Internet Porn at work-need advice

[RN34TX]

I really debated posting this (it gets a little raunchy for those who get offended easily) but I really need advice from other colleagues and can't discuss it at work with others.

A colleague has been rumored to have been viewing Media at work. I believe that she has been written up or disciplined for it in some way but that's just the rumor mill, nothing substantiated for sure.

I really enjoy working with her and we get along well. She has been nothing but helpful and has taught me plenty when I was new.

She has told several co-workers that she is involved in a "swinging" type lifestyle with her husband. She has never mentioned this to me but is apparantly quite open about it to some.

I have been very quick to remind my co-workers that what she does in her private life is none of our business (even though she's made it some people's business) and to leave her "swinging" lifestyle alone unless you plan to participate in it yourself, in which case it would be your business.

A few days ago, I was logging in to my e-mail at work before my shift, and her e-mail popped up (same ISP) as she must have forgotten to log out.

I saw graphic Mediao pics and quickly logged her off in fear that someone might see it. I figured that she had enough trouble and there were enough rumors to go around the unit, and I didn't need to add to it, so I never mentioned the incident to anyone at work other than my partner and one friend who, like me, disapproved of our colleagues snickering about her lifestyle..

But a few days later.....A trusted colleague and friend has also confirmed that the rumor is true and she worked with her during a slow night and witnessed her watching Media and chatting sexually to people online. (No patients were there or could see this stuff so that's not a factor.)

Why was she telling me about it when I didn't want any part of the rumors?

Because she then presented me with a calender that this co-worker left behind at work that I'm sure she didn't want any of us to see.

She has been logging all of our behavior at work that she deemed "inappropriate."

From reading the notes in the calender, I'm assuming that she's preparing for a lawsuit because she's anticipating getting fired for her internet activities at work, but that's just my interpretation of it.

She listed nurses by name watching DVD's during break or slow periods that contained foul language or other "inappropriate" for work material. She noted any off-color or foul comments or jokes by staff and listed dates and times.

Here's what disturbed me........

In the calender, she lists a date and time and noted me for "looking at pictures of naked kids online." -----What????

I couldn't believe it. I realize that she's trying to take the attention off herself, and as the only gay man on the unit, I'm a walking target for being labeled as a child Mediao freak/molester or whatever, so I just dismissed it as that and left it alone.

There are 4 of us who know about this calender and took it off the unit.

We have all sworn to secrecy about the calender until we decide what to do from here.

I made the mistake of telling my colleagues about my witnessing of her internet Media mail and now they are pressuring me to tell the manager what I saw online.

I only disclosed to them what I saw in her e-mail because I was upset and hurt about what she wrote about me looking at child Mediao online. I really liked working with her and I do not want to be one of those nurses who act in a retaliatory way and slander her because I myself do not know all of the facts.

I realize that she shouldn't be looking at Media or sexually chatting with people online at work, but what is my role here as a nurse and colleague?

I don't want to be part of this witch-hunt, so I'm reluctant to tell the manager what I saw.

In addition, although I know that it's just paranoia on my part and is complete B.S. on her part trying to take the attention off herself, I can't help but wonder if her comments about me looking at child Media online is going to hurt me later at some point, substantiated or not.

My colleagues who know about this are seriously pressuring me to tell the manager about what I saw, but my idea is to confront her privately about the calender and her comments written on it about us, as well as to tell her to stop looking at Media at work because we all know and are on to her.

I really don't know what to do about this. Advice?

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Cripes, I can't even log onto allnurses from work as were so heavily blocked!

What a can of worms for a manager to handle, but yes this needs to be brought to their attention.

A. Look at your facilities internet usage policy. Ours clearly states email is not private, but property of health system can be accessed by IT manager at any time and employee fired over inappropriate usage.

B. Does policy state who to notify in case of inappropriate usage?

Most computers have on internal history log of users and internet sites visited that should be able to be reviewed by your IT department. Your manager can request a review of all staffs log-ins and internet activities (sure to be a real eye opener) along with email. Open minded manager will look for patterns of behavior and sites visited, amount of time spent online at sites, etc. This may already have occured and employee being counciled about. This "calender" could be compared to computer log and exhonerate you, on the other hand.

C. Did you log into computer under your own name and site popped up or before you had change to log-in? If it was after you signed-on, both ID's will be attached to site. Be warry if only one login for an entire department as all would be held accountable for access issues.

D. Do you ever use your password to allow agency nurses/students access? If so, change it NOW.

As a manger of intake dept, my temp staff are under my account so I change password regularlyy and finally got IT's ear that I need separate account for those working as temp clerical staff.

Will ask RNinformatics to give her best advice here.

[RN34TX]

Hello,

Just a point of info. Nothing on computers is truly "deleted". The company IS guru's can trace her internet / emai / chat activites as wellas anyone else's. My advise to the follow the facilies sexual harrasment policies and report her. If she pursues with the kiddie Media allegations, call a lawyer.

That's what I'm wondering.

Where are the IT people and why haven't they been alerted to her activity?

She never outright "accused me" of anything, this was merely info that my co-workers saw when prying on her personal calender that she left behind one day.

So is everyone else in agreement that I should take this to my manager?

If so, what do I say?

Do I tell her about the calender, what I saw in her e-mail that she left up running, or both?

I feel awkward talking to my manager in person about this. Very hesitant.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I'd go to the manager. And the first thing i'd probably say is "I feel ackward about this, but i need to talk about it"

[marcrn]

That's proabably the best thing to do. Media has NO PLACE in the work place. What she does on her own time is her problem, but obvious it's having a negative effect on your work enviorment.

Go to the manager and file the complaint, if she does accuse you it'll look like a poor attempt at retaliation.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

I don't want to be any part of someone getting fired.

As a manger, if I don't know about something, can't do anything to remedy situation....or just place report into circular dead end file if I find it non credible.

You are not the reason someone would get fired. It's the INDIVIDUAL NURSES ACTIONS that would cause THEMSELVES to get fired.

Once worked with an RN 12/12 who appeared to be always on the phone in breakroom behind desk whenever I came by. I was not proficient in IV starts then (IV team just disbanded) asked her to restart pts IV. Over an hour later she was still in same spot in breakroom arguing on phone with spouse. Took 2 hours for her to restart IV. Mentioned in report delay in IVAB administration /issue to next shift in case pt complained. They had similar experience 3x in past month. I reported concern to manager as pt was upset over IV delay next AM when i came on duty. Manager pulled phone records and call was 1 1/2 hour to home number---that's what got her fired as second time reported re personal phone calls. Phone records showed large volume calls all to one number home all over 30 min x several weeks, just not isolated case. Patients were NOT GETTING assessment/care and issue she was fired over.

[RN34TX]

Cripes, I can't even log onto allnurses from work as were so heavily blocked!

What a can of worms for a manager to handle, but yes this needs to be brought to their attention.

A. Look at your facilities internet usage policy. Ours clearly states email is not private, but property of health system can be accessed by IT manager at any time and employee fired over inappropriate usage.

B. Does policy state who to notify in case of inappropriate usage?

Most computers have on internal history log of users and internet sites visited that should be able to be reviewed by your IT department. Your manager can request a review of all staffs log-ins and internet activities (sure to be a real eye opener) along with email. Open minded manager will look for patterns of behavior and sites visited, amount of time spent online at sites, etc. This may already have occured and employee being counciled about. This "calender" could be compared to computer log and exhonerate you, on the other hand.

C. Did you log into computer under your own name and site popped up or before you had change to log-in? If it was after you signed-on, both ID's will be attached to site. Be warry if only one login for an entire department as all would be held accountable for access issues.

D. Do you ever use your password to allow agency nurses/students access? If so, change it NOW.

As a manger of intake dept, my temp staff are under my account so I change password regularlyy and finally got IT's ear that I need separate account for those working as temp clerical staff.

Will ask RNinformatics to give her best advice here.

This is how it works:

We both incidentally have Yahoo e-mail. But she didn't log out before going home in the morning.

When I tried to log in, instead of asking for my username and password, it immediately went to an open e-mail of hers, containing Mediao pics, because she must not have logged out.

I never share my access with anyone and I'm not worried about any link between her and I or anything linked to my account.

Her calender, although potentially damaging, would have to stand alone because there would be nothing else of mine that would contain any kiddie Media of any sort.

Folks, the advice I'm looking for isn't legal advice about fighting her kiddie Media accusations, because she doesn't have a leg to stand on and I'm not worried about that so much.

I'm worried about reporting her, possibly getting her fired, out of peer pressure to report her from my peers at work, as well as my judgement being clouded over her comments about me in her calender.

Am I reporting her because it's my duty and the right thing to do?

Or am I reporting her because I'm upset and want to retaliate against her for writing those comments about me in her calender?

I want to be sure that I'm doing the right thing, not just acting out in anger.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I think you'd be reporting her because it's the right thing to do.

The fact that you didn't just report her right after you found the calendar says to me that you're not doing this out of anger.

[AtlantaRN, RN]

YOu could suggest to your manager a web blocker like "websense," that is what we have at work and it's VERY particular about what you can access...

For instance, I had to apply in writing for an override access to open johnshopkins website to get information for breast reductions and tram flap patient education information (because we didn't have the information available)...

websense is super sensitive, and won't even open anything questionable

linda

[RN34TX]

YOu could suggest to your manager a web blocker like "websense," that is what we have at work and it's VERY particular about what you can access...

For instance, I had to apply in writing for an override access to open johnshopkins website to get information for breast reductions and tram flap patient education information (because we didn't have the information available)...

websense is super sensitive, and won't even open anything questionable

linda

Well...that's where the selfish side of me comes in.

I don't want our internet taken away from us.

Karen has already noted that she can't even go to this website because of their employer blockings.

I don't think it's right for those of us who are responsible adults to have the internet pulled or severely restricted because of one Mediao addict.

9 years of nursing history has shown me, that managers will always take the easiest way out, and rather than deal with the problem, they'll pull the plug altogether as if we're children who need to be punished.

I'm afraid that she won't examine and correct the issue at hand, she'll just get rid of internet access so that she won't have to deal with it in the future.

I'm sorry, but managers, in my opinion, are forever in search of the easy way to deal with everything.

If any one employee is abusing anything, they place restrictions on all of us, rather than having to face and deal with the individual responsible for their own actions.

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

What is this nurse doing looking at Media at work anyway? If someone is into that kind of stuff, that is there business. But at work? There is a time and place for "extra curricular activities" and work is definatly not the time or place! Nothing that could be offensive should be brought up on a screen at work! I would say something if it were me, but only b/c I would be afraid of her starting rumors about the kiddie Media. You don't want something like that to get passed around or ever investigated. I know you aren't worried about it, but I still wouldn't want it on my record that I was accussed (even tho innocent) just b/c what if an angry parent or child does accuse you in the future? It would show you were investigated! This way it would just make her look bad if she were to start running her mouth....

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I don't think it's right for those of us who are responsible adults to have the internet pulled or severely restricted because of one Mediao addict.

I don't agree with it either.

Which is why i would also take the time to point out why net access is needed, as a reference tool for work.

[ZASHAGALKA, RN]

Am I reporting her because it's my duty and the right thing to do? Or am I reporting her because I'm upset and want to retaliate against her for writing those comments about me in her calender?

I want to be sure that I'm doing the right thing, not just acting out in anger.

What's the difference?

You are reporting her because she's a threat, to you personally, and to unit cohesion.

And any manager out there is gonna compare the fallout of 1 lost employee to a whole unit in disarray and figure it out.

Most likely, she'll be called in and then escorted permanently off the premises, and you will never see her again.

So again, what's the difference. EVEN IF YOU HAD REVENGE ON YOUR MIND, and you clearly don't, the right thing to do just happens to coincide.

But - I seriously doubt this is a dish you could serve cold. Or you wouldn't have posted here, concerned about it.

Good luck.

~faith,

Timothy.