Student caught stealing....

1louise1 · Dec 14, 2010

Are you sure it's not "modica" in the context in which you used it?

could be!

1louise1 · Dec 14, 2010

who's going to write a closing argument on this case?

DizzyLizzyNurse · Dec 14, 2010

pressing charges would cause more trouble than resolution. i can see if she stole from a patient or stole a very large amount of money or medicine.

so it's ok to steal from your teacher and a nurse but wow she should go to jail for stealing from a patient?! my annoyance over this goes along with this:

i was one of those who advocated getting the whole story before pressing charges -- but i retract that suggestion. the girl confessed. that is the whole story.

there seems to be an underlying message on allnurses in general insinuating that nurses, because they are nurses, have an obligation to accept as a sign of their selfless compassion all manner of behaviors. not to accept abuses of all kinds seems to imply that we (gasp!) lack the basic compassion that all nurses should have. because we are nurses, we're expected to have all that compassion above and beyond what is expected of the rest of society, as evidenced by comments like "i can't believe you're all nurses, when you have no compassion."

"compassion", as it is used on this forum, is getting to be a dirty word as far as i'm concerned. perhaps i shouldn't, but as soon as i see that word used in a sentence such as "why don't nurses have more compassion?" i immediately figure the poster is clueless. all too often, that turns out to be the case.

well said!!!!

allnurses Guide · Dec 14, 2010

Hopefully RaggedyRN will give us an update - here's hoping it turns out best for everyone involved, including the student - who has an opportunity to use this as a wake-up call to turn her life around and spare herself the escalating consequences of those behaviors.

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2010

Raggedy, any updates?

RaggedyRN · Dec 15, 2010

Okay, I stopped reading at page ten...
I am curious, OP, had you considered contacting the student yourself? Putting myself in your shoes, that's probably what I might have done. You have no obligation to initiate contact, of course, but I'm one of those people who wants to know "Why?" (reasonable or not ). While yes, she should contact you and make restitution, she may be horribly ashamed (as she should be; if she weren't, well, that's another thing).
As far as pressing charges... I'd wait and see what she said. She may have been on the verge of having her electricity shut off or something. Is that an excuse? It absolutely is not. But yes, reasonable or no, I would have a hard time pressing charges if something like that were going on. Either way, both you and the housekeeper deserve a personal apology from that student. I'm sorry this happened to you; it's an untenable position.

This exactly. I'd like to know why, but am hesitant to call her myself because now I am angry. She told security she would call me and has not The dean left a voice mail for her last Thursday night and the disciplinarian sent a "code of conduct" letter to her. As of this afternoon no one has heard from her. She is supposed to call and schedule an apt. with the dean. I'd really like to know what she has to say for herself but am afraid to call her as she may twist my reasoning for calling as an attempt to get my money back or threaten her with the police. I think I may be better off just letting the police do their job. I've been patient and have given her ample opportunity to contact either myself or the college. Shame on her!

RaggedyRN · Dec 15, 2010

who's going to write a closing argument on this case?

Me :)

RaggedyRN · Dec 15, 2010

Hopefully RaggedyRN will give us an update - here's hoping it turns out best for everyone involved, including the student - who has an opportunity to use this as a wake-up call to turn her life around and spare herself the escalating consequences of those behaviors.

Thanks!

Quark09 · Dec 15, 2010

T I'd like to know why, but am hesitant to call her myself because now I am angry.... I think I may be better off just letting the police do their job. I've been patient and have given her ample opportunity to contact either myself or the college.

Then it's probably for the best. I hope you at least get your money recovered!

RaggedyRN · Dec 18, 2010

I'm not sure if anyone is still following this but here's an update. I gave the student one week to try to make things right. I gave her the opportunity to contact me, she chose not to.

The dean requested a meeting with the student via voicemail. The student has not scheduled an apt. with the dean. The disciplinarian also sent a letter with the "code of conduct" and a meeting request. The disciplinarian has not heard from the student.

The security officer heard from the students mother. The mother was demanding to know why the security officer was talking to her daughter. At this time the student has not told her family she was expelled from te program. Mom was angry and defensive, yet she didn't have the details. The security officer refused to disclose the details and suggested the mother talk to her daughter.

I filed a report with the police. I feel she has not learned from this experience. I believe we all must be held accountable for our actions. The police were very understanding. The officer called the student. The stuudent again confessed. The student continued to tell lies and the officer caught her telling a few. The officer is now angry with the student. She does not appear to be learning much from all of this. The students father then called the police demanding to know why the police were calling his daughter. The student kept telling the officer "I just want this to go away." He told her she should have thought of that earlier.

I am at peace with my decision. I was setwing over this for a week and now feel better that it is in the hands of the authorities. I am glad her parents are involved. They may be part of the problem...not sure. The father told the officer he'd pay for his daughter. The officer told the father it's too late for that and that perhaps he shoulld stop bailing his daughter out. This may be why she's in this predicament.

I am to expect a letter from the court soon. I may have to make an appearance, or not. It's up to the student. If she turns herself in I may not need to testify. If she does not turn hrself in then there will be a warrant out for her arrest. The officer is not playing around. You really should not lie to an officer....they do NOT like that!

Either way she will be held accountable for her actions. I sincerely hope she learns from this and gets the help she needs.

Thanks for all of the replies and discussion. It has helped!

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Dec 18, 2010

It sounds like this student has been sheltered. I am glad to see her parents involved, and it sounds to me like she has been manipulating her parents as well. She has clearly not been forthright with anyone...lying to the officer? She is burying her head in the sand, but from your report OP, it sounds like she is going to have to own up to this sooner or later. She had the choice to discuss this with you and the dean and has chosen to ignore it rather that make it right. I am glad that you are at peace with your decision. You did the right thing.

leslie :-D · Dec 18, 2010

seriously, this girl sounds so young...maybe 20ish?

i say that, because her actions sound a lot like that of my 'troubled' 20yo son, who reacts the same way.

dad and i, have only recently started our plan of tough love.

up until then, we...really, me...was stepping in and protecting him.

no more. NO MORE.

(ok...off rant.)

again, this young woman needs some real, life lessons.

leslie