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.
I would say something like this, "Hey, I wanted you to know that so and so mentioned that you offered to sell them X. They were kinda peeved and I'm not sure that we are allowed to sell stuff to patients or families. I'd stay away from it just in case."
That way you are not nasty and not saying you are going to tattle, but you can know that you did try to warn her before she "got in trouble". If someone complains after that, let management know.
Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.
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.
Sounds like the best move. That way you are bypassed as you are only a third party to the incident anyway.
Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.
Yes first step is to speak with her privately and inform her there has been a complaint. Secondly it is very inappropriate to be selling stuff such as this in her place of employment. What she does in her time off is of course her business but not at work!!:trout:
Yesterday evening I went in early and talked with her. I said, "Mr. *****'s sister told me you tried to sell her *****."
She said, "Well I think it would help her."
I then showed her the policy clearly stating this is not OK. I told her I will have to tell the manager about it unless she promises not to sell products to patients or families or on work time.
She said, "Well I always buy Girl Scout cookies from *****."
I reminded her no one sells to patients. She got quite angry but did promise not to do it again.
I wrote a note asking the manager to inform all staff of the policy. Without naming anyone I typed that a hospital employee was offering to sell items to visitors. I told her I was going to do this.
She said, "Go ahead."
I am disappointed. We've been giving each other report for years. She seems so competent and caring. I never imagined she would even risk doing this. Yet she was angry with me.
If two people involved were males, would they show each other policies and take promises, or else "I'll go to manager and tell on you"? Nurses are the best disciplinarians of their own kind.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Yesterday evening I went in early and talked with her. I said, "Mr. *****'s sister told me you tried to sell her *****."
She said, "Well I think it would help her."
I then showed her the policy clearly stating this is not OK. I told her I will have to tell the manager about it unless she promises not to sell products to patients or families or on work time.
She said, "Well I always buy Girl Scout cookies from *****."
I reminded her no one sells to patients. She got quite angry but did promise not to do it again.
I wrote a note asking the manager to inform all staff of the policy. Without naming anyone I typed that a hospital employee was offering to sell items to visitors. I told her I was going to do this.
She said, "Go ahead."
I am disappointed. We've been giving each other report for years. She seems so competent and caring. I never imagined she would even risk doing this. Yet she was angry with me.
Speaking to her about it first and then mentioning the situation to the supervisor was the best move, in my opinion because I hate to see nurses tell on each other at every opportunity. This way, her identity is not revealed by you and whether she is upset of not, she can't say that you mentioned who she actually is. Her paranoia may lead her to believe differently, but at least your conscience is clear because you didn't. Now, if she continues, the next person may not be as forgiving. Now, if the patient mentions it again, I would send THEM to the manager or patient relations.
At times, it is not always the best thing to go straight to the manager if a safety issue is not involved. I had a situation once where a patient was complaining about a physician who is well known for not being very pleasent with our clients. I reported him several times, and was made to look like the fool. This time, I told the patient to go to the Patient Relations office. I was tired of being made to be the trouble maker.
Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.
Yesterday evening I went in early and talked with her. I said, "Mr. *****'s sister told me you tried to sell her *****."
She said, "Well I think it would help her."
I then showed her the policy clearly stating this is not OK. I told her I will have to tell the manager about it unless she promises not to sell products to patients or families or on work time.
She said, "Well I always buy Girl Scout cookies from *****."
I reminded her no one sells to patients. She got quite angry but did promise not to do it again.
I wrote a note asking the manager to inform all staff of the policy. Without naming anyone I typed that a hospital employee was offering to sell items to visitors. I told her I was going to do this.
She said, "Go ahead."
I am disappointed. We've been giving each other report for years. She seems so competent and caring. I never imagined she would even risk doing this. Yet she was angry with me.
That was a very caring and professional move that you made. It is a shame that your colleague didn't recognise it as such. I think she is lucky that it is you, and not another member of your team, that received the complaint because the outcome may not have been so kind coming from another with less experience in dealing with such things (I know I probably wouldnt have been so wise)
MS._Jen_RN, ASN, RN
348 Posts
I would say something like this, "Hey, I wanted you to know that so and so mentioned that you offered to sell them X. They were kinda peeved and I'm not sure that we are allowed to sell stuff to patients or families. I'd stay away from it just in case."
That way you are not nasty and not saying you are going to tattle, but you can know that you did try to warn her before she "got in trouble". If someone complains after that, let management know.
~Jen