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

Nurses General Nursing

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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?

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

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...

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
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.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
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. :up:

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Specializes in ..

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!

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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.

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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.

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Specializes in MSP, Informatics.

one of our Dr's came in one weekend, took two egg-crate mattreses, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, towels and washcloths..,.,.he walked out and said he was taking his kids camping, and needed to pick up supplies! gad, with what he makes!!

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one of our Dr's came in one weekend, took two egg-crate mattreses, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, towels and washcloths..,.,.he walked out and said he was taking his kids camping, and needed to pick up supplies! gad, with what he makes!!

OK that just takes my breath away!

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Specializes in Peds Hem, Onc, Med/Surg.

This wasn't my CI but one of my ER nurse preceptors. We went to get somethings from the storage room and she was like oh I need some alcohol at home. She got a big bottle and put it in her purse by the nurses station and I was following her around! I was in shock! I know some nurses do that but to do that in front of a student!?!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
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!

Oh, please, the doctors are the worst! Residents, also. They will steal your Littman, PDA, drug guides, and we are usually very careful around the time when residents graduate, because that is when the equipment starts walking. Our endoscope was stolen once...the darned thing is worth at least $20,000.

one of our Dr's came in one weekend, took two egg-crate mattreses, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, towels and washcloths..,.,.he walked out and said he was taking his kids camping, and needed to pick up supplies! gad, with what he makes!!

Well, I'll be doggone...he walked out with enough supplies to create his own hotel room!

OK that just takes my breath away!

A feather knocked me over by just reading this, but again, I am not surprized.

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a freaking endoscope?? things like that just make me shake my head.

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a freaking endoscope?? things like that just make me shake my head.

and what could they do with it? i guess if they had a clogged drain or something?

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