What do I tell her?

[HisHands]

Today my girlfriend confided in me regarding a situation she recently went through. I just don't know what to tell her.

We are both relatively new nurses (2 years on the job). We work together at a fantastic rehab facility. To supplement her income, she started a position at another facility on her off days. She told me that her first day of orientation at the new facility, her preceptor had another orientee with her. One preceptor and two orientees. The other orientee was on her last shift of orientation, so the facility justified to her that she would still get most of the preceptors attention. Well, apparently it wasn't so, and my friend felt like she didn't get any orientation at all. Ok, so 3:00 rolls around and my girlfriend is fed up. They gave her an admission to do basically by herself since her preceptor was no where to be found. She told me that she wrote out the patients meds and faxed them to the pharmacy, did as much of the paperwork as she could figure out on her own, and then told her preceptor she was going on lunch break (they got off at 7:30pm). Well, she never went back after lunch. Now the DON is threatening to call the state because they say she abandoned her assignment. My friend feels like she didn't have an assigment to abandon. She did not receive report, and did not count the narcotics. Her only responsibility that entire shift was to do the admission.

I have a hard time believing they can revoke her license for job abandonment, since she hadn't taken report on any patients and had no real responsibilities other than to do as much of the admission as she could. But, I haven't been a nurse all that long either and haven't known anyone to be in this situation.

We are in Michigan. I sure could use some guidance. My friend is torn up over this. She's afraid that she could lose the job that she currently has and loves.

Any feedback?

Thanks a bunch,

HisHands

[gr8rnpjt, RN]

I had one more thought. Sometimes, when I am orienting someone, I occasionally will give them a job to do that may be pushing the envelope a little bit as far as where their skill sets are and where they need to be. I do this just to see how much of a go-getter they are, if they will take it and run with it, or be completely overwhelmed.

But I would never think to do this on the first day. And if this was the case of the preceptor, shame on her.

It can be looked at like a test, but if given on the first day it is less a test and more an invitation to failure.

[angel337, MSN, RN]

i know your girlfriend probably doesn't want to hear this, but what she did was very irresponsible. she is a licensed nurse, so yes they can hold her accountable for patient abandonment.

[penguin2]

i know your girlfriend probably doesn't want to hear this, but what she did was very irresponsible. she is a licensed nurse, so yes they can hold her accountable for patient abandonment.

Although I don't know to what extent the BON can discipline her, I do think she was treated poorly. It was irresponsible to just leave, and yes, abandon the patient. However, there are deeper issues here- where is her work ethic? I don't think age can be blamed since we are held to a standard as RNs- I started doing this at 22 yrs old, and I am much tougher now and much more confident- but I would never have just left a patient w/out giving some kind of report & reason for leaving. Even if she is in an at-will state, it is still wrong to just leave for a break and never come back. That sounds like something my teenage son would do on his first job at Taco Bell-- not a professional!!

[angel337, MSN, RN]

Although I don't know to what extent the BON can discipline her, I do think she was treated poorly. It was irresponsible to just leave, and yes, abandon the patient. However, there are deeper issues here- where is her work ethic? I don't think age can be blamed since we are held to a standard as RNs- I started doing this at 22 yrs old, and I am much tougher now and much more confident- but I would never have just left a patient w/out giving some kind of report & reason for leaving. Even if she is in an at-will state, it is still wrong to just leave for a break and never come back. That sounds like something my teenage son would do on his first job at Taco Bell-- not a professional!!

this is exactly the reason why you must know and completely understand the HUGE responsibilty that comes with being a nurse. even though she was treated poorly, the patient is at greater risk for harm, because of lack of care. when we make decisions as nurses the patient should always come first.

[HisHands, ASN, RN]

I appreciate everyone's voices and opinions on this whole situation. Like I said before, I've passed on all of the posts throughout. I think that maybe I gave the wrong impression when I first posted my friends age. I'm not trying to justify her actions based on her age. I was trying to give everyone a picture of who she is. She is a young lady, fresh in her career. I also feel like I expressed her work ethic to everyone. She doesn't call in. She gives more than ample notice when she leaves an employer. She advances in every place she works (I've seen her resume. It always seems to end up in management). She is loved by her employers and co workers. But, either way.... I think she is blessed that this has not resulted in any actions. And, I think a LOT of valuable lessons were learned here.

So, thanks all for your wisdom.

Blessings.

[Batman24]

She's lucky to have a friend like you.

[jill48, ASN, RN]

She abandoned her patients and her job. She has to be reprimanded for that as the state sees fit. She had to have known this was going to happen.