Am I in violation of code of ethics?

BrandonLPN, LPN · Mar 31, 2015

So, while I agree that what the OP described is all an ethics violation, I'm not sold on the question about the clothes. When I worked in a LTC we had a few residents that had no one and little money. A few had very old, tattered clothes. Social services could do nothing. We would pitch in and get the basics like socks or would go to the Goodwill and get clothes for them. If that is wrong, I don't want to be right.

In a LTC setting, I'll agree with this. Some families provided zero clothing for these residents, and donations and social services are not always adequate.

I will say that the best policy would be for the facility itself to buy clothes as needed, as opposed to individual staff members buying them. Unfortunately, some facilities drop the ball in this area, too. So staff making Goodwill trips happens.

And, if staff is sometimes buying clothes for residents, one has to be very careful not to show favoritism.

elkpark · Mar 31, 2015

So, while I agree that what the OP described is all an ethics violation, I'm not sold on the question about the clothes. When I worked in a LTC we had a few residents that had no one and little money. A few had very old, tattered clothes. Social services could do nothing. We would pitch in and get the basics like socks or would go to the Goodwill and get clothes for them. If that is wrong, I don't want to be right.

The key words here are "we would pitch in." I've been in situations like this, too. If it's a group effort by the staff and everyone is aware this is going on, that's one thing. It's entirely different for a single staff person to do this on her/his own.

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2015

Professional nursing isn't just about helping people. We have a higher standard to uphold if we wish to have the benefits of licensure (i.e. public trust, higher pay). The BoN will will see to it we don't violate our agreement and revoke the privilege to hold a license.

What you think is only kindness really sets you up for misinterpretation as manipulation/abuse. What are you saying to the members you don't buy things for or don't take on outings? And I shutter at the danger you placed yourself and your family in when you took a domestic violence victim into your home. Angry partners are abusing their "loved ones". How kindly will they treat your interference?

allnurses Guide · Mar 31, 2015

I work in an adult daycare too.

We have social worker to assist our clients. Do you have one?

I know you care, but you are crossing so many boundaries.

Does your facility know you're doing all of this? What do they think?

Find out what your resources are to refer your clients.

You need to report abuse.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Mar 31, 2015

The key words here are "we would pitch in." I've been in situations like this, too. If it's a group effort by the staff and everyone is aware this is going on, that's one thing. It's entirely different for a single staff person to do this on her/his own.

Exactly no favoritism if a group of staff doing the same opportunity for all residents. One staff member for specific residents is favoritism

LittleCandles · Mar 31, 2015

Buying clothes for clients is not okay. It crosses professional boundaries and creates an additional (financial) dependency of the client on a healthcare professional.

Really? I knew staff who did it but they called it "donating".

RescueNinjaKy · Mar 31, 2015

I want to point out also that you're putting yourself in a potential bad situation. What if a patient that you crossed the professional boundary line with decided to blackmail you. I'll report you to the bon if you don't give me apples and oranges. It could happen, people can be quite terrifying and, even worse, hide it very well.

Angeljho, MSN, NP · Mar 31, 2015

So I work at an adult day care and it's not really like a normal nursing job. I'm with the same ppl 8hrs a day 5 days a week so I've grown very close to my members. They're like family to me. I've taken some of my members to bingo outside of work, invited one of my members over for thanksgiving because he has no family and I've purchased clothes for some of my members with my own money bc they can't afford new clothes. A lot of the members are very low income and they Can't afford new clothes. One lady was even being beat up by her husband and he kicked her out...she had no where to go so I let her stay with me for the weekend til she figured it out. Am I in violation of something here? I know I probably am but that really bothers me because I'm in no way exploiting or taking advantage of any of the members I do all I can to help them. Could I get in trouble for any of this? I'm just really worried when state does their compliance check that they may find out about some of these things and I could get my licensed taken or suspended. Where so I go from here?

I understand that you want to help, but you have to do it within the limits of your nursing practice. It is a nurse's duty to refer or investigate appropriate services or resources that can help clients. You must always keep your relationships with your clients professional; they aren't your friends or hang out buddies. Letting a client stay in your home? Noooooooooooooo. You have crossed so many boundaries. Please exercise better judgement in the future.

Angeljho, MSN, NP · Mar 31, 2015

So, while I agree that what the OP described is all an ethics violation, I'm not sold on the question about the clothes. When I worked in a LTC we had a few residents that had no one and little money. A few had very old, tattered clothes. Social services could do nothing. We would pitch in and get the basics like socks or would go to the Goodwill and get clothes for them. If that is wrong, I don't want to be right.

In the LTC facility I used to work in, there was a donation services shop. Any staff could donate clothing there. We were not allowed to directly give clothing to the residents, however.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2015

In the LTC facility I used to work in, there was a donation services shop. Any staff could donate clothing there. We were not allowed to directly give clothing to the residents, however.

Yep. I work at a specialty hospital that conducts regular clothing drives in which all staff are encouraged to donate unwanted clothes. The donations are then used to clothe patients who have very little or no clothing of their own.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2015

it was not uncommon for angry men to show up at the shelter (despite our best efforts to keep the location a secret) angry, demanding their wives/girlfriends come home with them NOW, and fully prepared to get into a physical alteraction with anyone who tried to stop them from coming inside and retrieving their wife/girlfriend by force. Sometimes they showed up with guns. Getting directly involved, as an "amateur," well-meaning member of the public, in a domestic violence situation can easily be genuinely, physically dangerous for you and other members of your household.

This is exactly what I was afraid of for the OP...in addition to the boundary issue.

Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2015

This has the potential to snowball into a huge problem,

For example: the woman you let stay the weekend goes out and tells 3 other women about how "nice" you are. Suddenly there's a line up at your door of people needing a place to stay.

How do you think other people will feel she the person you invited for dinner will feel? They were not invited, how do you think they feel now?

Boundaries are important in this profession. You need to learn how to set them