looking up a patients arrest records?

Blackheartednurse · Apr 20, 2011

how is that unethical-I go to people houses all the time, I dont know them and what about if one of them is like an ex sex offender, am I not allowed to chose whether I want to continue seeing this patient.BTW, I used to see this lady who lived with her son. He was in jail for 20 years because he murdered someone.

Home health nurse.

Five&Two Will Do · Apr 20, 2011

Just so long as nobody looks up my record :no:

greenfiremajick · Apr 20, 2011

not exactly the same, but when I taught SPED, I never looked at the records before meeting with them and working with them for several sessions. There were a few that had in their files, a high level of violence. Had I known beforehand, I'm sure it would have effected my educational relationship w/them!

It is public record and what an individual does on their own time can not be legislated however the problem is in sharing of that information with others that is the problem. This action calls into serious question of professional ethics of the care giver and liability for the employer.
If this conversation was reported to management they would have cause to terminate an employee for malicious gossip of a patient - not that it was not true but it is gossip and surely can affect care rendered.
If you read correction nurses blogs and professional correction resources
it is general consensus of the professional NOT to know the criminal history or charges of those we care for as it can affect the care given even on an unconscious level or have the appearance of doing so.
Marc

kath<3, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2011

Looking at them as innocent angels when they are cuffed at the ankle and wrist to the bed and there is a officer with a gun in the room with them 24/7 isn't always easy. Personally, I don't let it bother me cause I realize people make bad decisions...doesn't always mean they are a bad person.

Five&Two Will Do · Apr 20, 2011

People do make mistakes and should always have the chance to change their ways. That does not exempt them from the punishment for their crime however. Forgiveness is one of the most valuable things on this earth. To forgive those who have harmed us or others frees us from the burdens that we carry. What if nobody ever forgave me for the things that I have done? That would really #uck.

TopazLover, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2011

I work with a criminal defense attorney. All of our clients have made bad decisions. Don't we all. Many of them are in trouble for DUIs. My gut feeling is that if you look up people in search of finding dirt, most likely you can find something. I have never had a problem with any of our clients. We see people from all walks of life. Yes, I had a problem I had to work through when I met this man who was defending a rapist, child rapist in fact. The issue was not with the rapist, it was getting comfortable with this lawyer who was the defense counsel. I did work through it, now we are a couple.

As a nurse I have had people cuffed to the bed, cared for one man who did not get a liver because of his legal history, and have worked with murderers and rapists. My job was to care for them to the best of my ability. Knowing their rap sheet is not necessary or even desirable to giving good care. I agree that it is not to be pursued during work hours and to take health care info home and look up legal history on a patient is outside the boundaries. If, in the course of work it is necessary to visit a home, by yourself, and have concerns for your safety then, and only then can I see a reason to look it up. There are people I would not want to be confined with in their homes.

I do believe in people and personally probably would not check unless I had good reason to do so. All of our clients treat me beautifully. They may be manipulative and charming but they know that I am there to help them. Other people have commented that they are happy that I take my dog to work. I do trust her instincts. If she is not OK with a person I tend to be on higher alert.

I tend to be a bottom line person. Why look up when it is not important to your job? If it is important to your job, is it real, or is it an excuse to be newsy? If it is real, how will it change what you do? Do you realize how many people have not gotten caught for illegal activity? Do you live your lives differently knowing this fact? I choose not to live in fear. That is my bottom line.

Otessa, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2011

A co-worker mentioned she did this and was telling me about some previous arrests of our patients. Is this illegal? It seems very unethical. what should i do?

Most states or counties have a website where you can look up the arrest history of your neighbor or anyone else.

I have had several prisoners in my care where I chose NOT to know why they were in even though I could have found out the information. Figured if they had more than 2 guards and were shackled mightily that there had to be a reason besides looking the wrong way at someone.

Otessa, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2011

Wouldn't do it, will never again ask-cause they will tell you IN DETAIL.

EXACTLY.

The few times I have known what my patients have done is because it was all over the news at some point (TV & newspapers)

ZippyGBR, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2011

On occasion, we get inmates on our floor. A lot of people like to look up what they were arrested for, but I feel like doing that clouds your care. For example, we had a pt recently that needed chemo. He had a guard with him 24/7 and was shackled to the bed. But a couple of people looked up his record & saw that he was in prison for sexual abuse of a minor. As a result, had a few people refuse to care for him.
Somehow, it just doesn't seem right to me. YMMV, of course.

those who refused to care for him should have been disciplined and reported to their professional regulator, as others have said there is nothing to gain from attempting to seek out what someone has been convicted for, as the relevant security issues are covered in the interagency risk assessments in place.

hecallsmeDuchess · Apr 22, 2011

Wow! I've cared for some prisoners in the hospital but I didn't even know it was an option to look them up. Now I know it's public record, I'd rather not look them up because they are some crimes(child molesters/rapists/killers) I just cannot be at peace with and I'm sure knowing of such will somehow affect my care of such patients.

Now if I were a home health nurse, I would like to know everything I can about the patients I would be going to their houses. No compromising on that one.

pedicurn, LPN, RN · Apr 22, 2011

Looking at them as innocent angels when they are cuffed at the ankle and wrist to the bed and there is a officer with a gun in the room with them 24/7 isn't always easy. Personally I don't let it bother me cause I realize people make bad decisions...doesn't always mean they are a bad person.[/quote']
That's right ...some people who are basically fair or good make mistakes
However some people do bad things because they are bad people.
They are bad inside and nothing will change that.

I_OYVEY · Apr 22, 2011

Just so long as nobody looks up my record

In Colorado anyone can not only look up your nursing records they need only plug in your first name, your address and phone numbers are also public record with the state nursing board. Remember the old adage "what goes around comes around". Patient 's personal information i.e., addresses, phone numbers, insurance information, D.O.B. and SSN should not be made available to nursing staff in a hospital setting, it doesn't have any bearing on care. In Colorado a patient may also tape a conversation with their nurse, or anyone for that fact without the others knowledge or permission. They cannot tape the conversation of another patient and caregiver in the same room.