Abandonment

Published

I am concerned about abandonment. I was just recently terminated because I left work without permission. I clocked in but never took report. The DON was called regarding the situation but she did not answer her phone so I left because I was uncomfortable with the workload. Is this considered abandonment?

-FL RN

You need to call your nursing board ask them the question. They can give you the best response you do not need to tell them who you are or where you work.

Sounds like your facility had grounds for termination.

I think that clocking in and taking report and doing a narcotic count might be 2 seperate issues. It is a fine line as to what constitutes accepting an assignment.

In the future do not clock in until you find out the assignment and decide to take it. If you dont clock in the facility can terminate your employment but the nursing boards cant take your license.

I think you might be OK as far as your nursing license is concerned cause you didnt accept the assignment.

I think that it is better if a nurse does not accept an assignment they know they cant handle as opposed to accepting an assignment they cant handle. Better to get fired then to loose your nursing license.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
We have paperwork available to fill out if we refuse to accept an unsafe assignment.

And I agree with you - nurses should be willing to NOT accept dangerous assignments.

steph

I liked that you have standardized paperwork available. It's necessary.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU of all kinds, CVICU, Cath Lab, ER..

I believe abandonment can be used only IF the nurse has accepted the assignment. Clearly, this nurse had not. As a matter of fact, if she felt overwhelmed, frightened for the patient's safety because she would have been stretched so thin, she absolutely should decline the assignment and yes, the important part of all of this is did she take report or in any way signal that she would take the assignment.

I have gone over the replies to this nurse several times and am struck by the harsh language and threatening tone several of the respondents who are obviously in positions of authority in several different hospital/nursing home situations. Where did you receive your management experience and education? I am astounded at the way in which you deal with this example. I am willing to bet that your attitude is reflected throughout the facility and I wonder how your "retention" record compares to other facilities in which the management staff is educated in the management of caring people such as nurses.

I too am open to your criticism and my wings are flame-proof!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

An employer that has standardized paperwork available for these types of situations is, in my estimation, demonstrating a healthy, proactive stance. They are, in essence, acknowledging that these scenarios do exist and are providing an official means for the nursing professional to react to them. This paperwork also provides clarity as to the method of documenting refusal of an assignment.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You just hope the DON is not going to report it to the FL-BON. The way to approach this problem is to take the assignment first even it is unsafe, then you proceed to discuss your concern with the supervisor or DON. If they have no intention to listen to you, then it is time to pack your bag and go somewhere else.

Anyhow, I hope you will be OK!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in rehab, long-term care, ortho.
You just hope the DON is not going to report it to the FL-BON. The way to approach this problem is to take the assignment first even it is unsafe, then you proceed to discuss your concern with the supervisor or DON. If they have no intention to listen to you, then it is time to pack your bag and go somewhere else.

Anyhow, I hope you will be OK!

Wow. This seems like very bad advice. Once you accept an assignment, you are responsible for care, which would guarantee that you could be charged with abandonment if you try to leave in the middle of a shift.

ETA: Which brings up another question. What would she be reported for? Clocking in to a little box on the wall and then clocking out?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I heard a nurse threatened with charges of abandonment because she did clock in, no report, no getting a treatment sheet, no typical actions to indicate she would accept the assignment. Since no one on this board can agree what abandoment really is, I can only think, if the facility had pressed the issue she would have gotten a reprimand from the BON in this state.

Nursing is getting so complicated regarding our practice issues, it scares me to think what nurses will have to deal with in the next 20 years. I was told by an LPN just last week she was written up because she pointed out to her supervisor she did not have experience in telemetry and did not want to accept 2 patients in less than stable condition. One was my hubby, his pneumonia caused even more afib, his afib caused more concern for clots, and his pneumonia was really causing overall mental problems. I told her to take him, I was there, would watch him and the monitor, and call if there was anything she needed to do. Another unpaid shift for me, but he got through the whole thing and is home and feeling better.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in rehab, long-term care, ortho.
I was told by an LPN just last week she was written up because she pointed out to her supervisor she did not have experience in telemetry and did not want to accept 2 patients in less than stable condition.

Why is it that surgeons can refuse to perform surgery they feel will result in catastrophic results, but nurses are left with ambiguity regarding their patients and, more pertinent to this thread, their license? Does the surgeon get written up for refusing to perform an unsafe surgery?????

As a soon-to-be new grad, this thread has been very enlightening. I see the writing on the wall. I will not be long in this business.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

"Wow. This seems like very bad advice. Once you accept an assignment, you are responsible for care, which would guarantee that you could be charged with abandonment if you try to leave in the middle of a shift.

ETA: Which brings up another question. What would she be reported for? Clocking in to a little box on the wall and then clocking out?"

She already clocked in... What else she could do? After she clocked in and she found out the assignment was considered to be "uncomfortable..." She should have found out before that. Check the BON's guidelines when in doubt. In New York, I don't think the NYS-BON will allow the nurses to do it. That is abandonment. I don't know about your state. Different BON's have different policies/guidelines regarding to that situation. Why do you think she was terminated? How could she find out the assignment was "unsafe?" She must have done more than "clocking in..."

Up Vote Up Vote ×
"Wow. This seems like very bad advice. Once you accept an assignment, you are responsible for care, which would guarantee that you could be charged with abandonment if you try to leave in the middle of a shift.

ETA: Which brings up another question. What would she be reported for? Clocking in to a little box on the wall and then clocking out?"

She already clocked in... What else she could do? After she clocked in and she found out the assignment was considered to be "uncomfortable..." She should have found out before that. Check the BON's guidelines when in doubt. In New York, I don't think the NYS-BON will allow the nurses to do it. That is abandonment. I don't know about your state. Different BON's have different policies/guidelines regarding to that situation. Why do you think she was terminated?

she was terminated because the don was ticked off.......and how are you supposed to know your assignment before you go to the floor? and you shouldnt be walking around the hospital without punching in, and in some places the time clock can be centrally located, which means you would have to get there 10-15 minutes earlier.......nope.....by taking report she would have lost all "bargaining chips" either the prob gets solved or i would have to leave.....
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg, LTC, Home Health.

I have certainly refused a few assignments in my day. I applaud the OP for having the courage that so few nurses demonstrate these days. I have clocked in and counted narcotics, accepted the assignment, and then had it changed 30 minutes into my shift. Do you think i was worried about refusing? Not at all! It would be the nursing home worried if they reprimanded me, because then it may come to light just what atrocious conditions they were trying to place on my shoulders and my license.The OP should definitely file for wrongful termination (if that term even exists anymore).

Nurses that accept unsafe assignments, regardless of their flawed justification for doing so, hurt patients and our profession. Get a spine or step down! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.

If you would have accepted the assignment and received report and left, that would be abandonment.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion