What would you do?

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The school I attend has a very strict attendance policy. Last week, one of my classmates was absent. However, I noticed that his girlfriend signed him in. During class the teacher noticed that he was missing, and his girlfriend stated that he was in the restroom. This was not true, as he was gone the entire day, and I know for a fact that she signed him in.

If this were you, would you inform the dean? I mean it is not fair for one student to get credit, while the rest of us walk on pins and needles hoping we don't ever have a legitimate reason to be gone.

Specializes in NICU.
There is a difference between being spineless and minding your own business. The instructor clearly noticed him not being there, I'm sure the instructor can deal with it. As a student, you are there to get an education not to monitor your fellow students. That's a job for the instructor.

Exactly!

The instructor isn't stupid. I'm sure he noticed that the boyfriend never returned from the bathroom. And if this couple continues to do this kind of thing, the instructor WILL notice. Just concentrate on your own education.

JMHO.

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There is a difference between being spineless and minding your own business. The instructor clearly noticed him not being there, I'm sure the instructor can deal with it. As a student, you are there to get an education not to monitor your fellow students. That's a job for the instructor.

:yeahthat: Totally agree with ya Fergus!

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Unbelievable the amount of people that say to mind your own business. Unless your spineless like a lot on this thread seem to be. I would let the instructor know. If it he/she is willing to do something like this then can they be trusted with narcotic logs, being alone with a patient etc. When people do dishonest things it is not a one time or even isolated incident. I would definitely report them. Integrity is the hallmark of nursing/health care.

The job of the student is to learn. The job of the instructor is to teach and enforce the rules of the program. I would be cautious about labeling a group of people as being spineless just because they don't want to expand their roles to include monitoring the activities of other students. I think it is a rather large leap of logic to assume that this student is unsafe or untrustworthy in other areas just because of this incident.

Doing something against the rules does not mean that the person lacks integrity. Character should be judged on the basis of patterns of behaviors, not isolated incidents. I give people the benefit of the doubt before I label them as potentially bad nurses or being without integrity.

Also, not all instructors appreciate students bringing things like this to their attention. For starters, it implies that the instructor did not notice it (thus a lack of attention). It could also imply that the student thinks it to be their place to make sure the instructor is enforcing the rules. Some might not have a problem with it, but you have to allow for the possibility that some will.

Adri

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
unbelievable the amount of people that say to mind your own business. unless your spineless like a lot on this thread seem to be. i would let the instructor know. if it he/she is willing to do something like this then can they be trusted with narcotic logs, being alone with a patient etc. when people do dishonest things it is not a one time or even isolated incident. i would definitely report them. integrity is the hallmark of nursing/health care.

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i totally agree!!!

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

If the instructor noticed it, the instructor is aware of it, so what is there to tell then? And how does that make people spineless for decided NOT to state the obvious to the instructor? :rolleyes:

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

I am far from being spineless, quite the opposite. I believe in minding my own business unless someone is being hurt. In this case the person being hurt is the one causing the problem. Let it be and don't be judgemental about a group of people you don't know, you might just find out how tall our spines actually are.

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Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.
Unbelievable the amount of people that say to mind your own business. Unless your spineless like a lot on this thread seem to be. I would let the instructor know. If it he/she is willing to do something like this then can they be trusted with narcotic logs, being alone with a patient etc. When people do dishonest things it is not a one time or even isolated incident. I would definitely report them. Integrity is the hallmark of nursing/health care.

It has nothing to do with being spineless. Spineless is believing that you have an obligation to tell and not doing it. And I'm sorry, but I'd love any nurse on this forum or anywhere else, for that matter, to tell me, with a straight face and no crossed fingers behind their back, that they've never done anything dishonest. And yet the vast majority of us are totally trustworthy with narcotic logs and patient care. It is quite a leap you're making here.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
It has nothing to do with being spineless. Spineless is believing that you have an obligation to tell and not doing it. And I'm sorry, but I'd love any nurse on this forum or anywhere else, for that matter, to tell me, with a straight face and no crossed fingers behind their back, that they've never done anything dishonest. And yet the vast majority of us are totally trustworthy with narcotic logs and patient care. It is quite a leap you're making here.

:yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat:

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Specializes in home & public health, med-surg, hospice.

I agree w/ Mercy's stmt., in other words, "let he who is without sin cast the 1st stone."

Also, don't you already have enough to mind, in mindin' your own business?

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Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.

I think this post has gone from people stating their opinions, to the posters that don't agree attacking them :madface:. What exactly does that say about you?

I will put my honesty, integrity, & morals up w/anybody's. This is not a matter of life & death, nor is it a matter of any moral dilemma, except for the g-friend & the guy.They did not cheat anyone but themselves,if what they did would affect someone else, or endanger the public then thats a different story. I still say the instructor knows whats going on & will deal w/it in good time.

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Specializes in Home Health Care.
I think that if most of you put yourself in the position of being the owner of a business your response to this poster's question would be quite different. Of course you would want to know if one of your employee's was cheating you in some way. If this young man had been on a job and his friend clocked him in and out when he wasn't actually there, he would be fired, and rightly so. The only difference I see here, is that he and his girlfriend are not getting a money paycheck. Or, are they in the form of an education? Think about that.

As a co- owner of an aluminum extrusion plant (hubby's business), my response to this question will remain the same. I hardly compare missing a class lecture to having a co-worker clock you in and out. I see it as if the offender stepped out of a meeting or mandatory OSHA film. I see having a co-worker clocking you in and out comparable on the level of a student stealing a test. If the latter situation was in question then by all means the offender should be ratted out.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

IMO MYOB.

Unless you were nominated class hall monitor, it's not your job or responsibility.

Yes there are rules, and you have to live by them. But it is not YOUR job to enforce them.

Please.

I'm finally over this issue w/ my kids: the difference between a tattle-tale and having a duty to report. The difference is you have a duty to report things that represent potential dangers. One is protection, the other is gossip.

You don't have a duty to report. Doing so is certainly within your right, but it also meets the definition of a tattle-tale.

Have you not noticed that things like this 'leak' in nursing environments, even school? You might find yourself in a turf war you know nothing about: one instructor gunning for a student that happens to be another's favorite. You don't think your name won't get out in such a battle? You don't think at least one of the instructors won't view you as trying to gun for a student? (it's certainly a common enough thought in this thread). When it gets out, can you live w/ being a tattle-tale? Because spin it all you want, that's what it comes down to. How much effort in time and money did it cost you to you get to this point? If that student is dropped, as a result of your meddling, how will all the other students, who also constantly worry about making sure THEIR time and effort meet fruition, how will THEY view you then?

I'll tell you how I'd view you: as a threat. And if the opportunity ever arose to remove you as a threat (by reporting some minor thing you did), nothing personal, but you better believe I'd take it. Why? I'd feel much better without the teacher's narc looking over my shoulders. Are you OK with placing a well-deserved mark on your head?

I'm not trying to be blunt or rude. I'm just trying to give you the extreme case.

~faith,

Timothy.

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