Nurse offering to sell products to family member

[pickledpepperRN]

A patients relative complained to me that a nurse on the day shift told her about these nutritional supplements. She offered to sell them to the relative.

I know this nurse is excited about these vitamins and thinks they have improved her GI problems, her memory, and made her skin look better. She has tried to sell them to co workers but I was surprised she would try to sell them to the patients family member.

I will see her when I get to work tonight. Should I tell her it is inappropriate and ask her to promise not to do this again?

or should I tell my manager in private. This is an excellent long term nurse. I think she should be warned but not disciplined unless she does it again.

The manager is new so I don't know what she will do.

[EmmaG, RN]

I'd talk to her privately and tell her to cease and desist now... her job is at risk if a patient or family complains to administration.

Wow.

I give her the benefit of the doubt and assume that she is just a bit over-enthusiastic. If she continues after your warning, or argues over it, I'd go to the manager.

[Jo Dirt]

I would first pull her aside and tell her there were some complaints (specify complaints) that she was trying to sell the vitamins on the side. Surely this would be enough to let her know not to do it again.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Talk to her first. If she stops there's no need to tell the manager. Perhaps you should gently say that will inform the manager if it continues. Let us know who it turns out.

[woody62, RN]

Talk to her in private. I would keep a record of the name of the patient and family member, as well as the date, in case you have to use it at a later timne. Most employers have strict rules regarding selling of anything on their site. You should point this out to her.

Woody

[TrudyRN]

A patient's relative complained to me that a nurse on the day shift told her about these nutritional supplements. She offered to sell them to the relative.

I know this nurse is excited about these vitamins and thinks they have improved her GI problems, her memory, and made her skin look better. She has tried to sell them to co workers but I was surprised she would try to sell them to the patients family member.

I will see her when I get to work tonight. Should I tell her it is inappropriate and ask her to promise not to do this again?

or should I tell my manager in private. This is an excellent long term nurse. I think she should be warned but not disciplined unless she does it again.

The manager is new so I don't know what she will do.

I would keep out of it completely.

You are not her boss, you are not required to do anything about this.

Why didn't the family member go to the boss? :angryfire You could have directed her to do that. That's what bosses are for - to handle stuff like this. The truth is, you don't really know if the nurse was soliciting business, which is wrong, or if she was just enthused, as you have concluded. You have no way to know for sure. But if the family member is upset, she can just go complain to the appropriate party. I'm curious as to why she told you about it.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I think it is unethical to sell products to patients. They may be contraindicated in the prescribed treatment plan and also, it is catching people when they are vulnerable. They are also very expensive. I can also compare it to prescribing medications without the license of a physician. Think about it, a patient would trust the nurse wearing white telling them to by snake oil because of the image of nurses.

I would take her to the side to inform her of the 'complaint' since, in fact, the family did in fact report it to you and consider referring the person making the complaint to the supervisor if they approach you again AFTER speaking to the nurse making the proposition.

[MrsMommaRN]

since you are not a member of management i would stay out of confronting her directly. using her patients as a way to make conatacts for her own personal gain is wrong. it needs to be brought up to management.

[ICRN2008, BSN, RN]

Both of the organizations I work for have strict policies against soliciting in the workplace. This includes selling candy bars for school fund raisers, putting up flyers to sell your old car, etc. Your facility's rules might not be as strict, but I imagine that there is some sort of policy and procedure that addresses this sort of behavior.

If the family member is complaining, I would refer him or her to the charge nurse, the nurse manager or patient relations. Most hospitals are now tracking patient satisfaction, and even the perception of unethical behavior on the part of one of the caregivers could seriously impact your unit and organization's progress towards these goals.

It is not our place to directly confront our co-workers, but if a patient or family member is complaining to us as nurses, I feel that we have an obligation to address the issue to their satisfaction.

[AprilRNhere]

It is not our place to directly confront our co-workers, but if a patient or family member is complaining to us as nurses, I feel that we have an obligation to address the issue to their satisfaction.

Ditto. I think if a patient complains to us it is defiantely our responsibility to do SOMETHING about it.

[TazziRN, RN]

Whether or not the pt said anything, I would pull the nurse aside and tell her to cool it, that it is inappropriate to do what she's doing.

None of my business? No, it's not, but if I like the nurse and respect her, I would try to help her keep out of trouble.

[Diary/Dairy, RN]

She needs to be told about this - if you are comfortable enough with her, tell her in person.

If not, have management deal with it.

Either way, she needs to know!