Is a No Call No show abandonment?

Nurses New Nurse

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HI All!

I am a CNA in Michigan and I have a question. I got a job, did one day of shadowing/orientation and was scheduled for 3 total days. I saw several issues with the facility and decided it wasn't for me. Could this or any other no call/no show be considered abandonment?

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

If you found the facility to be unacceptable, why not resign?

I don't believe that a no call/ no show constitutes abandonment, but it is highly unprofessional and may damage your future job prospects.

Your concerns could be eliminated by simply notifying the DON prior to your next scheduled shift that you will not be returning.

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

I totally agree to Jolie. Why on earth didnt you just call? At my hospital a no call no show is grounds for termination and rightly so. God forbid my replacement did not come in at 0700. That puts a much greater work load on the sched staff who did show up not to mention the added stress of mgmt 1st trying to track you down to see if you just slept in, or got a flat tire, then to try and get on the phone and recruit someone in to come and cover your now abandoned shift.

Nurses and DON are like elephants in the sence of they never forget. If your wanting a career in nursing dont screw over a facility no matter how unacceptable you think it is. You dont know who knows who and who will someday be interviewing you for a job.

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No call/no shows are not counted as abandonment because the person never assumed care. However it is highly unprofessional and grounds for termination in almost every facility I have worked at. Now that facility can say that they fired you instead of you being able to say that it wasn't a right fit.

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).

I agree that even resigning without notice would be more appropriate than just not coming back. As far as pt abandonment, I was taught that aides can't be formally charged with abandonment, since they work under the delegation of the nurse, whose assignment the patients are. That is, "my" aide may see the patients as "her" patients, but they are actually my patients, and I just let her play with them. (Nice of me, I know.) Under our nurse practice act, though, she really kinda is "my" aide, because the aide is assigned to the nurse, not the patient.

Of course, the real world is a bit different than theory, so I only refer to aides possessively if we're on good enough terms to do so, and if an aide is running her butt off because she "has" 12 patients, I generally don't point out that technically she only has two nurses.

If an aide walked off in mid-shift, a facility might use "abandonment" as grounds for dismissal, but legally, it would technically be something else--dereliction of duties, for example.

Of course, the certifying body for CNAs may have its own definitions, as well. But I can't picture any definition that would apply if you hadn't come in and taken an assignment.

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I should add here, that I did let them know that It was going to work out. They considered it a no call/no show despite me letting them know.

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So if I left on my first day as a CNA before my shift was over, they can of course terminate me, but can that be abandonment as well? I was only there several hours. Won't get into details, but it was orientation, and first day. Please help!

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in our facility that is considered as ground for termination. maybe you can write a letter to them that you dont want to work with them anymore due to the following reasons you stated. make a professional exit though.

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I wrote a professional letter yesterday evening, but I don't even know if the "director" works today. I know the LVN/RN who was supposed to be giving me some guidance doesn't work. I didn't get any paperwork, nothing. No name tag. Then she told me to come to her office, that she was "ready" but I was in the middle of helping pass out drinks in the dining area, so I had to finish that. Then, I went looking for her, and a couple people told me she had left! I was so "lost" and just followed another CNA around for a few hours. I didn't know about all the "shift" laws, etc.. or I would have stuck it out. But my first day? I didn't have any care plans or patients, and was told I would have my "own" on monday, after the three days of "orientation". The nurse who was supposed to give me paperwork about benefits, the usual, just left. That wasn't the "big" issue - it was a combo of things. But later she called me and she's the one who left a message saying they can report it as "abandonment" because I left. I know its grounds for termination, I knew that when I left yesterday, and I explained in my letter that it wasn't anything anyone did, or how anyone behaved, etc... (even though it was). I guess all I can do now is pray they will give me a break since I was only there one day... for about 3 hours. Any other advice is welcomed. Thanks.

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

If you never assumed care for any patients, it's not legally abandonment. However it's highly unprofessional (even in non-professional jobs) and will likely get you blacklisted. People talk.

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You have to report for work, receive report on your patient assignment, and accept your assignment before you can be accused of abandonment. If you don't show up for work you can't abandon your patients, because they aren't your patients until you are there.

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In order to abandon a patient you have to accept report first. The other posters are spot on - you will be surprised how small the medical community is. I work in a very large urban area and everyone knows everyone else, it seems. You very well may have shot yourself in the foot by being a no-call, no-show. Sorry.

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