HELP: quit LTC without 2 wk notice and ED treatened to report me to BON

Published

Hello, all. So I have only been working at this LTC for about 6 days of orientation. Tonight was supposed to be my first night on my own working 3rd shift as the the only RN supervising 3 other LPNs. I have gone up to upper management a number of times about not feeling comfortable about the idea since I'm new to the place and a new nurse myself (only 1 yr exp.) After debating about it for days and with last night being crazy, I thought to myself it's not worth losing my license and sanity (I'm 7 months prego). I didn't get a break last night, didn't sit all night and was still orientating but left with the cart because the RN I was orientating with was busy with other things. I have asked for more orientation. They tried to give me my own patient load after 3 nights of poor orientation because they were short. I gave them my resignation letter today and got a call around 5 from the executive director stating that they would file a complaint against me for not giving them 2 weeks notice and leaving them short handed. I already expressed my concerns with them over and over again about not feeling comfortable being the only RN at night and they don't care. They just need me because they are short and they need a RN at night in the building. Does this ED have any legality with her treats? I just can't believe anyone would stoop that low to say they would report me for "endaring their residents." As you all can imagine I'm all stressed out about this and I've been so stressed out about this horrible place since starting. I don't agree with unsafe nursing practices. The nerve of some people, I can't believe how desperate some people are. I'm very professional and am not proud of quitting so soon after starting a job and without 2 weeks notice, but I have to consider what I feel competent and comfortable doing and what I feel is right for the residents. Any advice would be wonderful. So stressed out about situation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hem/Onc, LTC, AL, Homecare, Mgmt, Psych.

I think their behavior is unprofessional for not providing the training and then bullying you. If you can't bear it for 2 more weeks I would wash my hands of that stress right now and move on! I would just be prepared at your next job interview to explain why you left without the appropriate notice. What does their policy book say about employees terminating their own employment?

It's professional and polite to give at least 2 weeks notice but not enforced by law nor by the BON. It sounds like you were off the clock when you put in your notice. If you left in the middle of your shift it would be abandonment.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was off the clock. I went this morning right after my shift to talk to someone about my concerns and was referred to the ED. She was in a meeting so I went home and came back with a letter of resignation effective immediately. I did leave on my 4th night of orientation because they were short. I didn't know what I was doing and they wanted me to take my own patient load. I expressed my concern to the nurse and a PM nurse was still there so she I gave my report sheet to her and she said she would stay and help out. I was technically still orientating though so they shouldn't have even tried to pull that on me. Then the next day the scheduler called me asking me what happened and I told her that I had not received enough training and I even voiced that to her that morning that it happened because I saw on the schedule that it was only me and my orientater scheduled. She blew me off and said "sometimes this happens; I'm working on trying to find someone to come in." I flat out told her that I was not comfortable taking a patient load by myself.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

They can not do anything about it. It's not abandonment if you were not on the clock. You have the right to quit at anytime for any reason. They were just using a scare tactic to keep a nurse from leaving.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CVICU, CCU, Heart Transplant.

In the state of Texas, where I am licensed, the board of nursing has stated on their website that no action can be taken against your license if you quit without notice as long as it wasn't during a shift. It must be a common question because it's written all over their website. I would call the BON in your state.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.

I concur.

If you did not leave in the middle of the shift=which would be abandonment, the BON has NO jurisdiction or power.

Especially if you live in a "right to work state" as I do (Florida) that means you may leave with no particular reason, however, the flip side is that an employer may terminate you.

It sounds like your Executive director is trying to use scare tactics...do not let her get away with that...she also sounds rather stupid by even making that statement...the BON has much bigger fish to fry, if they had to hear every case of someone who left without 2 weeks notice nothing else would get done.

That all being said, it is professional to give 2 weeks notice or whatever is usual and customary in the facility, unless the position really constitued danger to yourself or your license. So, maybe in the future you can tough it out if you find yourself in a similar situation. It could come back at you if a future employer called for a reference, for while the company can't really "dis" you, they can state that you are not elegible for rehire. I think stating that you left without notice is ok to divulge.

Good Luck in the Future...however, I know as a new nurse you are trying to find your spot...but there are not many Utopic nursing positions out there :nurse: so you may have to learn to take the good with the bad...most are not all good but they are also not all bad.

s

Up Vote Up Vote ×

No, it was after my shift. I know this seems pretty petty, but I worked hard for my license and I won't be bullied into doing something I'm not comfortable doing. I just can't believe the scare tactic they tried to get me to finish out the schedule saying I would be "endangering their residents." No, they were short staffed before me and they are short staffed now. I have nothing to do with staffing and I'm an at will employee. I should be able to complain about her making false threats and causing me all this emotional distress. I mean how many times do I have to say I was not comfortable being the only RN and with the little orientation I had to be on my own? They don't care about their resident's safety, they just want to cover their butts and blame me if anything were to happen. So...really, they can't really make a complaint to about me to the BON, right?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.

No they can not report you to the BON!!!!! Please do not worry another nano second about it.

Your ED is a fool and believe me, she is not stressing over this as much as you are or she is not stressing AT ALL!

This will all seem silly in a few days, weeks or months. Especially as you get your nursing "sea legs" under you.

Now take a deep breath and laugh. You will be fine.

s

ps and they will continue to be short staffed as long as this behavior is tolerated. However, they simply won't care...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for all the input!! She called me saying that she wanted to talk to me incase I wanted to reconsider giving them 2 weeks before they "do anything else" then went on to say if I didn't go in or give them 2 weeks that they'd file a complaint against me tomorrow with the BON. Can she threaten me like that? She said that she talked to the head of HR and someone else (can't remember) and that's what they said she could do and that I am "required" to give them 2 weeks notice. I just looked in my policy handbook and it even states I'm an at will basis, which means at any time myself or that place can seperate employment at any time without notice or cause.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

SWS RN-I won't even be putting them down as a previous employer so I'm not worried about a good reference from them. Thanks for taking the time to answer to my post!

Thank-you to everyone who answered; it is deeply appreciated. Must be all the pregnant hormones making me a mad women!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.

You sound pretty rational to me...much more rational than that moronic ED...NO she cannot report you to the BON. No you are not REQUIRED to do anything...the head of HR whomever that might be is not a nurse and has no knowlege of why the BON exists or what it is expected to do.

And if they continue to threaten you, pull the "I will report you to the xyz board for harrassment"...makes as much sense as them reporting you to the nursing board.

Just smile as you lay rubber out of the parking lot!:)

sws

Up Vote Up Vote ×

if this person has called you more than twice....i would be thinking of getting an attorney to write her a little note....about cease and desist the harrassing behavior or steps will be taken.....etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion