Is this Patient Abandonment?

Nurses Career Support

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I was working PDN. I called in sick with the flu on Thursday & the mom got pissed with me. I was suppose to work today 7:30-3:30 but that didn't happen. The DON called me & wanted me to work 8a-7p on Saturday. I originally said yes but after the mom was pissed with me, the day nurse (she said she would switch shifts) & the DON stabbed me in the back I called & quit.

I know it wasn't right to do but the whole case was shady (CPS case shady) & the mom has been looking to replace me because she wants a night nurse not a 3:30p-11:30p nurse.

I also read this on the TX BON website (about patient abandonment):

The Board believes that the following additional examples of employment issues would not typically involve violations of the NPA or Board Rules:

Resignation without advance notice, assuming the nurse's current patient care assignment and/or work shift has been completed.

Refusal to work additional shifts, either "doubles" or extra shifts on days off.

Other work-related issues, such as frequent absenteeism or tardiness, or conflicts between staff/employees.

Bad Request

When I called the DON said it was patient abandonment, is that true?

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

If events transpired in the manner you described, it is not abandonment. It is not as if you started rendering care to the child, abruptly left in the middle of the shift, and never returned without reporting off to another nurse.

Quitting without submission of a resignation notice does not constitute patient abandonment.

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
If events transpired in the manner you described, it is not abandonment. It is not as if you started rendering care to the child, abruptly left in the middle of the shift, and never returned without reporting off to another nurse.

Quitting without submission of a resignation notice does not constitute patient abandonment.

Yes, that is exactly how it went down. I was not in the middle of a shift, I had just agreed to work a shift. I knew deep down it wasn't patient abandonment but I didn't want to get into it with my former DON over the phone.

After they had all been sneaky & the mom likes to make the nurses baby sitters for her other child, I had to leave. Nothing good could come from that case! That mom is everything & a snake in the grass.

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