I quit in the middle of my shift....

[newgradERrn]

As a new grad (RN) the stress in the ER was toooo much to handle... (after 5 months) I quit 2 hrs after starting my shift. I notified my manager, they reassigned a nurse to my patients....I gave report to a RN, signed off my charts to the new RN taking over my pts. My manager downstaffed me for the rest of the shift. I wrote my letter of resignation and punched out.

Is that considered abandonment?

Will I be able to get a job in a dr.s office

Thank you for your advice and help!

[Chin up]

Im going to play devils advocate. Humor me for a second, those that know me know how I stand on this issue. Being old school, very, you dont have to know me to guess. Anyway, we had a nurse in MA, an old, but famous case, of a nurse who killed her patients with MS04. When all was said and done, everyone and I mean everyone stated, "it would have been better for her to walk off the job." She didn't, people died and this nurse is rotting in jail. So, put into this context, what this nurse did is not that bad. We only know she couldn't take it anymore, told her boss, did report, and then left the facility. We don't know her mental state, what she was going through, how she felt, how she was being treated and maybe just maybe, she felt unsafe to be left with her patients. Things are not black and white. Yes, we have responsiblities and we need to keep them. But, we could have read about this nurse in the papers or seen her on the news. Not only for abuse of patients, but suicide. We really don't know what people are going through, capable of or if having a pristine reputation is even important to them. We know what we think we would and should do. But sometimes, life throughs a curve and you really don't know how you would behave. She was responsible enough to not abandon her patients, made sure her employer knew and someone was taking over. Sometimes thats enough. Peace!

[Poi Dog]

Im going to play devils advocate. Humor me for a second, those that know me know how I stand on this issue. Being old school, very, you dont have to know me to guess. Anyway, we had a nurse in MA, an old, but famous case, of a nurse who killed her patients with MS04. When all was said and done, everyone and I mean everyone stated, "it would have been better for her to walk off the job." She didn't, people died and this nurse is rotting in jail. So, put into this context, what this nurse did is not that bad. We only know she couldn't take it anymore, told her boss, did report, and then left the facility. We don't know her mental state, what she was going through, how she felt, how she was being treated and maybe just maybe, she felt unsafe to be left with her patients. Things are not black and white. Yes, we have responsiblities and we need to keep them. But, we could have read about this nurse in the papers or seen her on the news. Not only for abuse of patients, but suicide. We really don't know what people are going through, capable of or if having a pristine reputation is even important to them. We know what we think we would and should do. But sometimes, life throughs a curve and you really don't know how you would behave. She was responsible enough to not abandon her patients, made sure her employer knew and someone was taking over. Sometimes thats enough. Peace!

Chin up: You're back...

[Chin up]

Chin up: You're back...

You are so sweet! Thank you Poi Dog!!!!

Peace!!

[WillowNMe]

What is ms04?

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

What is ms04?

Morphine sulfate :)

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

"Is that considered abandonment?"

YES, on multple levels.

Let's hear the list, backed up with the OP's example

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

you can quit a job half way through a shift, you let them know, last time I looked this is still a free country, why is it nurses ( some) think it is such a sin to just leave-???

If this is how you feel about working and your responsibility to a facility, and the PATIENTS... oy vey.

It's important to nurses because peoples' lives are in their hands....you can't just walk off without them being covered. It's grounds for losing a license.... might wanna rethink this whole nursing thing if you plan to just hit the road if you get tired of hanging around somewhere....

The OP handled it the best she could AT THE TIME .... not ideal, and not something to aspire to- but it's done- and now she has to deal with the consequences for future jobs.. :)

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

this...so, so true.

i've known a couple of nurses who abruptly quit, and both were blackballed within a 20 mile perimeter.

don's know other don's, and they have this extended circle where they discuss nurses, give a heads up/fyi.

this happens, and it happens a lot.

along with what tnt said about references, i also believe they (employer) can include if they would rehire them again.

op, i'm just reiterating that you didn't abandon your pts.

and it appears your mgr handled it professionally.

i understand being overwhelmed (if that's what you were feeling.)

but it was in poor form.

there will be no 2nd chances, w/o it damaging your career.

be well.

leslie

Yep- the unspoken DON circle......and they definitely talk amongst themselves in many places.

References (official)... dates of employment, salary, eligibility for rehire....

Unprovable references... quality of work, attendance, ability to work with others, etc....and NOBODY will confirm or deny this (and some places don't do this- but in a smaller town, or among LTC facilities, this is a common occurrence

I had a hospital talk to a LTC facility i was applying to (moved away from town w/hospital) and the staffing coordinator was giving the references (small town )....told the LTC they didn't want me- send me back....joking about wanting me back (and that's how it was taken- the staffing coord would have cleared up anything misunderstood).... but that was for someone they liked....

[WillowNMe]

Morphine sulfate :)

Thanks!

[nursel56]

Originally Posted by cecilsgirl

you can quit a job half way through a shift, you let them know, last time I looked this is still a free country, why is it nurses ( some) think it is such a sin to just leave-???

This is fluffy bunny-land compared to many I've seen when somebody walks away abruptly like that. What does living in a free country have to do with it? The main worry is that she might be accused of abandonment?

I'd like to know more about the circumstances that led up to it - it should be the last thing you do because your job is stressful. I don't doubt that there is any nurse who hasn't promised the Lord just about anything if He would just get everyone to the end of the shift still alive and kicking. No fun at all. But maybe there was a pattern the OP had tried to alleviate without results.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

She asked & I answered.. This has nothing to do with New Grads working ER and more do with Professionalism and Respect. Although 5months is not exactly new either, she couldve called out or at least "no call no showed."

And a NCNS is better because ????? :confused: IMHO, by showing up to work, she made the attempt to get through the shift- then for whatever reasons, told her manager she couldn't do it.... she owned it. She was replaced before she left. She didn't leave the patients hanging out to dry.

Could it have been better- of course.... but nobody gets to pick when they hit the wall....:)

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Im going to play devils advocate. Humor me for a second, those that know me know how I stand on this issue. Being old school, very, you dont have to know me to guess. Anyway, we had a nurse in MA, an old, but famous case, of a nurse who killed her patients with MS04. When all was said and done, everyone and I mean everyone stated, "it would have been better for her to walk off the job." She didn't, people died and this nurse is rotting in jail. So, put into this context, what this nurse did is not that bad. We only know she couldn't take it anymore, told her boss, did report, and then left the facility. We don't know her mental state, what she was going through, how she felt, how she was being treated and maybe just maybe, she felt unsafe to be left with her patients. Things are not black and white. Yes, we have responsiblities and we need to keep them. But, we could have read about this nurse in the papers or seen her on the news. Not only for abuse of patients, but suicide. We really don't know what people are going through, capable of or if having a pristine reputation is even important to them. We know what we think we would and should do. But sometimes, life throughs a curve and you really don't know how you would behave. She was responsible enough to not abandon her patients, made sure her employer knew and someone was taking over. Sometimes thats enough. Peace!

:yeah::yeah::yeah: