Student caught stealing....

AOx1 · Dec 12, 2010

No, it ISN'T $20. The op clearly stated it was $20, followed by $94. That is a total of $114. Not exactly chump change for most. If $114 is not worth getting upset over, send it my way. I can put it to good use!

LG1137 · Dec 12, 2010

It does suck to lose $100. I'd still let it go. She's already been kicked out. It wouldn't be worth the effort to file a report, and possibly go to a jury trial over. If she has no criminal history, I can see the D.A.'s response now: "Refuse to prosecute. Interest of justice."

Plus, I wouldn't want to hang onto that negative energy. You know, nursing dx: disturbed energy field.

Skips, MSN, RN · Dec 12, 2010

Common sense goes a long way also.

ouch!

tainted1972, ASN, RN · Dec 12, 2010

I am always the type of person to try to make some sort of light out of a situation. I always hope that when a person does wrong they are doing so for some sort of good. ( for example.. stealing to buy food for your kids). That is why I thought it would be best to talk to her before pressing charges. I like to try to get the whole story before reacting.

We have all made mistakes.

Just a thought.. How many of you have put some bandage tape in your pocket and took it home.. and kept it? What about pens, bandaids, scissors.. etc.. all of those items add up and technically you could be charged with theft.

Does that make you a bad nurse? A horrible person? .. there is nothing wrong with accidentally taking something home.. but when you choose to not return it you have become a thief.

Now I know that what this girl did was horrible and I am in no way taking her side, I am simply saying that it is important to get the whole story before throwing the book at her.

Have you ever taken a moment to chat on the phone with your BFF or gossip with a coworker while at work? .. in those moments you were not completely focused on your patients.. which in fact is compromising the safety of your patients.

A judge wouldn't sentence someone before hearing their side of the story.

Should she be punished? Absolutely.. Kicked out of school? definitely

Have a theft on her record? .. Maybe not

1louise1 · Dec 12, 2010

what year are you guys from? you never ever made a mistake or did something wrong? i've been reading: "give them a scarlet letter", and "teach them a lesson"...who are you guys to decide how a person lives and learns? sounds like OP's ego was hurt and you are letting fear make decisions for you, which is probably not a good idea. what the student did was wrong, no doubt about it. try to use your compassionate nurses heart and find some forgiveness, you may find peace of mind much sooner that way. good luck:up:

Katie5 · Dec 12, 2010

Have mercy on the student.

She's been expelled and rightfully so. She may not even be able to continue with her nursing program for which she has herself to blame.

But remembering that she was once your student may lighten your heart and not be so hardened against her.

I don't condone her actions, not in the very least. but you can also be the bigger person and be forgiving. Is this a trait the person has, what year was this nursing student?

Katie5 · Dec 12, 2010

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

That's not an acceptable excuse. If I choose to keep my money on the table in plain view while I go take care of a task, I EXPECT it to be there when I return.

diamondmeadows, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2010

what year are you guys from? you never ever made a mistake or did something wrong? i've been reading: "give them a scarlet letter", and "teach them a lesson"...who are you guys to decide how a person lives and learns?

This isn't a matter of people deciding how someone should live and learn. The student broke the law, and the OP has the right to press charges. It's not cruel or unreasonable. It's our justice system.

That said, OP, I can understand why you may not want to press charges. You have worked with this student and so I think only you can decide if that's the right thing to do.

Mainly, though, I'm just posting to say that this is unbelievable, and I'm very sorry that it happened to you.

Trishalishus, PhD, CNS · Dec 12, 2010

Interesting for me watching how it has been almost unanimous amongst the responders - who all appear to be from the USA - that this young woman deserves a harsh punitive response. There have been precious few posters who have shown mercy, compassion, a lack of self-righteousness, some kind of demonstration that there might be extenuating circumstances etc.... what is shocking to me, as a mental health professional from another country, is:

1) how overwhelming your reverence for the "almighty dollar" appears to be - for the loss of $114 a career is to be lost (and I am not interested in hearing about how dangerous she is to patient safety - that's a furphy to justify your "cut off her hands" responses)

2) what is such an indecisive person doing in such an important position of authority to be coming onto a gossipy site like this to ask how to behave in such a weighty matter? The OP would perhaps benefit from some quiet reflection and some stand-up-and-be-counted decision-making of your own. Use this as an opportunity to grow as a teacher and supervisor: think through the issues yourself and then advise/discuss the matter with your own supervisor

1louise1 · Dec 12, 2010

of course she has the right to press charges. i wonder if her desire to press charges is tied up with her feelings of helplessness and lack of control in this situation? sometimes people get so focused on their rights that we fail to consider if the 'right' in question is the correct action to take in that situation (you know, doing it just for the sake of the right to do so)...

studentmom77 · Dec 12, 2010

It does suck to lose $100. I'd still let it go. She's already been kicked out. It wouldn't be worth the effort to file a report, and possibly go to a jury trial over. If she has no criminal history, I can see the D.A.'s response now: "Refuse to prosecute. Interest of justice."
Plus, I wouldn't want to hang onto that negative energy. You know, nursing dx: disturbed energy field.

I know things may vary from state to state but for anything less than $750 I don't think she would see the inside of a court room let alone a jury.

allnurses Guide · Dec 12, 2010

Tainted1972 Just a thought.. How many of you have put some bandage tape in your pocket and took it home.. and kept it? What about pens, bandaids, scissors.. etc.. all of those items add up and technically you could be charged with theft.
Does that make you a bad nurse? A horrible person? .. there is nothing wrong with accidentally taking something home.. but when you choose to not return it you have become a thief.

Maybe, but I can't say I've ever found $94 from somebody else's wallet in my pocket. :confused:

Interesting for me watching how it has been almost unanimous amongst the responders - who all appear to be from the USA - that this young woman deserves a harsh punitive response. There have been precious few posters who have shown mercy, compassion, a lack of self-righteousness, some kind of demonstration that there might be extenuating circumstances etc.... what is shocking to me, as a mental health professional from another country, is:
1) how overwhelming your reverence for the "almighty dollar" appears to be - for the loss of $114 a career is to be lost (and I am not interested in hearing about how dangerous she is to patient safety - that's a furphy to justify your "cut off her hands" responses)

Wow. Talk about harsh!! If you look at the incident step-by-step,(at bottom) I hope you will notice that this person is in no way like someone stealing a loaf of bread after a hurricane. She had numerous opportunities to extricate herself and did nothing but proceed wasting people's time and coming up with various cover stories.

We have a little concept here in the USA, and it's called remorse. There's another called restitution. Most of the time if these things are present we Americans are more than happy to go easy on someone. You know, that two way street thing? She showed no remorse and in fact lied again when she promised to return the OP's money and didn't live up to her side of the agreement. Or maybe she should just give her $114 dollars to the student as an act of charity? Oh sure she might not get to spend that money paying her co-worker for the American Doll clothes for another couple of months but it would be sooooo mean to the student to force her to return the money.

If the OP presses charges now, as a mental health professional you know that when so severe a dysfunctional pattern as the student displayed, intervention when the price to be payed is relatively small can save someone a world of hurt later on.

If these things had occurred before she was accepted into nursing school they are serious enough to disqualify her.

1. Student steals $20 from OP's wallet.

2. One week later, she steals $94 from OP's wallet.

3. RaggedyRN has student group go through their things.

4. Student lies to OP claiming her credit card was stolen, no doubt a strategy to deflect attention from herself by claiming that she also was a victim.

5. Since the student lied about that credit card, OP had no choice but to call security.

6. Student stands by and knowingly has security waste their time looking for an unknown thief, while the whole floor is disrupted for hours.

7. Student lies again about the credit card.

8. Student says nothing while innocent person is under suspicion and sent home.

9. When 2nd credit card lie is debunked and she gets called and finally admits what she did.

10. Student lies again by promising to call the OP and return the money and doing neither.

Now that's what I call a disturbed energy field!