boss vendetta

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I just resigned from a dialysis unit where the manager made my life hell. She didn't like me and passive aggressively did all she could to get me to leave which worked. Yesterday was supposed to be my last day and when I arrived at work she verbally insulted me. I was assigned a PCT position on this day and she was the RN on duty.

I decided that I had had enough and left. I left before the clinic opened so there were no patients there. I also left her and 3 other techs which is the same level of staff I have opened the clinic with at times in the past.

She he called the state nursing board and filed a complaint against me for abandonment. I am confident I did nothing that meets that criteria but still scared as hell. I'm a single Mom and I support three kids. I can't have my license suspended for no reason.

Thoughts? The nursing boards don't arbitrarily suspend licenses right?

thanks.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

No reason? Arbitrarily?

You may very well face abandonment charges. It depends upon what the BON considers the situation to be. Do you have ? If so, notify them and use their attorney. You need legal advice.

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You reported to your supervisor that you were leaving, you did not accept a patient assignment and left the incoming patients in the hands of a RN, I don't think it will result in disciplinary action, but your best resource is an attorney familiar with BON complaints, contact American association of nurse attorneys (TAANA).

If you can be identified by your user name, suggest you change it (the moderators can help you)

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Can you explain to me how this fits the criteria of abandonment? I had no patient assignment as a nurse. And when I left the clinic it had enough staff to open without issue. I placed no patients in danger. And I did tell my supervisor I was leaving. I can't have abandoned patients that weren't even there yet? I'm honestly not trying to argue with you, I'm trying to see your rationale so I know what I'm facing.

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It's a clinic so there is no report to get like in other environments. The nurse patient relationship initaites when we open the door and they come in. I saw no patients that day. We had no opened when I left.

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To me it doesn't fit the criteria for abandonment, but it is the BON who interprets the nursing practice act. Talk to an attorney familiar the BON, they will be able to tell you what you are potentially facing and reassure you.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Can you explain to me how this fits the criteria of abandonment? I had no patient assignment as a nurse. And when I left the clinic it had enough staff to open without issue. I placed no patients in danger. And I did tell my supervisor I was leaving. I can't have abandoned patients that weren't even there yet? I'm honestly not trying to argue with you, I'm trying to see your rationale so I know what I'm facing.

My point is that none of us know the criteria under which a BON considers a situation as abandonment. For instance, in a situation where no report is given, does simply clocking in equal accepting an assignment? I don't know but I have heard of that rationale.

The other point is that whether or not you were in the wrong, a complaint will likely lead to an investigation. Thus the need for representation. You should never try to deal with a BON on your own.

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Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.

You should not go before the BON without legal representation, any more than you should go before a court of law/judge without legal representation.

Anyone one can sue you/anyone can turn you in to the BON for xyz. You still have to defend yourself.

Be smart ~ get an attorney.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

You blew it. That is not the right way to quit a job no matter how pissed you are.

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I don't think the op did any major damage to their career, they gave prior notice of their resignation and left on their last day of work, the manager sounds hostile and probably wasn't planning to give a good reference anyway.

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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

I thought complaints had to be in writing? How did you become aware that the BON was notified & that it is for abandonment? IMO, you did not abandon any patients. Usually BON will notify you in writing of a complaint. You will need to hire an attorney that is familiar with nursing & BON issues. What state are you in? In New Mexico & Texas complaints have to be in writing otherwise, every body & their brother would be calling for ridiculous reasons. And in general, in my state, it is pretty hard to get ahold of anyone at the BON, it goes to voicemail. And it can take up to a week or more before they return a phone call.

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[on your] last day...[you] left before the clinic opened...

There you go. Since most states, if not all, are at-will employment, you can leave anytime you want without cause; the employer can do likewise.

OP, if your story is accurate (leaving before the clinic is opened) then BON won't get involve--it's equivalent to a no-show which is an issue between employer-employee.

However, if you do get a notice from BON, then stick to your story; and if your work has clocking in, that's even more evidence in your favor.

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