).

in your situation, you where already taken out of contract from the agency so you are not under by any policy anymore of either agencies or facilities. in short, you are a freelancer so you don't violate anything. it's just you and the client. nobody forces your patient to do it and besides, it's the "client's right" to decide. isn't it everybody is emphasizing that "right". it's the client's right so be it....

some people are so "by the book" that they just close their minds on what the books or agencies/facilities are saying. we all know that not all "ideal" can be always implemented in "real". my opinion, my view, my belief , and my understanding. sometimes we have to open our minds for the realty of needing to be practical than always living on the utopia we are still dreaming.

on my understanding on the ethics of not accepting gifts from patients and relatives, i don't think it's right to accept things while that person is still "a patient" but it's ok if he/she is not your patient anymore. it's just like accepting gift from a friend. in your case, your patient died before the scholarship is given so the moment he died, he is not your patient anymore because you are not going / able to take care of him anymore. he turns now as a friend who you touched his heart =)

Initially, I agreed that you should have refused, but after reading this post, my opinion has changed. Thank you to this poster for allowing me to see it in a different light, and to the OP, good luck to you.