Can a supervisor force you to take a second floor?

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I am a LPN in CT. Tonight I was working the 3-11 shift. At my facility our floor has 2 units, with 22 patients on each unit. At 5p the nurse on the other unit asked me if she could go home at 9pm. I said okay. At 9pm, one of the CNAs said she was going home too. That would mean that we would only have two CNAs for 44 patients. So I told the other nurse that I was not uncomfortable counting with her and taking the keys for the unit. I told her if she wanted to go home she should ask the supervisor to count with her (so the unit would then be his responsibility and not mine.) This other nurse btw, goes home at 9p every time she works 3-11. Tonight she was claiming that she was going home because she had car issues and her husband was picking her up. Her husband was on the unit at the time. When I told her I would not count with her she immediately began to yell at me at the nurses station. The supervisor said that I had to count with her and take the unit. I told him I was not comfortable with that for safety reasons. He wrote me up for insubordination and starting work issues. He said that because it was 9pm, that counted as the night shift and since he was the supervisor I had to do what he said. He said that since I told her at 5p she could go that that meant I had to count with her. I explained that I did not know that the 3rd CNA was leaving at that time.

My question is: was I in the wrong? Was I being insubordinate? Can he legally force me to take on a whole new floor while I am already working a floor? What is the right thing to do in this situation?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

An employer can ask you to do anything included in your job description, which often includes "and other duties as assigned", so yes, they can ask you to do just about anything.

You're free to protect your license by refusing an assignment or additional patients, but your employer is free to terminate you for insubordination.

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When one CNA and one licensed nurse showed up for night shift on Christmas at the 168 bed LTC facility where I once worked, they were stuck. They couldn't just turn around and walk off. How they got through the night nobody knows, but none of the residents met their demise that night.

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The nurse's shift is set for 3-11 and she always goes home at 9? I can understand occasional coverage for a colleague's family emergency but not every shift. Going forward do not agree to cover her 9-11 and make it clear that you are not responsible for indefinite coverage, she needs to arrange to work shorter shifts with the management, it's their problem to ensure coverage of her shifts.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

You should have told her no, she can't leave, and the aide too! Then call the supervisor and tell him to deal with it. Or tell him you are leaving too. These people just make their own schedules??? Poor management. And you need to take it up the ladder to the DON.

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I think at minimum you should have taken the issue directly to the supervisor instead of telling your coworker to tell him of your refusal.

I'm surprised you gave that away, essentially invited her to tattle and complain about you rather then bring a legitimate issue to mgmt yourself.

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You were only asked to take the floor, you had not received report so yes, you can legally refuse, it is NOT abandonment. I would file a formal complaint with the governing body regulating nursing homes in your state and look for another job.

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Specializes in "Wound care - geriatric care.

Usually, a nurse's job description is kind of murky. So a lot of "stuffing the bag" goes on and nurses are forced to do things outside of the box. However, when it comes to safety I reserve the right to have the last word. If I feel an assignment is unsafe I will not take it. End of story. Fire me if you want. I protect my license and the patients.

On the other hand if you take an assignment you knew it wasn't safe - you'll be entirely responsible if anything goes wrong. So my advice is: don't take an assignment, unless you feel you can handle.

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I would have done the same. Being on two different floors and that many patients is too much of a liability. Sure they can ask and I think you were right to refuse but I would dust off your resume and look for new jobs. You will likely face backlash from this.

When I was in my first 6 months as an LPN, my DON has asked me to take 40 patients. Some of which were on vents, I was terrified to say no back then but I knew it my bones everything would go south if I had that many complicated patients with such little experience. Thankfully the wound nurse must have seen my terror and offered to take half the assignment. Point of the story is, if your alarm bells are ringing, stick to your guns, just be prepared for everything that comes after.

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When one CNA and one licensed nurse showed up for night shift on Christmas at the 168 bed LTC facility where I once worked, they were stuck. They couldn't just turn around and walk off. How they got through the night nobody knows, but none of the residents met their demise that night.

Probably a whole lot of VS, turning, diapering, mouth care, etc. didn't get done.

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I am a LPN in CT. Tonight I was working the 3-11 shift. At my facility our floor has 2 units, with 22 patients on each unit. At 5p the nurse on the other unit asked me if she could go home at 9pm. I said okay. At 9pm, one of the CNAs said she was going home too. That would mean that we would only have two CNAs for 44 patients. So I told the other nurse that I was not uncomfortable counting with her and taking the keys for the unit. I told her if she wanted to go home she should ask the supervisor to count with her (so the unit would then be his responsibility and not mine.) This other nurse btw, goes home at 9p every time she works 3-11. Tonight she was claiming that she was going home because she had car issues and her husband was picking her up. Her husband was on the unit at the time. When I told her I would not count with her she immediately began to yell at me at the nurses station. The supervisor said that I had to count with her and take the unit. I told him I was not comfortable with that for safety reasons. He wrote me up for insubordination and starting work issues. He said that because it was 9pm, that counted as the night shift and since he was the supervisor I had to do what he said. He said that since I told her at 5p she could go that that meant I had to count with her. I explained that I did not know that the 3rd CNA was leaving at that time.

My question is: was I in the wrong? Was I being insubordinate? Can he legally force me to take on a whole new floor while I am already working a floor? What is the right thing to do in this situation?

Her husband could have sat and waited for her. Leaving 2 hours early every time she works and expecting some other nurse to cover the patients for 2 hours is wrong. At the least, you and the other nurse should have split her floor for the last 2 hours.

Is 2100 Night shift at your place?

What is up with the CNA telling you she's leaving? Why? Is that with permission from the Supervisor? Who was in Charge, you or the other nurse?

Has this issue been straightened out by Management?

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