Can I refuse an assigment if .....?

Kiwidanni · Jul 2, 2011

Can you not talk to the charge nurse about your concerns?

Also, sometimes the best way to learn something is to teach it yourself. Perhaps you could look on this as an opportunity (albiet a stressful and difficult one) to become more familiar yourself with the routines and things of your unit.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Jul 2, 2011

Please forgive me for the missing "N" in assignment.... and any other errors.

pers · Jul 2, 2011

You are in orientation and expected to precept two new grads? I'd refuse that!

Tait, MSN, RN · Jul 2, 2011

I would have a heart to heart with your manager. I didn't start precepting new grads until I think my second year at my current job.

linearthinker, DNP, RN · Jul 2, 2011

You can refuse anything you want to. You might get fired for doing so, but you won't lose your license.

NotFlo · Jul 2, 2011

I would bring up your concerns with your unit manager (or whomever is in charge of your floor) and see what she has to say. Find out exactly what you're going to be expected to do and tell her upfront if you think it's safe for you to fill that role.

As far as LPNs orientating RN's, I orientate them to the floor all the time. There usually aren't any RNs on the floor at all on my shift to do it. I don't consider it "precepting" though, merely orientating. As in, I'm showing them the routines, the paperwork, explaining policies, etc. but I'm not going to be correcting their nursing practice. If I have an issue with their nursing practice I would go to the RN supervisor and she would make the determination if there's actually an issue and what to do about it.

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2011

Hey sweet girl! Nice to hear from you again.

I know from your posts that you are an intelligent and bubbly person-which is why I suspect your NM wanted you to train these two new nurses.

If you are already getting cold feet from this (very large) request, perhaps you can talk to your NM about having one or two less pts while you are precepting. This is a fair request on your part. Explain that you want to provide these new grads with an adequate orientation in order to hopefully retain them. If a new grad sees that you are working in a chaotic environment and can't give them the orientation that they need, you can bust out the crayolas and color them gone!

On the one hand, I consider it a compliment to you that your NM wants you to precept these new hires. On the other hand, I don't think that your NM understands the internal stress you are having. You are still trying to acclimate YOURSELF. I understand that. But I think that if you talk to your NM about wanting to deliver a solid foundation of learning for your preceptees, she will likely give you a lighter assignment. Please address this with her, and don't assume that she has already thought this through. You don't need to take on more stress unnecessarily. Talk to her, state your case and go from there.

I hope everything is going well with you, my friend.

Chico David, BSN, RN · Jul 3, 2011

Just a couple of thoughts to add:

Assuming you are in a non-union environment (or really even if not), outright refusal is a really bad idea, unless you are willing to risk losing your job.

On the other hand, there are some steps you can take that can be effective. some of this others have already mentioned:

1. Do go and talk with your manager. It sounds like this has come to you second hand, and it's possible you are worried about nothing.

2. When you do talk to your manager, use strong and professional language as opposed to weak and emotional. Imagine you are a manager and a nurse comes to you with a problem like this. Hear these two two options:

"I'm really not comfortable with this. I really can't handle this assignment, it really makes me upset, I'm totally overwhelmed, you have to change this or I just don't know what I'll do" - imagine that one in a kind of whiny voice on the edge of tears.

Now hear this one: (imagine it in a strong, firm, calm, unemotional tone)

"I need to ask you to reconsider this assignment. In my professional judgement, I'm not ready to handle this at this stage in my career. For me to do this would not be safe for my patients and it would not be fair to the nurses I'm precepting." Focus on the professional issues - you don't have a professional duty to be comfortable or happy - you do have a duty to practice safely.

If the manager insists on proceeding with this idea, then, I would go straight home and write a memo saying something like: " I wanted to you to have a record of our conversation today.." and then laying out in detail the arguments you made earlier and that you don't believe this is safe for patients or good for the hospital or the new grads. Again, strive to make the tone unemotional but firm. Note at the bottom that you are sending a copy to your manager's supervisor and do so.

At this point, you have done everything you possibly can to move things in a better direction and to cover yourself in case anything bad happens. Then you have to decide how willing you are to risk your job.

Best wishes - let us know how this turns out.

Seas · Jul 3, 2011

I don't understand how someone in orientation can precept the new ones. Aren't you new yourself? That just doesn't make sense to me.

Catch22Personified · Jul 3, 2011

Can you refuse a patient who has actually threatened to kill you? I've actually heard stories like this before.

nurseryRN14 · Jul 3, 2011

It seems that the NM or charge nurse think you have it down packed and it doesnt show that you are struggling to keep your head above water yourself. I would talk to the NM and let her know that you would be happy to precept once you feel more comfortable on the floor yourself.