I need to quit this job

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in LTC.

This time it isn't my fault! (See post history)

First off, thanks to everyone past and present that has helped me with the rough beginning of my nursing careers. Lots of growing pains here. Anyhow, it turns out that I may have adult ADHD along with my anxiety and depression. Good news is I know what I need to do. Sorry.

ANYWAYS. On to the question.

I just started this home health job. Which is nice because I have one patient (who is very sweet btw!). However it's my first day and of when I came to the home, I didn't have any orientation. I was given the address to the home and off I went.

i don't have any patient information. No proper med list. No DNR status. No diet forms (they are apparently on two specialized diets). Nothing. Plus one of the family members is prohibited from the state to take care of this person so he is installing cameras to prove that a nurse can't do better than him.

And iiiiiii don't know guys, it feels really sketchy. I'm assigned to this person all week. Is it okay to just quit? Even if they may not have anyone to cover for me absent shifts?

I feel really weird about it

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Are you able to pick your assignments or do you have to just take what is handed over? I would not want to be in a messy situation like that. You are already put in the middle of issues with the family and it isn't even your fault! Did you discuss this with your manager?

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You cannot receive a patient, even in the home.. without the proper information. Would you take a patient in a facility without a handoff?

Should have called your agency at the get go, I would not spend another shift in that situation.

Good luck.

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Specializes in LTC.
You cannot receive a patient, even in the home.. without the proper information. Would you take a patient in a facility without a handoff?

Should have called your agency at the get go, I would not spend another shift in that situation.

Good luck.

You are correct I should've!! We met at the persons home and everything I learned about this woman is from the family. The RN didn't know a thing. Can. I just quit? Would that be patient abandonment??

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Specializes in LTC.
Are you able to pick your assignments or do you have to just take what is handed over? I would not want to be in a messy situation like that. You are already put in the middle of issues with the family and it isn't even your fault! Did you discuss this with your manager?

They pretty much gave me this assignment and I took it. Ugh. I'm afraid of patient abandonment. The state is trying to put this woman in a home and the family doesn't want it. The cameras are making me uneasy. Even though I would never harm her, it's just odd to me.

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The last place a nurse should ever be is in the home of a patient without having been given report. And to top it off your stating that they are probably video taping you as your puttering around their home asking their family to give you report? Get on the phone with your supervisor and get the information you need to safely care for this individual, stop in the office and get a med list, but do not step foot in that house again until you have what you need. If this is the situation that your job plans on putting you in, then it's time to leave. If something goes wrong it will be your butt on the chopping block... and they'll probably have a video documentary of the whole event. You need to better advocate for yourself.

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Specializes in LTC.
The last place a nurse should ever be is in the home of a patient without having been given report. And to top it off your stating that they are probably video taping you as your puttering around their home asking their family to give you report? Get on the phone with your supervisor and get the information you need to safely care for this individual, stop in the office and get a med list, but do not step foot in that house again until you have what you need. If this is the situation that your job plans on putting you in, then it's time to leave. If something goes wrong it will be your butt on the chopping block... and they'll probably have a video documentary of the whole event. You need to better advocate for yourself.

When I first came in, the cameras were not set up. He advised that he would be however. I worked from 8-11am and supposed to be coming back at 4:00pm to 8. I will 100% follow your advice. My biggest concern is abandonment since I'm supposed to be there from 4-8.

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Since one of your last posts was about freaking out and worrying that you wont be hirable after getting fired from 2 jobs and quickly quitting a third, I would most definitely talk to your supervisor ASAP and try to resolve everything before I would just decide to quit again without warning.

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Specializes in LTC.
Since one of your last posts was about freaking out and worrying that you wont be hirable after getting fired from 2 jobs and quickly quitting a third, I would most definitely talk to your supervisor ASAP and try to resolve everything before I would just decide to quit again without warning.

She said she is going to provide me info but how unprofessional that she didn't have everything ready! I had to record my notes on notebook paper! I still don't have the form for documentation!

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It is possible they were starting you there off the cuff so to speak. You might want to give them a day or two to get it together. If you have not been provided without even a skeleton Form 485, plan of care, by your third day on the job, I would resign from the case and from the agency. You are right, you should have been given a verbal intro by the nursing supervisor, even if only to say, we are starting off the cuff, pt is vent dependent, with little to no family support, etc., etc., a med list (which is supposed to be on the 485), contact info for the PCP (also on the 485), a set of blank forms for you to start the MAR, TAR, etc. Like I said, if they don't get you something by the third shift, I would leave the agency (letter of resignation), and go to another agency. This agency would probably do the same thing with each new case and you don't need the lack of competence on their part. Furthermore, you need to make a personal decision about your ability to work in a home with video cameras going, especially since the caregiver speaks of the negative back story for having cameras. Many nurses refuse to work while being videotaped. That is your right. Just refuse such cases across the board if you decide you don't want the added worry about providing free lawsuit fodder.

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Another thought, if you have not already done so, obtain . That case should make it clear to you why personal malpractice insurance is necessary for one's peace of mind.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

Sending you into a home flying blind like that is not ok. That being said, for some reason it's easier to get a job if you have a job so if you can stick it out while you are looking for another job you won't have yet another employment gap to explain during your job hunt.

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