Can employers force us to work against our will?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everyone,

I have concerns and I really need someone's advice. I recently started a new job and I am really disappointed of the things I experienced there. I am absolutely not comfortable of their nursing practice as it's very, very dangerous such as nurses write verbal orders without consulting the doctor, they give narcotics without a second competent person,there are many incidents in which nurses give wrong medication and dosage and the management just ignored them and I heard one of them telling the nurse not to worry as the patient is okay. There is no staff delegation. Caregivers do things on their own will. They go for breaks whenever they want and if you talk to them for not doing the right thing they will give you an attitude like "why would I listen to you when I am personally close with the managers."

I spoke with my manager about these but she said they deal things differently and they don't want these issues to reach to the ministry of health that's why they just hid them.

I told her that I want to quit NOW as I am extremely uncomfortable and my previous employer is willing to take me back. But she said I have to stay for a month as this is what it stated in the contract or I have to pay compensation and more consequences.

Questions:

1. Can she really force me to stay and I don't want to stay for another month not even a day?

2. Can she sue me for breaching the contract?

3. Or is it better just to abandon this facility?

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

Depend of latitude of at willstate

at will complies flexibility both ways

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Where are you? Your syntax sounds like you are overseas as the U.S. doesn't have ministries of health but board or department of health

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Specializes in Peri-op/Sub-Acute ANP.

These questions could probably be easily answered if you simply read your contract. If you didn't sign anything, and don't have a copy of the one you signed, there is no contract. Say goodbye.

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You mention "contract" a couple times. Did you sign an actual contract specifying conditions of employment? In that case, you are legally obligated to the conditions of the contract unless the employer has already breached them. What does your contract say about how much notice you need to give if resigning, and what penalties does it state apply if you leave with less than that amount of notice?

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I dont know but something feels fishy here. I can not believe that a manager would verbally admit that they were bending rules and hinding things so that the Ministry of health would not find out about wrong doings that they are doing at the facility.

Then this person after telling you this juicy secrete would be holding you hostage to a job. Things just don't seem right here.

If this really is going on I'd think you are obligated to report this all immediately

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Questions:

1. Can she really force me to stay and I don't want to stay for another month not even a day?

That depends on whether slavery is legal where you live.

2. Can she sue me for breaching the contract?

That depends on whether you are breaching the contract. Not a lawyer, but in the US, even if you had a contract, I would guess it would not be legally binding if you were expected to act illegally, were in an unsafe position, etc. A facility spending the money to sue a nurse for breach of contract here seems unikely.

3. Or is it better just to abandon this facility?

You are in what you describe as an unsafe environment. If you can deal with that for 1 month, there will be less hassle. What do you really think the chances of them coming after you are? Do they really want to be in a situation where you have to officially spell out our concerns?

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It says I am required to give 4 weeks notice and it didn't say any penalties.

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Have an attorney look over the contract. If you have , consult them as well.

This is a serious matter, we are not able to give you legal counsel.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Best answer here, you need legal counsel.

Have an attorney look over the contract. If you have malpractice insurance, consult them as well.

This is a serious matter, we are not able to give you legal counsel.

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