I had a patient that was insistent on getting my information upon leaving the ICU. He wanted my home address. I gave him the hospital card with my name on it. It had our hospital phone number. I told this patient before I transferred him to a SDU that this is a team effort. From the Drs that did the surgery down to Enviornmental service that kept his room clean. He insisted that I was the main person who made the most impact on his stay in the ICU. Him and his family personally requested that I be their nurse on all days that I worked when during his short stay in the ICU (only 2 or 3 days).
He actually was almost in tears thanking me for everything I did when I left him after taking him to the SDU. I told him the best way to show his appreciation was to fill out the customer satisfaction form that would be sent to his home and rate the care he received from our HOSPITAL.
A few days ago, I receive a very thoughtful card and a check. It's not a huge amount but regardless I was just doing my job! I treat him like I treat all patients I have ever had in the ICU. They are not some poor family on medicare, medicaid etc. I have asked several people. We also have a policy on receiving gifts but physicians and nurses receive gifts from patients on a daily basis although not monetary. But many of the baskets (flowers, fruit), gift cards, food (pizza ordered) etc received by nurses or our unit is way more than the check I received.
The patient didn't offer this in person in which of course I would have declined. It was mailed. I don't want to insult the family by declining their gift but then I feel a certain way about accepting it. Either way I want to write the family back to show my appreciation and to wish them well in his recovery.
My options are to:
1. mail the check back
2. rip up the check (in which they may be counting on to clear their account)
3. keep the check
a. keep for self (maybe buy some much needed white uniforms pants and shirts)
b. buy something for my unit (snacks/basket/food, pens, notepads, penlights or something useful for us to use).
I'm really not looking for some lecture. Just tell me honestly what you would do. Thanks.
Take the check to your manager, as others have said, and perhaps the two of you can brainstorm a way to put the funds to good (and ethical use). Most hospitals have a foundation or two that could benefit from a donation. Or there may be items that your unit could purchase for the group. You might set some of it aside for items to cheer up patients who don't seem to have visitors or who can't afford something as simple as a decent pair of slippers.
If this is done with transparency and you are not alone in calling the shots, you could do some wonderful things.
Let's say you applied the funds to some kind of group gathering (remembering noc shift, of course), you could take pictures of the fun and send them to your benefactor, telling him the immense pleasure (his goal, after all) it gave you to share his gift.
You could buy a CD player (more than one if there is enough money) and music for the ICU to help calm and comfort patients during their stay, and, again, take a picture of what you have bought, and let him know how much the staff and patients appreciate his generosity.
If this is handled in an open manner and the gift is shared, it may satisfy ethical requirements well enough to bless many people.
At the very least, a copy of the card expressing his gratitude for your care should be placed in your file (along with an account of what was done with the funds).
If the powers that be require that you return the check, you can thank the gentleman profusely and say that his appreciation is more than enough compensation for your care.
Let us know what happens. And thanks for setting a good example for the rest of us.
I have to say, definitely DO NOT return. On your own accord at least.
If your hospital says you must return it, then ask them to return it, and send another thank you note with an explanation of why you legally cannot accept it, or why the hospital had to send it back.
Don't just send it back without some sort of serious explanation, otherwise it will seem way too dismissive of their efforts to show you their gratitude. Be grateful of their gratitude instead of playing the martyr role.
To CYA I would return or destroy the check. Where I work accepting that check would be grounds for immediate termination. Is accepting the check worth losing your job over? Even buying something nice for the hospital or unit would still get me fired.
While all of the advice here has good points, I would like to mention that legally and ethically, it should be remember that you should never take control or direct the funds of that check. Essentially, once you direct those funds, then you've legally taken possession of the money, ie. accepted the gift. This would include cashing it and then donating it; signing it and then turning it over to your own hospital as a donation.
Personally, I would mark !!! VOID !!! on the face and on the rear of the check, then make a copy of it for my records to show that it was impossible to cash it; forward a copy with a detailed explanation of the incident to management and human resources; and most importantly... return the check to the family with a thank you and suggestion to donate to the hospital instead if their gratitude needed to be expressed.
I would cash the check, buy something for the unit to enjoy, and send a thank you card telling him what you purchased and how much they enjoyed it. Its not your managers business! Im sure she has had her share of hospital dinners and bonus's without consulting you!
I would return it with a note stating the thought was nice but hospital staff are unable to accept monetary gifts; we had a nurse fired for accepting money from a pt.; we are able to accept food, flowers, etc. ..letters of appreciation are the most welcome!
Monetary gifts are unethical to accept (learned that one in college! )
I'd definitely not cash it. Receiving gifts in my hospital is automatic termination if it's monetary or gifts of large value.
You're compensated at your job monetarily by being there.
Finally, when I read this the first time, I was almost POSITIVE that accepting cash gifts for healthcare was actually illegal, but maybe it's a state thing, maybe I'm crazy...
Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.
I had a patient send me a thank you card with $10 in cash in it. I immediately turned the $10 in to my DON and explained what happened. I did not want any ethics questions about accepting a gift from a patient, whether it was done in person or not.
My facility administrator returned the $10 to the family along with a letter that said that I appreciated the sentiment, but legally I could not accept gifts from patients or their families.
I think you should send the check back to the family! Tell your upervisor and let them kno you recieved a check in the mail and you are goign to return the check back to the resident! It would make u keep ya job and safe on your end!
)
rn/writer, RN
9 Articles; 4,168 Posts
Take the check to your manager, as others have said, and perhaps the two of you can brainstorm a way to put the funds to good (and ethical use). Most hospitals have a foundation or two that could benefit from a donation. Or there may be items that your unit could purchase for the group. You might set some of it aside for items to cheer up patients who don't seem to have visitors or who can't afford something as simple as a decent pair of slippers.
If this is done with transparency and you are not alone in calling the shots, you could do some wonderful things.
Let's say you applied the funds to some kind of group gathering (remembering noc shift, of course), you could take pictures of the fun and send them to your benefactor, telling him the immense pleasure (his goal, after all) it gave you to share his gift.
You could buy a CD player (more than one if there is enough money) and music for the ICU to help calm and comfort patients during their stay, and, again, take a picture of what you have bought, and let him know how much the staff and patients appreciate his generosity.
If this is handled in an open manner and the gift is shared, it may satisfy ethical requirements well enough to bless many people.
At the very least, a copy of the card expressing his gratitude for your care should be placed in your file (along with an account of what was done with the funds).
If the powers that be require that you return the check, you can thank the gentleman profusely and say that his appreciation is more than enough compensation for your care.
Let us know what happens. And thanks for setting a good example for the rest of us.