Fired because i did not accept the assignment

Until there is legislation that makes health care facilities accountable for their staffing practices, these facilities will continue their shoddy staffing "policies" at the individual nurse's expense.

Any ideas on how to get such legislation?

I refused an assigment when I was a new RN in the hospital. I was working on a surgical/medical unit and they wanted me to go to a Telemetry unit. I refused. I did not feel that I was competent in that area. They told me that they would monitor the telemetry stripes, yeah right. No way. I know that if I accept an assignment, I am accountable. They were not very nice to me and made comments about my personal life like I was unstable or something. I wasn't fired but I resigned soon afterwards. You did the right thing. I know being fired hurts. But never take on an assignment that you are not qualified for. If they are that nasty you are better off not being there.

Any ideas on how to get such legislation?

That is what is so wonderful about a union. I don't think they will get the legislation. I work days on what is essentially a med-surg floor (with some tele thrown in) and usually only have 4 patients. On the rare occassion I will have 5 but that is really unusual to happen. I know many med-surg floors that have a much higher ratio.

That is what is so wonderful about a union. I don't think they will get the legislation. I work days on what is essentially a med-surg floor (with some tele thrown in) and usually only have 4 patients. On the rare occassion I will have 5 but that is really unusual to happen. I know many med-surg floors that have a much higher ratio.

As much as a Union could or couldn't help, that is not the answer. Nurses need the legislation. California is trying to get something going, and granted it is possobly because California Nurses Association and it's bargining power... BUT we need legislation to protect nurses JOBS.

Nurses are taught in school how to protect a patient. Nurses are taught how to protect their license from being removed by the BON.

Nursing jobs need to be protected.

And now, back on topic.

To refresh the memory, the OP was looking for a little support because she had been terminated for refusing an assignment.

Please do carry on.

And if one happens to feel the urge to comment publically on someone's usage of language, spelling inconsistencies, absence of punctuation or any topic not related to the OP's original request for support, I would urge one to fight it. Hard.

thanks don.....i wanted to do this last noc, but was running late for work....

Nurses are taught in school how to protect a patient. Nurses are taught how to protect their license from being removed by the BON.

Nursing jobs need to be protected.

Actually I don't think nurses are taught even near enough to protect their license. It has always amazed how much nurses DON'T know about the laws that govern their practice.

Any ideas on how to get such legislation?

Perfect example, the CNA was able to gain enough attention for their sponsorship of legislative and regulatory reform that included madatory nurse-to-patient ratios

Nurses need the legislation. California is trying to get something going, and granted it is possobly because California Nurses Association and it's bargining power... BUT we need legislation to protect nurses JOBS.

If nurses could organize together in a manner similar to the CNA, legislation to protect nurse's jobs against a health care facility's staffing practices and makes health care facilities responsible for ensuring adequate staffing (ie: minimal staffing ratios) and safe staffing practices and policies (ie: inappropriate floating of staff) could be introduced and implemented.

I remember we discussed the acceptance of assignment under protest document in school.

It was brought up that those really don't protect you, if anything it makes it worse for you. First you admitted that you recognized the unsafe assignment and secondly you took it anyway...

We were told that we should never fill one of those things out, as they will hang you out to dry with it.

Better to have been fired with your licensed than fired without it.

Thank you for another example of integrity

P2

If nurses could organize together in a manner similar to the CNA, legislation to protect nurse's jobs against a health care facility's staffing practices and makes health care facilities responsible for ensuring adequate staffing (ie: minimal staffing ratios) and safe staffing practices and policies (ie: inappropriate floating of staff) could be introduced and implemented.

The big IF. But it doesn't look like that is going to happen any time soon. California is definatly more progressive ... but even that is not going to be good enough in the long run. Too many people are focused on hourly wages and not patient care load or quality of care. We can't turn out enough new nurses to fill the need and nursing employers are burning them out faster than even the new rurses can be replaced.

The Original Poster got fired because she would not accept an assignment that she KNEW was unsafe. So nurses are taught in school how to TRY and keep patients safe and keep their licenses, but in reality we seem to be trained in vain. If we don't dance to the tune that our employer can financially afford to play, then we are unemployed.

Anyone want to take a stab at predicting the future when we get socialized medicine in the USA?

Does UK employ Travel nurses at the extent that they are use in the USA?

Just wondering.

(OK, sorry I am babbeling and thinking out loud... maybe I'll be kinder to the almighty dollar tomorrow.)