If a nurse is given an unsafe assignment, say with patient rations she/he deem to be unsafe what is the consequence to simply refusing to take the shift?
Agreeing to an unsafe situation and making a mistake will likely be blamed on the nurse and not the employer. You signed for therefore you are responsible. But refusing to stay can be considered abandonment? That seems to be the only option left for these kinds of situations. Calling the state will do nothing because the facility is "under safe ratios"
If the employer refuses to hire sufficient staff, there is not mechanism for the nurse to protect themselves, because state ratios are not always clear due to different working situations or pt's acuity. So it is really for the nurse to judge what is safe and what is not.
