Ethnographic Research: Theft Among Nurses

1) Briefly summarize the research in one of the articles/chapters listed below or from another ethnographic work. In this summary paragraph(s), you need to include the following information: (a) characteristics of the subjects (including how many there were, and any demographic characteristics of them mentioned in the research); (b) the method(s) used by the researcher(s) to locate the subjects; (c) the method(s) used to elicit information from them: and (d) a summary of the key findings.

This research looked at deviant behavior involving theft among hospital nurses. The sample of subjects involved 25 registered nurses that were between the ages of 22 to 53 years old. There were 4 males and 21 females, and they were all Caucasian. Regarding

[Note: draw a causal diagram of these stages if this helps you explain the process.] There were many justifications on the reasons why the nurses took medical supplies. Many stated that they saw this as a “fringe benefit” for their hard work. Stealing something here and there was generally accepted in the workplace, that it became a part of their culture. Often nurses had access to certain types of medication, so if they need to take any type of medication for an illness. They will go a take a pill from the patient prescription or at the stockpile of medication. It was also mentioned that a number of these nurses would take procedural shortcuts, which ended up increasing the likelihood of theft. When dealing with narcotic drugs there are strict federal regulations that need to be followed. For instance, a regulation is that a charge nurse is the only one that has access to the narcotics since their job is to monitor the distribution. Many admitted that they do not have a charge nurse so anyone can gain

Which parts of the research relate to which parts of the theor(ies)? Be specific. You may have to include more than one theory if more than one can be easily applied to the research described. Do not limit yourself to the theories the researchers used. 4) Given what is described in this research only, how might these offenders be prevented from doing crime – including stopping doing crime all together, committing less crime, or committing less serious crime? In other words, what intervention might be useful to reduce or help eliminate this crime? Do not just include increased imprisonment or longer sentences UNLESS the research relates to a THEORY that has policy implications related to increased imprisonment or longer sentences. 5) What policies might be developed from these potential interventions in #4. In your paragraph(s) describing this policy (or these policies), please include a discussion of: (a) the governmental (or quasi-governmental) agency that would carry out the policy; (b) how the policy would operate in practice; (c) whether the policy(ies) you describe would be successful and why you have this view; and (d) what types of problems this policy would be likely to encounter (e.g., the public would not support it, costs are too high, or