NewnurseNYC

I honestly had no idea that the NYSDOE was who to report it to. They don't teach you these things in nursing school. I thought I would have to report it to my Nurse Manager--who was a pretty scary woman. And I am not scared by many people. I am questioning my ethics in my lack of action in that situation, just so you know. In hindsight, there was a general lack of ethics on that unit. I was just trying to keep my head above water....to no avail, as I got canned anyway.

MJB2010 & Davey Do- That is an excellent idea! It is supposed to be a personal experience, but I guess it still is if another nurse told me. And that would definitely apply the hearsay rule. Thanks! Jess

Now that your no longer with that institution, your probably in the clear, but from an emotional / personal standard viewpoint are you really? I hear you. Honestly, I witnessed so many atrocities at that institution in the mere three months I was there that that was just one of many. That is why I am not nursing now. Until I can find a job in a place that treats its patients and nurses like humans, and adheres to some moral standard; I don't want to be involved.

Ok you have a point. I am not turning him in now, for the record, as I am no longer at that hellhole. I did not turn him in at the time because honestly, I just did not know what to do. I had been sharing with him about how stressed and insomniac I was, and that was what he countered with. He is a bit of a drama queen, so I was hoping he was exagerrating... How was I supposed to turn in the person who got me the job? I would have been fired instantly (on some pretense). It took me six months to get that job...times are tough for new nurses.

Thank you Dave; I agree, this is not the forum to seek legal advice. I'm just not sure WHERE to seek legal advice!;-) I dropped my malpractice insurance since I was not practicing as a nurse...perhaps I should have sprung for the $ to keep it! Or maybe I just need to suck it up and spend a couple hundred on a lawyer.... Thanks! Jess

My first (and only) job out of nursing school was on a particularly difficult floor. I got the job because my nursing school buddy campaigned for me. One evening as we were having dinner before our shift, he confessed to me that he was stealing patient's meds. He also told me another nurse on the floor had shown him how to "get around" the safeguards on the narcotics cart. He claimed that that was how everyone on our unit got through their first six months. I was shocked, but did not know what to do. I did not report it; he never appeared impaired on the job, and the drugs he admitted to stealing (Ambien and Ativan) were both things that had been prescribed to me by my doctor, to deal with the stress of my new job. I know that is no excuse, but it was my rationale at the time. Am I legally liable for not having reported him? Or does it fall under "hearsay?" Does anyone know of a resource in NY State that I can call? This is an issue now because I am about to use this experience as the topic of both papers for the Nursing Ethics class I am currently taking. I don't want to lose my RN license! BTW I am no longer at that hospital, am not working as a nurse at this time Thanks for any advice you can give!