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

Specialties Geriatric

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.

So I talked to an RN that I started orientation with and was told that he heard through a couple people that they were going to try to go after me for abandonment. Just goes to show how low this place is. Even though I didn't do anything wrong, I still feel as though I need to defend myself. I don't need any complaints against me for bogus accusations. Does anyone know if the BON would even take this seriously?

...just in case there was one.lone.person......on allnurses that felt the BON was not an adversary

Can you elaborte? I'm sorry I'm new and don't get this message.

They claim they don't tell you because they don't want the nurse being investigated to start tampering with the case by calling coworkers etc.. I don't believe that though. Once you hear anything your guilt/innocence has been decided. I wouldn't worry.

So how does the BON hear your side of the story?

Can you elaborte? I'm sorry I'm new and don't get this message.

the BON is a governmental agency charged with protecting the public from US, has nothing to do with supporting nursing/nurses.....nada, zilch, zero.

So how does the BON hear your side of the story?

THEY DON'T.

Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.
THEY DON'T.

TO almost and Morte=

You guys are exactly right!

They have their collective little minds made up before you ever speak to them.

The kicker is, they appear to care about the nurses side, but NO.

Very punative. Big ego trips for them.

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

They can only report to the BON if you abandon your patient. Quitting and walking out of the building during a shift is abandonment. Leaving without two weeks' notice is NOT abandoment. Unprofessional, yes (even in an employment-at-will state). Abandoment, no.

If you want reassurance, contact your local BON on your own to ask...you can always ask w/o giving away your identity or particular details if it'll make you feel better ;)

As far as whether the BON would take a complaint from the facility seriously, the BON takes every complaint it gets seriously and investigates them...and a large number of the complaints they get have no basis to them and nothing further comes of it.

You can't change what your former facility is going to do, so just focus on the future. I think you'll be fine. Hang in there!

Specializes in ICU, School Nurse, Med/Surg, Psych.

most states are 'right to work' which means that you or the employer can end the employment agreement at any time for any reason - or no reason at all. You didn't abandon your clients - you quit a crappy job. Just be prepared to tell your next potential employer why you left in a positive way - not badmouthing them but stating your needs as an employee. Good luck with the kid and all - hope you don't need to work until after it's born because getting a job right before needing time off - which will not be covered under FMLA since you will not have worked there 12 months - might be difficult.

So how does the BON hear your side of the story?

you present your side, when it's time for the hearing (if you appeal the charges).

leslie

you present your side, when it's time for the hearing (if you appeal the charges).

leslie

How do you know there are charges against you to appeal if they don't notify you until they've come up a verdict? Thanks for your answer.

How do you know there are charges against you to appeal if they don't notify you until they've come up a verdict? Thanks for your answer.

firstly, my answer was not specific to your situation.

there isn't any way you will be charged with anything, so please relax.:)

i believe that a nurse would hear from an investigator or the bon, if they were investigating something.

one time, i had someone call me from the bon, asking me about a med that i signed for upon delivery from pharmacy.

i had no idea that me and sev'l other nurses were even being investigated.

the lady from the bon, basically called to tell me that everything was fine, i had nothing to worry about.

but i didn't hear any of this because i was so shocked that i was being investigated...no warning whatsoever.

and then wks later, i got in the mail, that i was not being charged...(not all the nurses got this mail, either).

if i had been found guilty, i would have appealed the charges.

the board is supposed to be following the guidelines/parameters of administrative law.

if you're charged, you'll eventually hear from the bon, and will eventually get to state your case.

leslie

firstly, my answer was not specific to your situation.

there isn't any way you will be charged with anything, so please relax.:)

i believe that a nurse would hear from an investigator or the bon, if they were investigating something.

one time, i had someone call me from the bon, asking me about a med that i signed for upon delivery from pharmacy.

i had no idea that me and sev'l other nurses were even being investigated.

the lady from the bon, basically called to tell me that everything was fine, i had nothing to worry about.

but i didn't hear any of this because i was so shocked that i was being investigated...no warning whatsoever.

and then wks later, i got in the mail, that i was not being charged...(not all the nurses got this mail, either).

if i had been found guilty, i would have appealed the charges.

the board is supposed to be following the guidelines/parameters of administrative law.

if you're charged, you'll eventually hear from the bon, and will eventually get to state your case.

leslie

Thanks for your answer and for listing your experience. I really appreciate it! I guess the only thing I'm worried about now is if they try to say I abandoned my patients on the 4th night of orientation not knowing I passed my report on the the pm nurse. I guess I just have a feeling they are really dumb if they try to even bring abandonment charges against me. Hello, if they were really worried about resident safety they would have made sure I was fully orientated and that I was comfortable with a job I was completing other than just having someone there to cover their butts!!

+ Add a Comment