Student caught stealing....

[RaggedyRN]

Would you press criminal charges if one of your students took money from your wallet? The student has been expelled from the program but has not returned the money If I press charges theres a chance I could get my money back and hopefully she would be prevented from applying to another nursing school... Just looking for opinions. Thanks!

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

It isn't the fact that she stole $20 from your purse that bothers me so much. What is MOST disturbing to me is the mindset of this horrendous individual. It seems to me that if she is ballsy enough to steal money from her instructor, she obviously has no respect for authority, little respect for a very basic value such as trustworthiness and more than likely has a substandard notion of integrity. These factors combined would make her a danger to patients and co-workers. I say press charges.

Picture this scenario if you would indulge me for a moment: Let's say you decide not to press charges. Two years later, you are conducting clinicals on the unit and see this student doing clinicals for another nursing school. How irate would you feel? You would totally be kicking yourself!

Granted, this may happen even if you DO press charges, but the likelihood of this student getting into another nursing program would surely be drastically reduced with a charge such as this on her record.

I wonder how long she has been stealing and if she may have a juvie record that was sealed. I know that nursing schools conduct a criminal background check prior to admittance. I wonder if she had any priors...

[LG1137]

This is ridiculous. The accused person already has paid the consequence, by way of expulsion. Now you want her to pay criminally? Just let it go, and you'll never see her again.

[caliotter3]

I had a classmate who left the program over a difference in viewpoints. The school was successful in keeping her from getting admitted to any of the local alternative programs. If that is what happened in that case, which did not involve criminality, I see this person having a difficult time getting into another nursing program, with a record of expulsion for criminal activity. A criminal charge, if it goes forward, would seal her nursing school fate.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Years ago, a co-worker took money from my wallet, I was concerned that she took my money because she had big problems, so I phoned her and let her know that I was worried about her, she ended up getting help and years later she told me that she was very grateful for that phone call.

dishes

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

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.

And if RaggedyAnn had had $2,020 in her bag, the thief would only have taken $20? This is ridiculous. The woman went into Raggedy's bag looking for valuables, and then stole what she found. That makes her a thief. Thievery is immoral, and a person guilty of it has no place in "the most trusted profession." Jesus, I can't believe anyone would sanction this behavior. I repeat, the bar is WAY too low in nursing. Now even thieves are OK. WT*?

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

is the student getting off scott-free though? she has publicly embarrassed herself, is subject to discharge from her nursing program (which will probably be the case) and has to live with herself and her poor behavior. sounds horrible to me.

THEN SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE STOLEN! The things you have listed are consequences. Yes, she does have to live with it. Maybe this will be a deterrent for her in the future, but from what the OP is stating, the student sounds like she has exhibited some sketchy behavior prior to this incident. Her behaviors surrounding this incident were inexcusable. The fact that this student watched a housekeeper go home pending further investigation KNOWING that she was the guilty party speaks volumes as to her total lack of integrity. Can you imagine what kind of conversation ensued when the housekeeper came home unexpectedly from work? What kind of effect did that have on the housekeeper? "Hey honey. I got sent home early because someone thinks that I stole money from a nursing instructor's purse. No, I didn't do it. No REALLY-I didn't."

Now THAT sounds horrible to ME.

[TDCHIM]

Not everyone deserves to be a nurse. Did you read the response from the OP where she stated this student failed out of her first program and there have been concerns about her cheating in her current program? Exactly how much latitude do we give people?

We really need to have some sort of standards for our profession.

FWIW, Hugo is one of my favorite writers, but he emphasized owning up for one's actions and making restitution. You can't just cherry-pick to make your point.

The OP added her post mentioning the student's possible plagiarism as I was composing mine, so no, I didn't get to include that in my reasoning. I do think a lot of the same questions remain for the original scenario, not really for this student but just in general. For instance, if the student had been involved solely in this incident as opposed to having been implicated in plagiarism as well, should there ever be a way for her to re-enter nursing or any other profession? And I wasn't trying to say this student is somehow a twin of Jean Valjean who is being wronged somehow - no, she lied, tried to cast suspicion on someone else, and failed to apologize or return the money she stole. I was just noting that Hugo addressed some of the issues of long-term punishment and social/employment ostracism for one incident and that his views have some bearing on the questions I found myself asking. Yes, he emphasized accountability and atonement for wrongs; however, he also pointed out the vital long-term difference an act of kindness, pity, and/or forgiveness can make in an individual's life. He drew an interesting portrait illustrating the counterproductive nature of social ostracism following someone's legal punishment as well as showing the destructive nature of Javert's implacable vendetta against Jean Valjean.

Like I said in my first post, I can see arguments on both sides. I don't see a lot of hope for rehabilitation of this particular student, because she not only stole the money but lied, portrayed herself as a victim, and directed suspicion towards an innocent person. She deserves expulsion and should face criminal charges for her actions. However, I still have unsettled questions in my mind about the general scenario of any given nursing student's permanent exclusion from nursing or any other profession after one incident of theft. Does taking that sort of approach yield the best results for us as a society? I'm not sure.

[Emergency RN]

This is ridiculous. The accused person already has paid the consequence, by way of expulsion. Now you want her to pay criminally? Just let it go, and you'll never see her again.

Forgive me, but which state's criminal law statute are you quoting from? I don't think I ever recall a concept of criminal forgiveness given concurrent expulsion from nursing school; at least, not in this (United States) civilized society of laws.

For those that wish to let her go, then fine, let her go. Just be forewarned however, that such selective application of criminal law sets dangerous precedent. The next criminal encounter then may demand to be treated equally, as will all who commit such crimes. In essence, be really careful what you wish for.

We talk here about the pursuit of criminal charges as if that's the most horrific choice that we can make in regards to the suspect. I would like to remind people that in some places around the world, she might have her hand amputated; in others, she may be shot. Insofar as treatment of criminals, American jurisprudence is decidedly rather mild in comparison. Being processed as a criminal would at least ensure that she is forever denied opportunity to be placed into a social position of trust. For one with such a demonstrably untrustworthy character, I don't view that as such a bad thing at all.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

I often agree w/ you Emergency RN, but especially in this thread. You have been pragmatic, logical and eloquent. Kudos galore.

[1louise1]

The idea of forgiveness is a great one; however you would just keep forgiving someone who stole from you once, twice, then maybe three times, four times, five times....? There has to be a punishment for a crime at some point. Or 1louise1, you can leave your purse out in front of this woman so she can steal from you instead of someone else...?

what are you talking about, me leaving my purse out for her to steal from?....are you trying to give me perspective? stealing sucks, we all can agree on that. forgiveness does not mean being foolish.

look, i'm taking issue with everyone's knee jerk reaction to crucify this student, that's all. i feel bad for everyone involved. thank goodness we can discuss this like adults!

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

Louise, while I agree with you that stealing sucks, I think that the majority of the posts are looking at the big picture...it wasn't just the stealing. It was the lying, the student being ok with letting the housekeeper take the fall, the diversion of "my credit card was stolen", and the apology that was not delivered. The whole scenario sickens me.

I also agree with you that forgiveness should be practiced. In this situation however, I believe that my primary focus would be that the student be held accountable for what she did. She broke the law, plain and simple. I cannot say with much confidence that I would necessarily forgive this student had I been the victim of her theft, but rather I would exercise my right to press charges and then let the justice system take it from there. I am certainly not suggesting that my view is right or wrong, but it is what I truly feel.

[greenfiremajick]

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.

Then your expectations are going to be shattered many times over......