Student caught stealing....

caliotter3 · Dec 11, 2010

I was for giving her a chance until I read your last post. She told the security officer that she was going to contact you and now she has not followed through. I was thinking she could be immobilized by the shock of what she did and getting caught. But once she told someone that she was going to discuss it with you, she should have followed through. There is no longer the "I'm in shock", excuse. Go ahead and take further action if you deem it necessary at this point. She dug her own grave and reached up to grab the dirt to cover herself with.

greenfiremajick · Dec 11, 2010

I still go back to thinking about the housekeeper who was wrongfully accused. I think about her mental anguish over the situation. She deserves justice, too. Her name was dragged through the mud over this.

Yeah, I can see her sitting at home, sweating bullets and wondering why she had to be accused and if she would get into trouble over this, even though she knew she had not done anything wrong.........

OCNRN63, RN · Dec 11, 2010

RaggedyRN- I'm sorry this happenned to you.
I know that I have an unpopular opinion, but I too agree with your husband. She is getting a large punishment by getting kicked out of the program. I hope that she does contact you and apologize. But I would not press criminal charges....I agree with whatever posted stated that while I'm not agreeing with or making excuses for the student's actions, but I think that getting expelled from school is a large punishment and pursuing criminal charges just might make this student get angry at the system, rather than change.
Again, I know it is an unpopular opinion and I can see the benefit of turning the student in to the police, I just urge you to consider what your husband said. Getting expelled from school is a BIG deal.

And then she can go on, reapply somewhere else, get in and victimize someone else. Terrific. Just the kind of person we need in nursing.

I couldn't care less if she's angry at "the system." Maybe she should have thought about that before she stole. She's not special because she's a nursing student. She's a common criminal, just like anyone else who stole. Would you advocate letting any other thief off just because they'd be angry at "the system?"

rntim49 · Dec 11, 2010

RaggedyRN- I'm sorry this happenned to you.
I know that I have an unpopular opinion, but I too agree with your husband. She is getting a large punishment by getting kicked out of the program. I hope that she does contact you and apologize. But I would not press criminal charges....I agree with whatever posted stated that while I'm not agreeing with or making excuses for the student's actions, but I think that getting expelled from school is a large punishment and pursuing criminal charges just might make this student get angry at the system, rather than change.
Again, I know it is an unpopular opinion and I can see the benefit of turning the student in to the police, I just urge you to consider what your husband said. Getting expelled from school is a BIG deal.

You have got to be kidding? unpopular is an understatement,

Maybe if it was you lying in a hospital bed with uncontrolled hypertension while miss

kleptomaniac stole your meds you would see things different. Common sense goes a long way also.

AOx1 · Dec 11, 2010

This person is not likely to change. She showed no remorse at stealing, gave no reason, and accused someone else falsely. She made no plans to pay you back. It isn't enough punishment to be out of school; that is a slap on the wrist. She will just find a new school and steal from others if she isn't stopped. Like others have said, one of the worst things is the false accusation of the housekeeper.

Before I was a nurse I was a waitress. I worked with a friend who was falsely accused of stealing all that day's money (several hundred dollars). The assistant manager lied and said my friend never turned in the day's money and receipts, but two other people saw her turn in the money. They also pulled the videotape. While they were investigating, my friend was so traumatized by the false accusation that she cried all the time and could barely sleep. She was so afraid she would be sent home (she had a student visa) and that all her hard work would be for nothing. Even after the lying, stealing assistant manager was caught red-handed on tape, my friend never felt the same about that job. She felt like others still suspected her, even though it was proven that she did the right thing. No amount of money can give back that housekeeper's feeling of security in her job.

People who are sick have enough to worry about without having to wonder if they will be robbed.

studentmom77 · Dec 11, 2010

Absolutely do everything in your power to see that she is punished to the full extent of the law. I do not have much nursing experience(only an LPN student) but I have 15 years of retail experience as a supervisor and manager and I can tell you these people do not change. I cannot tell you how many shoplifters I caught redhanded or at least sat in on their interrogations, probably close to 100 and very very rarely was there even the slightest remorse. You could tell if it was their first time and I can tell you without a doubt it was not the first time for your student she would have been paralyzed with fear when she realized you knew the $$ was gone, not quick to cover by claiming to be a victim as well. She does not belong in nursing nor any other profession to be honest. JMHO

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Dec 11, 2010

In a New York minute.

RaggedyRN · Dec 11, 2010

As soon as the security oficer had a confession he called the housekeeper and apologized profusely. The first thing I did, after seeing the tapes and suspecting the student , was return to the floor and assure the staff that there were a few suspects and to not jump to conclusions. I told them they might be sorry for pointing fingers without evidence. When I returned the following morning I made an announcement that we only have three students today as one of them had been expelled due to the theft. Hopefully the housekeepers reputation can be salvaged. I know I plan on buying her lunch and bring a small gift with me on Monday.

I don't plan on filing a report over the weekend...the police are busy enough and the security officer that heard her confession is off until Monday. I do plan on making a report on Monday when I have access to the tapes and the security officer.

Thanks again for all of the input..I do hate being in this position:eek:

flashpoint · Dec 11, 2010

I hope you have learned a lesson also.
The money should have been kept on your person.

It doesn't matter if she should have kept the money on her person or not...the student had no right to even think about searching through her bag and taking her money. It's always more fun to blame the victim!

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Dec 12, 2010

I would file charges, but only if you are a 100% sure that the student did it!

YuHiroRN, BSN · Dec 12, 2010

Wow wow wow. If she can steal money from behind a healthy person's back, imagine what she would do to a patient...

LG1137 · Dec 12, 2010

I'm surprised by the overwhelming desire to press charges, and I disagree.

It's twenty dollars, c'mon. She's already been kicked out of school.

And the confession to the security guard is not admissible in court; it is hearsay, as the neither the security guard, not the facility is the victim.

Contrary to prior advice posted here, if you file a report, it will not appear on her criminal history unless the D.A. files charges (extremely unlikely, since it is only $20, and since she has already been punished by expulsion) or she is booked. Unlikely.

I know that you want to protect your chosen profession, and she should not be a nurse at all, but I think that you should let it go.