help! advise needed! what would you do?

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Hello all, my question is can you refuse an assignment last minute, at shift change and be charged with patient abandonedment?*

Let me give you a scenario.... you recently started at a hospital that has low census and a nurse called in... that leaves you and a cna to cover the floor (medsurg) the ratio is fine there only 4 pts on the floor however... your unfamiliar to the unit, EMR, brand new phone systems (new to staff as well) etc...and have not received training to do admit/transfer/discharge, or charge nurse duties. The DON is aware you are not comfortable working alone yet and has stated "you wont be the only nurse". Also your a breast feeding/pumping and there will no way for you to go pump. Also this is night shift and no one will answer the phone should you need help. There is no house supervisor. It is likely you will get an admit from er..... can you refuse to work if your issue is your uncomfortable in the environment but confident you can care for the pts currently on the floor.... due to inadequate training which could put the pts at risk.

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No matter what the census, we are never allowed to have less than 2 RNs on the floor (for a shift, 1 can be on the floor if say you have to run to another area to grab a med not in your own Pyxis). I don't know what other facilities' policies are?

Wanted to add, my concern wouldn't be the admits or the like but rather if one of the four pts went downhill. If there was a code or RR, who's taking care of the other pts??

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YES! And with the new phone system nobody really know how to use it so i have no way of even calling for help. And who would i even call there is 2 nurses in the ER however im told there not allowed to leave that area. The don says shell be available for help big or small but she wont answe the phone... just tells you what she thinks you want to hear. Shes supposed to work if theres no one else so shell do/say whatever to not be there. Ive about decided im not returning. Thank you for insite

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