help with abandoment issue

Nurses General Nursing

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I am new to nursing and need help with the following scenerio: I recently had to take care of a patient with an abusive husband. He started yelling at me as soon as I walked in the door. He then got up and approached me still yelling, I have to admit a felt a little frightened by his behavior. I asked him to stop, finished what I had to do and left the room. The house supervisor was called and came and spoke with him on his request. She never spoke to me. This has happened with several other nurses. He has even threatned another nurse, security was called. Administration has apologized to this man for our behavior and sent them flowers, we where all told to treat them as VIPs. The next time I worked I along with three other nurses refused to take this patient, the house supervisor wants us all fired and charged with abandoment. My question is can they actually do this.

Specializes in ICU.

There is absolutely NO WAY she can charge yall with abandonment. You have to get report from the nurse before you can be charged with that. Now, if you feel you will be unsafe with this man, document what happened with him and give it to a higher up management person and HR. Put in there how you are AFRAID of this man because of what he did.

These are good replies. Let us know what happens, and good luck!

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Specializes in LTC, MDS, Education.

miss fradd, GREAT WORD! LOVE IT TO PIECES. Lets all of us here on allnurses make a big effort to use it as often as possible. A perfect word like VOMITROCIOUS doesn't come along that often. Here's to you Miss Fradd ..........:anpom::yeah::1luvu::cheers:

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Specializes in Family Practice/Primary Care.

As 31 noted, unless you are the nurse caring for that patient you cannot be charged with abandonment for refusing to take the patient initially. If the House Supervisor wants it done so bad, tell HER to do it.

Secondly, call the police. Do not stay in house with this, file a formal complaint.

My personal policy is if a family member actually does something to make me feel threatened (not easy to do in the first place), I will see them jailed for it.

Also, consult an attorney. Ever heard the term hostile workplace? Nurses should not stand for such treatment. Once we refuse to accept it, it will stop. When was the last time you saw an MD get that treatment? You can make a wild guess why. (Also, the attorney is for use against the hospital if they in any way retaliate against you. If we as nurses sue the tar out of them when they fail in their duty to us, we will see them back families less, and us more.)

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.

I'm pretty sure I would have handed in my resignation right then and there. I have at least enough respect for myself, my education and my profession to never allow myself to be treated in that fashion by an employer. I've NEVER been asked to treat an abusive or threatening family member (or patient) as a VIP. In fact, I pretty much refuse to treat anybody as a "VIP" because I don't think the concept applies to health care.

Absolutely unbelievable.

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Specializes in ICU.
as 31 noted, unless you are the nurse caring for that patient you cannot be charged with abandonment for refusing to take the patient initially. if the house supervisor wants it done so bad, tell her to do it.

secondly, call the police. do not stay in house with this, file a formal complaint.

my personal policy is if a family member actually does something to make me feel threatened (not easy to do in the first place), i will see them jailed for it.

also, consult an attorney. ever heard the term hostile workplace? nurses should not stand for such treatment. once we refuse to accept it, it will stop. when was the last time you saw an md get that treatment? you can make a wild guess why. (also, the attorney is for use against the hospital if they in any way retaliate against you. if we as nurses sue the tar out of them when they fail in their duty to us, we will see them back families less, and us more.)

very very good advice!!

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.

it's crap like this that perpetuates the negative view of nursing. why didn't the management just ask y'all to bend over? nurses encouraging other nurses to make verbal abuse seem acceptable? oh hell no! i hope you find someone capable and willing to help.

*jess*

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Specializes in med/surg, psych, public health.
Have you copyrighted that term? May I use it?

:D

Sure, feel free to use it!:)

I really just came up with that word after reading that post :angryfire and

I thought," how atrocious and it makes me want to vomit" when

it suddenly hit me....it's just absolutely vomitrocius.

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easttexas is right, you can't be charged with abandonment on a patient if you haven't taken responsibility for them (ie taken report). It sounds to me like that supervisor is creating a hostile work environment for you by threatening you with issues that aren't legitimate. I would talk to her supervisor, and if they don't do anything, start throwing around words like "lawsuit" and "stress and mental pain"...:D

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Specializes in School Nursing.

stand you ground and do not accept the patient.

contact your union and spill your guts about this moron. you do not have to take that kind of abuse. best of luck with this !

praiser :heartbeat

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Specializes in Family Practice/Primary Care.
easttexas is right, you can't be charged with abandonment on a patient if you haven't taken responsibility for them (ie taken report). It sounds to me like that supervisor is creating a hostile work environment for you by threatening you with issues that aren't legitimate. I would talk to her supervisor, and if they don't do anything, start throwing around words like "lawsuit" and "stress and mental pain"...:D

No, do NOT just throw the words around. Most people have a good strong BS detector, if you throw the words out people can often times tell when you are just trying to scare them. Be prepared, get a lawyer, and let them step on the land mine and nail them. Be prepared, don't be a loudmouth.

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Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.

I can't stand all this sucking up to these abusive families ( and many patients for that matter) who are abusive to the staff and are rewarded by free parking, meals, *******' flowers, you name it, all in the name of this twisted customer service era we are in. Years ago, when we had some respect and were treated professionally, the nurse manager would stand up for her nurses, to the docs, pts, family, whoever, our backs were covered. Sadly, those days are gone, its demeaning and deplorable and we are just supposed to bend over and take it, I can't stand it anymore.

BTW, you can't abandone someone you haven't been assigned to, everyone should stand their ground, and good for you and the other nurses who won't put up with it.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Sounds like the supervisor needs some education regarding what abandonment is. I would DEFINITELY go to your union. You pay dues for a reason!

Good luck!

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