I am an HIV LPN(NEW). My company hired a RN for role of clinic coordinator. This Rn was fired from a previous job 4-5 years ago, unknown reasons. We had the opportunity to interview her, myself and 3 PA's and her longest job in 5 years was 4 months. We said no, our director said yes.
She used to work at one of our affiliates clinics(where she was fired) and she asked me how can a pt. get transfered to us. We are a HIV clinic. I told her they just have to come over and change doctors. Needless to say the patient that she wanted to come over is also her live in boyfriend , who she met at the other clinic. She said she divorced her DOctor husband to be with him. She was his nurse and the pt is also a strong substance abuser. There are pictures of them kissing and on vacation on her web site. She has access to RX forms and other things. He is always here, hanging around. We sent pictures to our director, secretly, yesterday.
We don't know what will happen next.
QUESTION??????????Should the Illinois BON be informed. I looked up our nurses act and it states that one of the reasons for getting your license revoked, suspended is sexual contact with a patient.
This whole story sounds totally tawdry. Jerry Springer comes to mind. Frankly, the nurse with the HIV+ does sound like a questionable character. Also, the staff at the OP's office sounds like Jr High students trying to get an outcast student kicked out of, not only the drama club, but also expelled from the school.
Am I the only one that thinks it's odd that the OP is all of a sudden coming up with all this info? It started it with just a bunch of vague assumptions, hearsay and a few pictures posted online to all of a sudden (after criticism from they forum) they share an office, there's $75 worth of gift cards missing, etc.
If it's all true, then yeah, I'd go to the supervisor...but this all seems odd to me. Also, it occurred to me that this woman may be the OP's supervisor...she said the woman was being hired as a clinical coordinator so she may not like it that this woman is above her...?
Somehow I doubt we're getting the whole story.
We never do and I would hope the OP would have the sense not to put those details in. This is a public forum and for all she knows, her Director or the coworker could be any one of us.
I thank everyone for your response even though I did not expect to get some of the responses. When I said we did not 'ok' her being hired, it was only because of her not being stable in a job. I am not trying to get her fired, the reason we found out about the website was through her. She invited all the co workers to join her blogs. We were not snooping on that, we seen the pictures when she started, and she said it was her'guy' but that was before he was told to come to our clinic by her. I do take the blame for wanting to contact BON. I did not print the pictures or give them to the director, I said we because it was coworkers.
With the guy hanging around, I have a issue because the 2 of us share an office, and once I tried my key and could not get in because it was doubled locked with the 2 of them in there. I could have said something there but didn't because I was uncomfortable. We do have medications in our office and I am afraid I could be blamed for something if it should happen. We keep gift cards in our office and I know for sure that 75 dollars worth is unaccounted for. So I have started locking up my things. Also, today his doctor noticed that Tramadol was filled twice under her name within 8 days. So that is being investigated.
I do feel bad that it seems like I am out to get her, but I thought I had a duty to report unethical issues. Am I suppose to turn a blind eye and just let things happen? We are a grant funded clinic, should I just wait for us to be audited or investigaed by various departments? If I see something that is not ethical in regards to nursing care, should I just let it go?
Thanks to you all.
But here is the problem with what you are doing:
1. Did you personally witness the RN or her boyfriend take any gift cards or are you just assuming they did?
2. Are you assuming she took the drugs or are they just missing and someone else is investigating, but you just think she did?
They have a name for that in courts, it's called "heresay".
If what you say is true, then just sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and watch the show. She will hang herself.
However, if you DIRECTLY observe her violating a policy, then I think every single nurse/student would back you up 100% for reporting it to your superiors.
Just make SURE that everything you say you know first hand, not by rumor, not by suspicion (probably didn't spell that right). You get the picture.
I have personally been attacked at a job and fired from one because of rumors that had no basis whatsoever. That is why this post hit a nerve with me.
If what you are saying is true, she will screw herself.
Fournee just be careful. Your director/HR may actually look at you as a troublemaker that is creating a hostile work environment if you continue this.
If some gift certificates are missing everyone is suspect, not just the chick with the scarlett letter on her chest.
In regards to the medication - a paper trail will uncover that.
I understand that you get a bad vibe off of this new co-worker but others may also be setting her up. I honestly would not want to work at that clinic if I were her. I can't stand hen houses.
This employee's biggest mistake was allowing everyone to get into her personal life - now it's being thrown in her face. I wonder if she did this to try and fit in - regardless it is her lesson to learn. (Don't eat where you.......)
Let the drama run it's course and just do your job. Remember we are all capable of being fired - if someone decided to follow your every move, everyday at work they will eventually find something to let you go for too.
That is so true. I always say, What am I doing that is unethical? Should I throw the first stone?
Would I want my co-workers nursing or not to be scrutnizing my work or work ethics. As a new nurse myself I can say, how do you have time to be watching other coworkers personal life? I have my own life to watch and be worried about.
Just some peices of advise...
Do your job.
Watch yourself.
I am sure that in your past you must have some skeletons in your closet as well.
I dont think that is your first job and if is well then there is a lot to learn.
I don't know if the States has any such laws, but here we have the Privacy Act that would enable that RN to charge you with violation of her privacy by taking unauthorized pictures. She has every right to have a priivate life as long as it doesn't interfere with her position or the safety of her patients. At any rate pictures of anyone are a huge NO NO! What does your behavior say about YOUR ethics!
I don't know if the States has any such laws, but here we have the Privacy Act that would enable that RN to charge you with violation of her privacy by taking unauthorized pictures. She has every right to have a priivate life as long as it doesn't interfere with her position or the safety of her patients. At any rate pictures of anyone are a huge NO NO! What does your behavior say about YOUR ethics!
People are not reading the previous posts. I did not take unauthorized pictures, don't know where that came from. The pictures were posted on the very public Myspace and Facebook page for anyone and everyone to see. But to update on the situation, apparently it did interfere with her job because it was found out that 3 prescriptions were written and filled(in the past 4 weeks) for this patient without the providers authorization. My director had already seen the photos before my coworkers showed her because the RN wanted us to join her friends list on MYSPACE. SHe did that herself. My director contacted Department of Professional Regulations, without our input,(we were after the fact) and she was informed that it was grounds for discinpinary action in regards to her having a sexual relation with a client that she was servicing. It is against the rules. So I don't know what went on with that, but she is no longer working here, due to her writing Rx for her boyfriend and I think charges were filed because the police were here asking a few of us questions. RX was for 6 months of Tylenlol 3 on 2 prescriptions and 3 months refills on Tylenolol 4 on the other.
So I guess I did not have to be concerned what the other nurse was doing if you say it did not concern me... But guess what, it did concern me if I felt she was doing something against the rules instilled by the nursing board.
But to update on the situation, apparently it did interfere with her job because it was found out that 3 prescriptions were written and filled(in the past 4 weeks) for this patient without the providers authorization. My director had already seen the photos before my coworkers showed her because the RN wanted us to join her friends list on MYSPACE. SHe did that herself. My director contacted Department of Professional Regulations, without our input,(we were after the fact) and she was informed that it was grounds for discinpinary action in regards to her having a sexual relation with a client that she was servicing. It is against the rules. So I don't know what went on with that, but she is no longer working here, due to her writing Rx for her boyfriend and I think charges were filed because the police were here asking a few of us questions. RX was for 6 months of Tylenlol 3 on 2 prescriptions and 3 months refills on Tylenolol 4 on the other.
So I guess I did not have to be concerned what the other nurse was doing if you say it did not concern me... But guess what, it did concern me if I felt she was doing something against the rules instilled by the nursing board.
Whoa Nelly!
Ok...I am starting to wonder if this is a bogus story to start with.
Didn't you say in your original post that "we" (meaning you and others) "secretly" e-mailed the photos to the Director?
That is QUITE a different story than the fact that your Director "had already seen them" on MySpace or Facebook, if that were true...then WHY did you have to e-mail them to the Director?
4 Prescriptions may have been written, but can you PROVE that she was the one that wrote them? Are her fingerprints on the paper copy that you could possibly retrieve from the pharmacy where they were filled? Have you had the police to examine to see if it's her handwriting (or his)?
Just because you decided to execute her before there was even a trial, doesn't make her guilty...you have to prove your accusations.
I'll be honest with you...I DO NOT believe that prescriptions were wrote, filled, mistake noticed, police called, investigation completed, and she was arrested in FOUR WEEKS.
I'm sorry, but I just don't.
I also think that your Director left out a HUGE chunk of the story when she called to complain to the BON. Did she bother to mention that she was already dating this guy before he became a patient? Did the CLINIC allow for her to service this patient (and that is their own fault)?
Just because someone is a nurse at a clinic, doesn't mean she has to personally service every client that walks into the door. Another nurse can and SHOULD be assigned to her boyfriend. Was there no physician at the clinic to object?
There are pictures of them kissing and on vacation on her web site. She has access to RX forms and other things. He is always here, hanging around. We sent pictures to our director, secretly, yesterday.
Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.
Whoa Nelly!
Ok...I am starting to wonder if this is a bogus story to start with.
Again, I just think this is a made-up story.
Because this is an internet BB we really can't prove that what a person says is accurate. Other posters don't know if I am a 50-year-old man with an accounting degree or if I am a medical student spying on what nurses have to say. But, the OP has been forthright and honest. To attack her and say she is lying seems uncalled for to me. Yes, it is possible that this whole story is made up but that seems unlikely. There could be any number of made up stories on this BB. I think that we need to offer helpful advise and to assume goodwill towards others and to assume that they are telling the truth.
:hlk:
FireStarterRN, BSN, RN
3,824 Posts
This whole story sounds totally tawdry. Jerry Springer comes to mind. Frankly, the nurse with the HIV+ does sound like a questionable character. Also, the staff at the OP's office sounds like Jr High students trying to get an outcast student kicked out of, not only the drama club, but also expelled from the school.
It sounds like a toxic place to work to me...