I am a full time nurse 3p-11p. Our 11-7 nurse is out on DBL. The charge nurse told me she will file Abandonment charges against my license If I don't pick up some of those extra shifts.
Here is the thing...it isn't Abandonment because they knew of those absences in a reasonable time frame to find appropriate coverage. We even have contract nurses available.
What can I do about all of this?
And she didn't even ask me to pick up the shift. She threatened me with mandation, and when I informed her she could not legally mandate me she immediately told me she would file abandonment charges against my licence.
Abandonment only applies if you actually were taking care of patients and had gotten report then abandoned said patients under your care. Mandatory overtime is not patient abandonment.
Abandonment Is when you are entrusted with the care of a patient or patients that you agreed to care for, and you walk off the job leaving them without anyone to care for them. It is not BEFORE the fact. It has to be after the agreement†is made (after you have started the agreed upon shift.) You cannot be forced to take extra shifts if you don't want to and she should be reported for making such a threat.
Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.
She can try to "file abandonment charges" but it won't go far. She's not the state's attorney for one, and it also doesn't constitute abandonment. This is an old issue but this bears reiterating: This is bullying. Period.
Turn in your resignation immediately. I wonder if she has threatened others as well. This is totally unprofessional and you could sue her. Is she dumb enough to put that in writing, ask her to send you an email. LOL
Emory1975
1 Post
Abandonment only applies if you actually were taking care of patients and had gotten report then abandoned said patients under your care. Mandatory overtime is not patient abandonment.