Patients who steal from the ER

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Jul 2, 2005

People walk out from OB with linens and the little baby stethoscopes all the time.

Since I've worked in the ED I've had a couple young girls try to leave with scrub bottoms on, not to mention patients that go with whatever they can hide under their clothes- whether they know what it is or not.

Geeg · Jul 2, 2005

If the theft is a big problem, the hospital can do what any other business does: make a police report and push for prosecution.

underwatergirl · Jul 2, 2005

Unfort. I think alot of patients think, damn I am paying for this mat as well get my money's worth...Doesn't justify it, by no means...

I am sorry you sethoscope is gone, not cool, remember next time not to leave it in a room, I have lost alot by doing that.

Your right thou it is really sad, I think confronting pt.'s is the best choice of action.

Sorry hun

cursenurse · Jul 2, 2005

i am so sorry about your stethascope. theft is a problem in our e.r. too. usually pt's take supplies. i caught the family member of a pt going through the gauze and ointments in our suture room. i told the lady to get out of there, that the stuff in there is not free, and that she had no business in there. we caught another lady who had been discharged loading footies into her bag, security was called and she was escorted out.

Uptoherern, RN · Jul 2, 2005

had a lady once, d/c from med/surg with a suitcase full of cutlery from all her meals, linens, blankets. charge nurse emptied it out and gave her a sermon. :uhoh21:

allnurses Guide · Jul 2, 2005

We had a fellow who "needed" to go out to his car in a wheelchair, and my tech went out to see him off. The guy started stuffing the wc into his trunk, after carefully stowing the portable O2 tank to the side.

My tech told him to give it back, the guy said "oH! I thought they gave me this, I guess you want the tank back too"

Luv2BAnurse · Jul 2, 2005

The wife of a patient had put one of the washable/reusable bed pads in her purse, and when the tech called her on it and asked for it back, the visitor called our patient relation department to complain that the tech had embarrassed her over the incident. Guess what happened at our "oh God we need more money" hospital? The tech was reprimanded. No wonder the telephones in the room and television remotes are also taken, we are on pins and needles about saying anything to anyone anymore.

Trauma Columnist · Jul 2, 2005

We have plastic belongings bags and one evening we had this lady truck out with two of them filled with linens. The only reason we caught her was because she demanded a cab voucher and swore at me when I offered her a bus pass instead. If she had just kept her mouth shut, she would have gotten away. We called the police and she was arrested PLUS she had outstanding warrants.

underwatergirl · Jul 3, 2005

Next time a patient try's to steal from your hospital...I say call the manager or supervisor and state "I am sorry but I dont' want to embarrasse this patient because he/she is stealing, could you please come down and retrieve the hospitals things back". Pretty soon they will be sick of being called on the matter.

I know it is my passive-aggressiveness..LOL

The wife of a patient had put one of the washable/reusable bed pads in her purse, and when the tech called her on it and asked for it back, the visitor called our patient relation department to complain that the tech had embarrassed her over the incident. Guess what happened at our "oh God we need more money" hospital? The tech was reprimanded. No wonder the telephones in the room and television remotes are also taken, we are on pins and needles about saying anything to anyone anymore.

babynurselsa, RN · Jul 3, 2005

We had a patient rip the crucifix off the wall and stuff it down his shirt.

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Jul 3, 2005

Oh, we have them try to steal everything...heck, they don't even know what the stuff is for LOL I had a mom try to steal the bassinet one time...I had wheeled the kid down to the car and she snatched the plastic "bucket" off the base(with Junior in it) and had it in the car lickety split...she jumped in, but they got fenced in by 3 other cars and the security guard caught them. LOL

We had one dad snatch one of the nurse's bags she brought in..it was Ambercombie and Fitch...he probably thought he was getting something good...he got a PBJ sandwich, chips and a diet 7up :rotfl: