Scared i may have gotten someone in trouble...

[richardgecko]

I have a nurse educator that I have become close to. He helped me through a tough personal issue with my health that he had went through and now that I've been having issues on my floor, I've been confiding in him about my struggles on the floor. Today we were discussing some recent issues and I mentioned that my preceptor broke a policy. Not trying to tell on anyone, it just naturally came out in conversation. He was very concerned said that he had to report it. I understand why because its policy and could have potentially been a terrible situation, however I don't want to see anyone lose their job and I'm afraid of the consequences for this person. If I am asked to issue a statement later (I'm expecting to be asked soon), should I go forth with it?

[caliotter3]

The cat is out of the bag. If asked, you should tell the truth. I don't see how you can do otherwise. Try to convince the nurse educator to bypass reporting this one if no harm will come otherwise.

[Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM]

I have a nurse educator that I have become close to. He helped me through a tough personal issue with my health that he had went through and now that I've been having issues on my floor, I've been confiding in him about my struggles on the floor. Today we were discussing some recent issues and I mentioned that my preceptor broke a policy. Not trying to tell on anyone, it just naturally came out in conversation. He was very concerned said that he had to report it. I understand why because its policy and could have potentially been a terrible situation, however I don't want to see anyone lose their job and I'm afraid of the consequences for this person. If I am asked to issue a statement later (I'm expecting to be asked soon), should I go forth with it?

It depends on what it is.

There are some things that I would turn my best friend in for. There are other things that are "policy" that I would completely ignore because personally, I think the rationale is stupid.

If it was that serious then honestly, you should have reported it yourself.

This is the ethical part of nursing. Do we all do everything by the book? Nope. However, if caught you still have to take responsibility for it.

There are some rules that facilities go overboard if you break them and others that you should probably lose your job if you bypassed certain systems.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

It depends on what it is.

There are some things that I would turn my best friend in for. There are other things that are "policy" that I would completely ignore because personally, I think the rationale is stupid.

If it was that serious then honestly, you should have reported it yourself.

This is the ethical part of nursing. Do we all do everything by the book? Nope. However, if caught you still have to take responsibility for it.

There are some rules that facilities go overboard if you break them and others that you should probably lose your job if you bypassed certain systems.

Agree. If your preceptor confided in you that she came to work drunk or high or you saw her divert narcotics, no question it needs to be reported.

If she let a dying patient's wife eat off the patient menu or stay past visiting hours, who cares.

[MJB2010]

I agree that it depends on the offense. How bad of an offense was it? It would be very difficult to turn in a coworker unless I was afraid for patient safety or harm. I probably wouldnt confide in this "friend" again either way.