Did anyone have a CI who stole from the clinical site?

I was reading a post by a NS about her instructor making stuff up while teaching and it reminded me of my first CI. She used to just take things from the site and do it right in front of me. We would be in the storage room and pick up everything from personal care items to sets of hemostats, bandage scissors etc etc. She simply said "Oh, I need a new set of these" And no she was NOT using it for patient care at that facility.

I never reported her because...doh...I couldn't do so anonymously.

Cast your minds back...did anyone else have an experience like this?

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

i used to work in central supply and trust me when I say that there were plenty of people that would help themselves to the darndest things. I don't think there is one person on here that can say that they've never walked out with a roll of tape or a few alcohol preps, but i had one person come down to my department and demand that i give them an entire case of chux because they were crate training their dog. It's not right and i cartainly wouldn't follow in their example.

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

Yes, I had one CI who did this.

What kind of example is she trying to portray?!

I am also a clinical instructor and I always remind my students to make sure to empty their pockets before leaving the units. I do not want the students or me to be in trouble. You just don't know when bad things can happen and prevention is always best.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I was about to say the same thing...what sort of example could she possibly think she is portraying to students? And it seems that she doesn't care that she may be putting you all on the spot, either. She wasn't even discrete!

I was about to say the same thing...what sort of example could she possibly think she is portraying to students? And it seems that she doesn't care that she may be putting you all on the spot, either. She wasn't even discrete!

Funny, in my opinion, she encouraged my fellow students to do this too. A couple of fellow students once asked me if it was OK to take and use a chap-stick for personal use. I said I no. Then one of them said our CI said it was OK. My response was, "if you need to ask then you probably know the answer -- do what you think is right." I know this example is only about chap-stick but it rather goes to a tendency as far as I am concerned.

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

No my CI's never did this but I did my mistake ! My first day after clinicals I came home with alcohol prep pads, condom caths, clean gloves, and the flow sheet. I was just so nervous about not having supplies when I needed them so I stuffed my pockets. I hope no one steals on purpose though. This is wrong.

[showbizrn]

:imbar

no, i never seen or heard of this.

as we used to say

back in-the-day

embarrassing!!!!:imbar:imbar:imbar

chiiiillld, don't do it!

don't even think about it!

:nono:

i've come home with a pair of gloves, a couple of alcohol pads, a 2x2, a saline flush, and an empty 10 ml, and on occasion using a bandaid while at the hospital, though i've asked permission the first time i do so at whatever place i'm at. 99% of the time i take them back with me the next day if it's in a sterile wrapper.

[AOx1]

No, but as an instructor I can say I've had several things stolen from me and from my students. There isn't any place to put our bags, so anything not nailed down may take a "walk"- including money, your littmann stethoscope, and some of my students' reference books. I do tell them not to bring valuables to clinicals, but sometimes it does happen. It's pretty ridiculous that people steal deliberately in a hospital.

I do know what you mean though, I tend to have to return alcohol swabs to the hospital I also work at on a semi-regular basis.

I have, however, solved the problem of my pens "walking off"- I bought some of these funny pens from spoonsisters.com that are called something like "borrow your pen" or "borrow my pen?" and have phony advertisements for nudist colonies, taxidermy, etc on them. Pretty funny, and they do get returned to me. I also had pens at one point that said "Stolen from LivetoLearn" printed on them, but they actually all disappeared, lol.

No, but as an instructor I can say I've had several things stolen from me and from my students. There isn't any place to put our bags, so anything not nailed down may take a "walk"- including money, your littmann stethoscope, and some of my students' reference books. I do tell them not to bring valuables to clinicals, but sometimes it does happen. It's pretty ridiculous that people steal deliberately in a hospital.

I do know what you mean though, I tend to have to return alcohol swabs to the hospital I also work at on a semi-regular basis.

I have, however, solved the problem of my pens "walking off"- I bought some of these funny pens from spoonsisters.com that are called something like "borrow your pen" or "borrow my pen?" and have phony advertisements for nudist colonies, taxidermy, etc on them. Pretty funny, and they do get returned to me. I also had pens at one point that said "Stolen from LivetoLearn" printed on them, but they actually all disappeared, lol.

That is funny. I am just a little possessive of my pens too but I like a certain kind...I keep about a dozen in my locker. I think I got my pen weirdness from my mum.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

That is funny. I am just a little possessive of my pens too but I like a certain kind...I keep about a dozen in my locker. I think I got my pen weirdness from my mum.

Join the club of Pen Addicts...member right here...

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I remember when I first started working in a psych hospital, I saw the staff walking off with containers of milk that was left over. I would think to myself that the patients could have used those.

I am one that mistakenly brings home alcohol pads and bandaids because I give shots all day. This, to me is far different from selecting supplies from the closet the same way you check for fruit freshness in a supermarket in front of children and then, put it in your pocket. It is crass, and self centered because it seems that this instructor thinks she is exempt from discipline. Goodness, she makes both the school as well as her students look bad. If some items are stolen, her students can be accused of this, making the beginnings of a very ugly situation...

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

No my CI's never did this but I did my mistake ! My first day after clinicals I came home with alcohol prep pads, condom caths, clean gloves, and the flow sheet. I was just so nervous about not having supplies when I needed them so I stuffed my pockets. I hope no one steals on purpose though. This is wrong.

I think that is different. I also believe that you would bring them back because they can probably still be used the next time you go.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

i used to work in central supply and trust me when I say that there were plenty of people that would help themselves to the darndest things. I don't think there is one person on here that can say that they've never walked out with a roll of tape or a few alcohol preps, but i had one person come down to my department and demand that i give them an entire case of chux because they were crate training their dog. It's not right and i cartainly wouldn't follow in their example.

I've been known to swipe a few gloves for home projects. Hospital gloves really beat the hardware store ones by a long shot.

[Patti_RN]

My friend is a surg tech who works part time at our hospital and also worked for a physician who owns a number of surgery centers. The doctor asked my friend to bring items from the hospital OR for his surgi-centers. At first, my friend didn't understand the relationship the surgical center had with the hospital; he assumed they were owned by the hospital (the center had a similar name as the hospital so it seemed they were affiliated). Once he realized what was happening, he resigned from the surgi-center and told the doctor why... and in an ironic twist, the doctor became livid and threatened to turn my friend into the hospital for stealing the supplies if he quit!

i think that is different. i also believe that you would bring them back because they can probably still be used the next time you go.

exactly, we're told to get a few alcohol swabs, 2x2's, and bandaids at the beginning of the shift. we've also been warned to get an extra flush, and empty syringe when we're hanging ivpb's or pulling a foley, just in case we drop one or contaminate one. most of the time i end up giving the extra one away to one of the nurses who needs one and ran out of the ones in her pocket.

One of my CIs told me to steal syringes and needles to practice injections at home. Although somewhat naive at the time, I was intelligent enough not to follow her direction. I hadn't quite figured out yet that she had some screws very loose.

Edited May 28, 2009 by caliotter3