Integrity - Should I say something

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Hi everyone I am conflicted on this issue.

This person I know who is a fellow colleague has got me conflicted on a moral level. I do not know if I should go to administration about this or just leave it alone because we are still students and I don't want to ruin someone's life. This person I know has said multiple no so nice things about other races in my presence and just now posted a recording of a someone with the label "gracias senor", I have also physically seen this person steal and cheat on a quiz. I am so conflicted because I think that these things are so wrong and unbecoming of a nurse but at the same time is it my business to get involved and let someone know or do I just leave it alone and let this person dig their own grave eventually? Please help!!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.

It sucks, but honesty is probably the best policy. Your school may even have a policy regarding "informing the school" of things like cheating and stealing.

The racist stuff is also "not becoming of a nurse".

Nurses aren't the "most trusted" occupation for no reason. We advocate for our patients. And patient safety is important to us. If a person may steal from a patient, may not know things because they cheated or will not treat different races properly because of ignorance, those people do not belong in the field.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

What is it that they say---"If you see something, say something"?

Your instincts are spot on. I know it's hard, but you definitely should pass this along to someone in authority. Like CalicoKitty said, nurses are the most trusted professionals in the United States, and among other things we are known for our integrity and advocacy. Your fellow student has neither. Report her and don't look back.

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14 minutes ago, CalicoKitty said:

It sucks, but honesty is probably the best policy. Your school may even have a policy regarding "informing the school" of things like cheating and stealing.

The racist stuff is also "not becoming of a nurse".

Nurses aren't the "most trusted" occupation for no reason. We advocate for our patients. And patient safety is important to us. If a person may steal from a patient, may not know things because they cheated or will not treat different races properly because of ignorance, those people do not belong in the field.

Thank you for this response I appreciate the input. This is exactly where my head is going because of the patient's and I think if you can steal this one small thing what is stopping you from stealing from the hospital, medications,etc.At the same time I also think, I know this person has a rough background and I don't wabt to be responsible for ruining someone's life.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

People are free to have whatever opinions they want, morally disgusting or not, political, religious, etc. The only time you should say anything to the school is if it affects patient care or you witness unprofessional behavior in clinical. You can confront this person when things are said in your presence, you get to have your own opinions and beliefs just as much.

The cheating on the other hand should be reported. As an instructor, I do want to know about that, and I would keep the source of the info confidential. That does affect nursing.

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2 minutes ago, JBudd said:

People are free to have whatever opinions they want, morally disgusting or not, political, religious, etc. The only time you should say anything to the school is if it affects patient care or you witness unprofessional behavior in clinical. You can confront this person when things are said in your presence, you get to have your own opinions and beliefs just as much.

The cheating on the other hand should be reported. As an instructor, I do want to know about that, and I would keep the source of the info confidential. That does affect nursing.

Hi there, the video I am talking about was filmed of an employee of our school a maintence worker. Any more advice?

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

I didn't catch the part about the video being made by the other person. Was it put out publicly? Is the use of Spanish somehow derogatory towards this person? (sorry, to me Gracias Senor also translates as "Thank you God"). Around here we all use Spanish and English, as well as "Spanglish".

You can certainly bring that to the school's attention, as a member of the school.

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Just now, JBudd said:

I didn't catch the part about the video being made by the other person. Was it put out publicly? Is the use of Spanish somehow derogatory towards this person? (sorry, to me Gracias Senor also translates as "Thank you God").

You can certainly bring that to the school's attention, as a member of the school.

The worker was a hispanic man and the person who did this is not hispanic or of the origin. The video was posted on snapchat.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Again, was it derogatory? I am not Hispanic, and I do speak and use Spanish a lot at work.

I personally don't use Snapchat, so am not familiar with how public it is. If you received it, you are free to share it with your dean.

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Just now, JBudd said:

Again, was it derogatory? I am not Hispanic, and I do speak and use Spanish a lot at work.

I was not present for the filming of the video, so I cannot say 100% with confidence that it was. But knowing this person and their previous actions and that they do not speak spanish as a language I can only assume.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Before making a stink about it, you need more than assumptions. I personally can say thank you in about 10 languages. I often have thanked our maintainance staff in Spanish, they do a great job in the classrooms I have used.

Stick to reporting what you know. "On this date, I saw this person cheat on a test. I saw this person steal this."

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1 minute ago, JBudd said:

Before making a stink about it, you need more than assumptions. I personally can say thank you in about 10 languages. I often have thanked our maintainance staff in Spanish, they do a great job in the classrooms I have used.

Stick to reporting what you know. "On this date, I saw this person cheat on a test. I saw this person steal this."

You are correct. I think it is more of the stealing and the cheating that bothers me. The administration already knows about the cheating though. I guess it is just me seeing all of these other outside things that makes me just question the person. Thank you for your input it truly has helped me and I appreciate all of it.

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