I didn't accept the keys.....

[BerryHappy]

Well, I finally did it. I refused to take report/keys in a LTC/Rehab facility that is critically understaffed. Here's the deal. I was hired as a night shift RN supervisor. Almost immediately after I started the DON who hired me was fired. That left no DON for two months, also no administrator. By the third month, with all the call out's, no shows, and people quitting, I was floating between all carts full time. And STILL expected to be supervisor when needed. So last night was the final straw.

This is what I was set up for:

30 pts on THREE halls

5 IV's

2 med passes

4 skin checks

30 full assessments (no one actually does these they just copy the previous)

30 nsg notes

30 chart checks

pain pills all night

and by the way CHANGEOVER so 30 MARs and TARs.

All in an 8 hour shift.

The two regular nurses both called out so that left me (totally unfamiliar with the pts, and the MARs), and a day shift nurse helping out, to do the work. The company REFUSES to call in agency, and no one else was willing to come in and help.

So, I called the new DON, left a message, hugged all the nurses I enjoyed working with, and left. That was 8 hours ago and I am still STEAMING. How is anyone expected to get good nursing care under those conditions? How is a nurse supposed to make safe decisions under those circumstances?

Still so angry I could SCREAM! But sad because I loved my job.

sniff.

[mindlor]

Hmmmm I am not sure you handled it right.......hopefully they wont get ya for abandonment.....that left the day shift nurse alone....and really really put them in a horrible spot....

I do understand your frustration....but, walking off a job seldom ends well for anyone

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Hmmmm I am not sure you handled it right.......hopefully they wont get ya for abandonment.....that left the day shift nurse alone....and really really put them in a horrible spot....

I do understand your frustration....but, walking off a job seldom ends well for anyone

I dont think abandonment applies if you have not accepted the patient assignment yet. Report was not given.......

[mindlor]

hmmm indeed, now that I think on it I believe you are correct roser!! TY

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Refusing to accept the condition at hand, refusing to accept responsibility for this mess, doesn't constitute patient abandonment (no matter WHAT the admin says!). I used to work for a place that stated that as long as you clocked in, you accepted the assignment...that got overturned FAST as clocking in simply meant you showed up on time, and your assignment wasn't yet prepared for you to SEE prior to clocking in....so no, once you see the assignment, you THEN decide if you're accepting it.

The OP was put in an impossible situation, and while no one wants to have to do what she did, it was the ONLY thing to do to effect any possible change. Otherwise, what stops administration from doing it EVERY.SINGLE.SHIFT from that moment on? After all....you did it once....you have no excuse not to do it again.

Sorry, OP, you went through this, but I believe you did the right thing. Administration is going to have to answer for this, you can bet.

[SleeepyRN]

Hmmmm I am not sure you handled it right.......hopefully they wont get ya for abandonment.....that left the day shift nurse alone....and really really put them in a horrible spot....

I do understand your frustration....but, walking off a job seldom ends well for anyone

She did not accept report. Therefore, it is not patient abandonment.

[LPNMary]

Changeover alone, without having any patient assignment, would be impossible to do in 8 hours in those circumstances- there must be dozens or more missed meds, med error and other such chaos in a place so disorganized.

[caliotter3]

Thanks for having the courage of your convictions. I had a DON walk out of a facility one time and she was talked about in the nursing community as if she should be put in for sainthood. It took her the better part of two years to get her next job but it must have been worth it. Best wishes.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

You did the right thing. Without a doubt. It would've been your license had something gone sideways during that shift---they had you set up to fail, and they'd be more than happy to let you twist in the wind when state comes to investigate.

Now that you've shaken the dust of the place from your feet, you have one more duty: file a complaint with your state Department of Health Services, or whoever handles licensing and regulation of nursing homes. You can do this anonymously, although you would have to testify if the matter ever came before an Administrative Law Judge. Those poor residents deserve better.......best to turn them over to a state authority which has the ability to do something about their situation.

[BerryHappy]

Thanks for the support you guys! Your words bring tears to my eyes. And YES, I feel as if I had accepted the assignment, I FOR SURE would have made a med error, and would have felt even worse for hurting that patient, than I did for walking out. If nurses just keep acquiesing, corporations will just keep walking all over us. I live in a "Right To Work" state (non union), so the for profit facilities do the best they can to squeeze the most out of just a few.

BTW, this very well known LTC facility refuses to bring in agency so much that our DON has had to start working a cart fairly regularly.

SMH

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

I wouldn't have left. Even if abandonment wasn't a consideration.

I would have completed the shift I showed up for.

There are no good or bad answers. Not even right or wrong. I understand completely why she left, and don't fault her for one minute for that choice.

It's just that I would have stayed. Maybe left on a stretcher, or a straight-jacket, or without a license. But I would have stayed.

[Guest757854]

Maybe left on a stretcher, or a straight-jacket, or without a license. But I would have stayed.

Now i can see about leaving on a stretcher or even in a stright jacket...but leaving WITHOUT a license and i started WITH a license....im sorry but there is no way im putting my license on the line. OP did what they felt needed to be done....and i would have done the same. I worked way to hard for my license. But, to each its own.