Accused of abandonement

[bell83]

During my shift, which I had not actually clocked in but had received report because I had done smething hospital ssociated prior to that day that I needed to fill out a form for, I went to go speak to a manager about an issue I was having with my preceptor. Although I did not leace the unit, because this manager's office is on the unit I was told that I had abandoned my patient assignment. This does not make sense to me because although I know I should have informed my preceptor, I was not included on the census as I am on orientation, and I did not actually leave the unit. Ultimately my preceptor is the one responsible so would it make sense for me to receive a write up for pt. abandonment? Who should I take this to?

[Simplepleasures]

Thankyou Belle, for clearing some things up.My asumption that there was a problem between you and the preceptor was correct. It is a sad state of affairs in nursing when one nurse stoops to enlist others in an effort to retaliate against another nurse. Bullying in the workplace, especially healthcare is reprehensible. I hope all goes well with you, good luck, keep us posted.

[LydiaNN]

It is interesting to read Bell's clarification of the original post and to see how few of us actually jumped to conclusions that the "problem" was more extreme that it was. Although I hear that expression "nurses eat their young" a lot, I think the fact that the overwhelming majority of our responses were fair says a lot for how many nurses are not out to "get" others. On this board, anyway...:)

[GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN]

Bell, Just curious if you were formally written up ? It just doesn't make sense that the manager you were with was the same that wrote you up . Have you looked up your facility or states definition of abandonment? Have you gone to HR to pursue this further. Do you have grounds for an appeal ? I think the key question is how long you were unavailable to your pts and location unknown to your preceptor. I think that may be more important than if you ever stepped foot off the unit or not. If I'm hiding in the utlity room (hypothetically) for 45 minutes and no one knows it, I am technically still on the unit, but have abandoned my pts. I 'm concluding the manager felt justified in the charge in any event, this 'abandonment' being brought up by the preceptor after the fact.In any event, I wish you luck, I'm sure this was a very difficult timeIn any event I'm sure

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

It just doesn't make sense that the manager you were with was the same that wrote you up.

Exactly..... Makes you wonder if the preceptor & manager are friends, that would be more than wrong but the OP is not in a position to prove anything. Difficult situation.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

two different managers involved....wonder which one would actually have the "right" to "write" up the OP?....wouldnt seem to make sense to have two managers on at the same time....what if you told one you were going to lunch and the other couldnt find you? would they write you up?

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

two different managers involved....wonder which one would actually have the "right" to "write" up the OP?....wouldnt seem to make sense to have two managers on at the same time....what if you told one you were going to lunch and the other couldnt find you? would they write you up?

Where did two managers come from? I believe this involves the preceptor and the nurse manager....not two managers.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

She later told another manager that I had disappeared without telling her and without hearing my side of the story. I was still on the floor, I had not left it, nor the hospital. I was not “galavanting around”. So that clears up anything daytonite may have have assumed with the information that was given. Second, when I said ultimately my preceptor is responsible. I think it was extremely misinterpreted by a few responders. In saying that, I meant that my preceptor has primary responsibility of the patient. Because I am new nurse, who just graduated, I am not in a place in my career position to assume complete responsibility of a patient’s care. I never stated that my preceptor is responsible for my actions, I accept total responsibility for my actions. My concern was the extreme to which a mistake I made of not telling my preceptor that I was talking to one of the managers was addressed to such an extreme as a write up for patient abandonement by another manager. This is one of, if not the most serious charge to slap on a nurse, and I don’t think that it should be given lightly. I wanted input on whether anyone though patient abandonement was an appropriate way to address this because, it seems far-fetched.

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

Interesting....I didn't pick up on the two different managers.

To highlight just click on quote and then remove what you don't want to quote make sure you leave the bracks at the beginning and end of the quote.

[EmmaG, RN]

Some in management throw that word around a lot, they use it as a scare tactic.

They don't think that we are smart enough to know what is and what isn't patient abandonment as defined by the BON (not by them).

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around how going to the manager's office on the same unit could possibly be considered an abandonment.

Edit: and how a manager other than her own (if I'm reading the above correctly) could write her up on this...

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

Yes, we really haven't been told a few pertinent facts. Several posters have speculated this or that, but I really think we all should let it go, since the OP has chosen not to share those details with us.

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around how going to the manager's office on the same unit could possibly be considered an abandonment.

Edit: and how a manager other than her own (if I'm reading the above correctly) could write her up on this...

:yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat:

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

Yes, we really haven't been told a few pertinent facts. Several posters have speculated this or that, but I really think we all should let it go, since the OP has chosen not to share those details with us.

I just find it interesting, no more, no less....

Perhaps not sharing all but not on purpose. When I get charged up and vent I leave alot out, I know what I mean doesn't always mean everyone else does.