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?

[Kathyz]

I would not confront the nurse. Go to your manager immediately and tell her everything (including the calendar). If you don't, when this all blows up, you don't want your mgr mad at you for not coming forward before.

Although she may be a nice person that you like, she has some serious issues that she should have left at the hospital door.

Good luck (and stay far away from her!!).

[rpv_rn]

Document this situation as if you were writing an incident report. Write an objective, non-judgmental and factual report including the date(s) and time(s) of the incident. Keep this report in your safe-keeping.

Hospitals have policies about computer access: used for business purposes only; password protected; not for personal use, etc. Be familiar with your policy. Computer experts can track the historical usage by any employee of facility.

If, and when, the managers investigate the incident, you will have the necessary information.

[mom23RN]

I just wanted to reassure you that no matter what you do (unless you lie) you are doing nothing to get her fired. SHE is the one who is doing something at work that could cost her her job. She knows that it's unacceptable and now she's trying to come up with other stuff so that she's NOT RESPONSIBLE for her actions.

I would really make sure that no matter what anyone else does she was WRONG and if she loses her job that is all on HER shoulders.

[NurseeTee]

Bottom line is, nurse managers are there for a reason. They have specialized management training and skills, as well as resources and knowledge of certain policies, procedures and laws that us "floor" nurses don't necessarily know about.

The least you (and anyone else who witnessed anything) could do is just fill in the manager on everything. She is responsible for the floor and everyone on it, so it is only fair that she is adequately informed. I would even just print out your post and let her read it. You are obviously trying not to pass judgement on anyone, you would just be giving her all the information she has a right to know anyway. Besides, if this nurse did end up trying to falsely accuse you of something and THEN you came out with all this info, it would look simply retaliatory and lack the credibility it deserves. Good luck.

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

Exactly why a lot of facilities will not allow internet access at work. Furthermore, if everyone had a specific logon to even access the computer their tracking of the situation would be simple. Our whole facility is offline except for doctors and people in the computer room and i really dont mind if it stays that way.

We have people that abuse the telephones, who knows what they would be doing with internet access, but i bet it would be a lot less work.

[soliant12]

I am utterly amazed the question of this woman getting fired or even being turned in to management after what you witnessed is even a question. As for what she does in her own time if it is something illegal or unethical then she should be reported for that as well. I certainly would not want this woman caring for a family memeber of mine and I don't believe I would want someone who would turn their back on these kind of problems at work either.

[mandana]

And you're right. Why would someone, particularly someone who's been busted before, leave her e-mail carelessly open to offensive material? Why be that daring and stupid?

In the case of my coworker, it (Media) became an addiction. I even think that he got some sort of weird extra thrill from looking at it at work. Sort of like the thrill of potentially getting caught heightened the experience. Very odd duck, that one.

Amanda

[SmilingBluEyes]

Thank you.

I too, thought that they'd have one of those programs like people have at home to block their kids from accessing x-rated sites, but apparantly not.

The IS department knows about her because she's been reported before and they've made attempts to limit her access.

I guess I didn't make that part clear in my OP.

sorry I missed that. I think you will be very quickly cleared of wrongdoing and you should not worry too much. MY IS dept would have been MUCH more proactive and strong in their actions and this person would not be employed for very long where I work, that much I know.

[mak2]

As someone said e couple pages ago, Witch hunt going on here. Why dont you dunk her in the river and if she floats she is a Media freak, if she drowns she wasnt, oops.

[Faeriewand, ASN, RN]

I think the nurse in question is addicted to Media and sex so is behaving stupidly. Also sounds like she is circling the wagons and you should be too TX. Think about it. What is the best way to get attention off her viewing Media at work? By saying someone else was doing something much much worse! Why, the minute we know about someone viewing kiddie pics we could care less about other things right? At least that is what she is thinking. She could always say, but at least she wasn't doing that! Someone else is doing that! Now the investigation will go to that person and off her. It's stupid I know but this person is not thinking clearly if she is doing what she is doing. How do drug addicts behave? Alcoholics? Media/sex addicts are the same. Sometimes irrationally trying to cover their butts by lying like a rug.

[SFCardiacRN]

NEVER leave a computer with your log on enabled. Anyone can surf anywhere under your name...even child Media. And hospital IT can track usage.

[mak2]

I think the nurse in question is addicted to Media and sex so is behaving stupidly. Also sounds like she is circling the wagons and you should be too TX. Think about it. What is the best way to get attention off her viewing Media at work? By saying someone else was doing something much much worse! Why, the minute we know about someone viewing kiddie pics we could care less about other things right? At least that is what she is thinking. She could always say, but at least she wasn't doing that! Someone else is doing that! Now the investigation will go to that person and off her. It's stupid I know but this person is not thinking clearly if she is doing what she is doing. How do drug addicts behave? Alcoholics? Media/sex addicts are the same. Sometimes irrationally trying to cover their butts by lying like a rug.

Why is it necessary for TX to circle the wagons? This is a phenom I have not seen in other fields. A nurse calls a code and no one comes, she feels it is her fault, a nurse is veiwing prono and nurses around her have to perpare their defenses. Why is that? Just two examples I have seen today on this forum.