RN stealing from my facility

[levelee]

New to the site but wondering if I can get some advice. I am a CNA working towards my RN. I'm working at a nursing home where an employee, an RN has been stealing from the CNA's and possibly the patients. The facility has spoken with her prior but no report has been filed. I left a brand new blood pressure wrist cuff at work and when I went back a few hours later, it was gone. Management claims they have suspiscions but have not confronted her. They told me that she has gone home with things that don't belong to her before. I am appalled and I'm not sure what to do. I don't really have the funds to replace it, I'm fairly new there, but is it just me that thinks if an RN would steal property; medication would not be a stretch? They stated they'll keep an eye on her and see if they catch her using it. Is this how these things are handled elsewhere? Lee.

[boggle, ASN, RN]

I agree with the poster who stated police should be involved. Money missing from a purse is a police matter. A bp cuff?...well, I wouldn't call police on that one, but probably would for something of greater value, especially if taken out of my bag or coat or locker. I would definitely write up an incident/occurrence report about any of my or my patient's items that come up missing. Hopefully someone in risk management will pay attention to the growing pile of incident reports. Maybe trends and patterns will be identified.

Good luck, Levelee, .....and write your name on everything and keep what you can under lock and key.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

I am shocked the management is the one gossiping about who is stealing and such and then on another hand is defending the person over money being stolen??

I seriously was shocked to find out how much theft is still very much apart of the work place with adults. My old job (non medical related) people's lunches were stolen all the time and stuff out of the lunches if the whole thing wasn't stolen. People that had names on their lunches. I mean seriously, I was amazed.

[Kymmi]

I can't understand why management would talk badly about and accuse employees of any wrong doing to other employees. That is just bad management and I could see where that could set the facility up for a slander lawsuit.

I can understand why management doesn't terminate employees based on what the management thinks is happening but can't prove it. The management/facility must be able to provide proof of stealing or wrong doing before terminating otherwise once again they would be setting themselves up for a law suit.

[penguin2]

How can you catch this person though? We have a similar situation where I work- this RN is stealing employee's belongings & money - we can't accuse her though b/c nobody is 100% sure! Things have been disappearing since shortly after she was hired, but w/out proof what can be done?

[levelee]

Just to update. I am still at this facility and unfortunately, these standards and ethics start from the top and work their way down. So if things are rotten at the top, it rolls down hill. Not much surprises me at this workplace anymore. I just pray that there are much better LTC facilities out there. I'm aiming for the hospital. I do not want to work in LTC.

[MikeyBSN]

I've had a stethoscope stolen, and someone even stole my lunch once. I don't put anything past anyone. We have pretty good security camera coverage, and I know that a few RN's had things returned after being stolen (all were stolen by patients or visitors). Like FireStarterRN said, I have a locker and I use it.

[Sirapples]

Keep your eyes open, your mouth shut, and keep things locked. Im amazed that management informed you of this and who was suspected. Completly unprofessional on thier part. Remember though, your job is not to be a private investigator. You can not know for sure until you actually see an act with your own eyes if this really is the person. And as far as the blood pressure cuff, dont bring one to work. Someone might of grabbed it to check a bp on a patient then wondered off with it and someone else might of stuffed it in a drawer.

And dont spread your thoughts that this person might be stealing to other coworkers... or you could find yourself in a defamation of character lawsuit. Dont spread gossip about this is my advice.

Good luck. worse comes to worse find another job because if things keep getting stolen, someone might accuse you.

[levelee]

That suspected nurse?.......she got fired, and not for stealing a bp cuff but for taking meds. And as for management and the lack of professionalism. The turnover here is faster than the blink of an eye. I try to make a difference to my patients while I am there. That's the best I can do. Jobs are hard to come by right now, and if you want to keep yours, you just have to deal.

[Sirapples]

Good luck, sounds like things worked out afterall. Hopefully the environment will become better.