Do you accept tips?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

It offered money by a patients or a patients family, are you allowed to accept it?

Do you?

Specializes in ER, ICU,.

NEVER!

BUT, I have seen an EMT accept money from pts family.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

Years ago I once did but to be truthful I never felt so bad in all my life and still feel guilty about it today. So from experience I would suggest to anybody for what ever reason dont be tempted.

I have rarely made mistakes in my 20 years as a nurse but I did that day for reasons I wont go into but I shall never do so again.

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Specializes in Geriatrics looking to branch out.

Patients should not feel that monetary gifts entitles them to special treatment or will result in better care....Our best for everyone. It is also unfair to the other people who care for their loved one. If I person only visits their loved one at 10 am does that make the evening and night shift less worthy of a gift as well. Bring on the sweets to be shared by all!!! we always make sure to divide and hide to make sure all shifts benefit. In the case of the dollar I would have definitely accepted knowing how a person with dementia will not understand no matter how you explain it though I would have either snuck it back to him some how or given int to my supervisor and if strangely enough she said to keep it I would have donated it. Good care comes from the heart not the pocketbook...

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Good heavens, NO!! Altho I have a couple of special Christmas ornaments that were given to me by patients - and food is always appreciated!:)

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Specializes in Ortho, Case Management, blabla.

When I got married I was working at a group home for people with developmental disabilities. Anyways, one of the more cognitively developed residents gave me a wedding card with a check for $150 in it (as a wedding gift). She was good for it, since she managed her own finances, balanced her own checkbook, etc. I tried to give the check back to her but she insisted that I keep it.

We were pretty good friends, and I knew it would have really offended her if I refused to accept it. It was very tempting to cash the check ($150 was a lot of money to me back then, especially being newly married). I ended up tearing the check up and throwing it away (not in front of her, of course). I was actually so worried about it that I tore it up and threw it away in front of the home manager just so she'd know that I didn't take the money - even though the manager had no clue about the gift in the first place. It just didn't seem right to me to accept the gift, despite the intentions. The caregiver/client relationship was close but it didn't seem like a good idea.

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Specializes in neuro, critical care, open heart..
I had a resident that had Alzheimer's and was 'extremely' difficult. I came down to only 3 of us were allowed to take care of him. After about 2 years when he died, his family came and offered us money. We all told them we couldn't accept it. The next day they came in and said they bought us Thank You cards. We took them of course as they are just cards. Inside each card was a 1000$.

The DON was there when I opened it and snatched it away. She said it was unethical to take it. I wasn't sure but said OK. Another aide decided to call the state and ask. An administrative law judge came to the facility and brought the CNAs, DON and administrator into a meeting. He told us that the state determined that since a) the resident was no longer a resident or alive and that b) 'technically' every aide that was involved in his care was given the same thing that it was ok.

I understand some people may think it was unethical or wrong, the DON surely did. I felt that the highest authority of the matter in what is legal and ethical for CNAs and Nurses had the final say.

Of course, I would never take anything from a 'current' patient. I would be highly improper and may create an appearance of favoritism or make families feel like if they don't pay their family member won't get cared for. I guess it just depends on the circumstances.

I know an aide that cared for a couple for 14 years and was left 20,000 and a Mercedes in the will when the man (last of the couple alive) died. The state let it stand and the family wanted it to.

Shrug.

Stanley,

Did you get the grand back that the DON snatched? Just curious

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Stanley,

Did you get the grand back that the DON snatched? Just curious

Yup, the BON said it was proper so the DON returned it. :D

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Specializes in neuro, critical care, open heart..
Yup, the BON said it was proper so the DON returned it. :D

excellent!!!:yeah:

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