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!!!

On 7/30/2019 at 10:57 PM, 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.

Yes people have different opinions but if they are morally reprehensible or bigoted you should be disqualified from being a clinician or at the very least be up for review and coaching. If a nurse lacks the self-regulation to address their own biases or at the very least know the bias is inappropriate to voice, how will they self-regulate in the clinical setting? How will they remain objective. “I think whites are the scum of the earth but I can give your kid the best care possible”, “I think blacks are filthy, thieves but I’ll give your mom the best care”, “fat people are disgusting slobs”, “fags deserve to suffer”. If someone told you that before they cared for your love one would you have faith in them. If a colleague confided these feelings to you would you think they’ll provide the best care to the group they don’t respect? As a responsible nurse this would set off screaming bells and whistles for me.

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Specializes in Medsurg.
17 minutes ago, Queen Tiye said:

Yes people have different opinions but if they are morally reprehensible or bigoted you should be disqualified from being a clinician or at the very least be up for review and coaching. If a nurse lacks the self-regulation to address their own biases or at the very least know the bias is inappropriate to voice, how will they self-regulate in the clinical setting? How will they remain objective. “I think whites are the scum of the earth but I can give your kid the best care possible”, “I think blacks are filthy, thieves but I’ll give your mom the best care”, “fat people are disgusting slobs”, “fags deserve to suffer”. If someone told you that before they cared for your love one would you have faith in them. If a colleague confided these feelings to you would you think they’ll provide the best care to the group they don’t respect? As a responsible nurse this would set off screaming bells and whistles for

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

@ Queen Tiye,

absolutely, which is why I said "if it affects patient care or ... unprofessional behavior". Which all of the things you cited do and are. I don't want to work with racists or bigots either, but I do recognize that everyone gets to choose how they think and behave no matter how disgusting I think it is. I also believe firmly that actions have consequences, and deservedly so.

I was trying to help a student see that differing opinions are not automatically cause for running to the authorities.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
On 8/3/2019 at 8:19 AM, Queen Tiye said:

Yes people have different opinions but if they are morally reprehensible or bigoted you should be disqualified from being a clinician or at the very least be up for review and coaching. If a nurse lacks the self-regulation to address their own biases or at the very least know the bias is inappropriate to voice, how will they self-regulate in the clinical setting? How will they remain objective. “I think whites are the scum of the earth but I can give your kid the best care possible”, “I think blacks are filthy, thieves but I’ll give your mom the best care”, “fat people are disgusting slobs”, “fags deserve to suffer”. If someone told you that before they cared for your love one would you have faith in them. If a colleague confided these feelings to you would you think they’ll provide the best care to the group they don’t respect? As a responsible nurse this would set off screaming bells and whistles for me.

The OP saw a picture (or video) of a latino worker with a tagline "Gracias Senor". The OP is assuming that the picture was meant in a derogatory way. That is very, very, different from what you are describing above, which is clearly demeaning language.

As a nurse, you should absolutely not jump to conclusions. You should not report based on your bias, and you should explore your own bias. The OP has a biased view of the student she is considering reporting. She has opinions about this student that are factoring into her decision to report. She needs to learn to examine herself, so that she can report accurate information. This is essential to nursing.

If she saw the student degrade or humiliate someone based on their race and she is sure that's what she saw, then she can report that. But she is making an assumption here.

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Specializes in NICU.
On 7/30/2019 at 11:26 PM, MickyMb2 said:

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.

Please listen to yourself,we do not live in Disneyland, do you believe that other countries never have anything stupid to say about Americans?We work in a varied population and play with different accents all the time,sometimes patients even understand us better.

The cheating,stealing part is more troubling.But you say they already know.So step away before you make being a snitch part of your reputation.

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Can you maybe write an email anonymously to a higher up? Or even make a new email address so the higher up can't track you or what not. I think this needs to be reported. It doesn't matter if he/she is still a student. Character is character. Whatever this person brings to school, they will bring to school also. Stealing quizzes can lead to stealing other documents during work.

Maybe just give a fyi message to your professor. Whatever happens will be between them, but at least you have done your part and don't have to live with confusion or maybe even guilt. ? Good job for not ignoring this and for thinking hard about it.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
On 7/30/2019 at 8:54 PM, MickyMb2 said:

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.

Think of it this way: someone who does all the things you described is already ruining her own life. By keeping quiet, you are allowing her to possibly ruin someone else's.

Maybe she needs to work a bit harder on rising above her rough background before she is ready to become a nurse.

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When you get out of school and into the workforce be prepared to report a lot of the people you will be working with. Do what you feel is necessary but just know this isn't isolative to nursing school. It happens at work as well. It all depends on the level that it is at.

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It is time to distance yourself from this person also, do not get caught up in her drama.

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On 7/30/2019 at 11:57 PM, 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.

Racist views ABSOLUTELY affect nursing. If you don’t like a particular race, how can you give them proper care?!

On 7/30/2019 at 11:26 PM, MickyMb2 said:

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!!!

The things you are witnessing are micro aggressions. Look them up. What would compel her to post a video of a maintenance worker doing their job and then saying gracias senor? If she was truly thankful, she would have went and thanked that man. She was trying to be funny. Being complacent and not saying anything to her makes you an accomplice in a way. Do you agree with her? Clearly not! Then call her out or tell administration. Gather some concrete evidence and turn her in. ??‍♀️??‍♀️

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Specializes in Physical Rehabilitation.

Integrity and honesty are what makes a great nurse. If your friend doesn’t treat all as equals, as it seems you do, why would you want her for a friend? It is always important to be friends with those that bring you up, not possibly take you down with them. I believe in being blunt with people, I never say anything to anyone I haven’t said to them first. Be blunt, take her aside and tell her you find her racism inappropriate and her cheating repulsive. You can report her with your name withheld, if she has said things to you and posted on line you are not the only one who knows how she is and what she does. If she then has issues with you that impact you in class or clinicals you need to alert your instructor and let them deal with it. Your integrity and morals are your most important assets, always do what you feel is the right thing.

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When I was in school, I witnessed a classmate do something that would have warranted immediate dismissal from the program if I had reported it. Even though I personally did not like this individual, soon thereafter her behavior caught up to her enough that she was pretty severely punished and re-educated on the issue. Even though I didn't like her, I know she's going to be a good nurse, and ultimately I'm glad she got the reminder about appropriate behavior without her life having to be completely de-railed. If I had ruined this misguided but well-intentioned nurse's career that she had been working so hard for, I couldn't have lived with myself.

I think you should really think long and hard about whether this is truly about integrity for you.

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