Is this abandonment?

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Hi, I am a new grad who was hired by a home health agency. They gave me 2 patients to go visit. One was for 2x a week and the other 3x a week. The first patient is in the hospital so I couldnt go see her. When I checked the address of the 2nd patient, he was more than 30 miles from my home so I decided that this job was not for me because the patients are all too far from my home and it just isnt worth it. I called in and left a message saying I would rather not work for them because the patients are too far. They called back and left me a message saying to return the paperwork stating the patients info (which I will do first thing tomorrow) and that what I did was abandon my patients. Can I get in trouble for this? :crying2:

Specializes in chemical dependency detox/psych.

This is an interesting question that the OP poses. I, too, am a newer RN, and I accepted a home care job. I went to the job only once, and due to privacy reasons I can't get too specific, but let's just say there were illegal substances being consumed in the house, domestic violence, and there was a convicted felon who just got out on parole that just moved into the house. No way in heck was I going to sit in a house for eight hours taking care of a patient with that swirling around me. I called my supervisor as soon as I got home from that shift and said, "Thanks, but no thanks." The issue of abandonment never came up, as she actually offered me a different position, instead. I turned it down...I've come to the conclusion that there is no way in heck that I'm ready to be out on my own, and I'll just stay at my other job working at the hospital doing psych. I truly think it's irresponsible of a home health agency to offer any home health job to anyone with less than 10 years experience.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
"How much notice does a home health nurse need to give to avoid abandonment issues?"

At least 24 hours to avoid abandonment issues.

At least two weeks to avoid unprofessional behavior issues.

"It's even more salient considering how one typically doesn't give notice when quitting a job he or she just started but believes won't work out."

Actually, one does.

The OP asked "Is this abandonment?" in the home health setting. He or she did not ask for shaming comments on what some may perceive to be "unprofessional behavior issues."

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Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

Being sick and unable to work is not the same as looking up an address and deciding that it is too far.

I don't know if it meets the legal issue of abandonment, but it wasn't a very nice thing to do.

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Yes I know it is unprofessional on my part and I feel very bad but I have never even met the patient. Arent you suppose to meet first to see if you are comfortable with each other? I was also rushed through orientation just because they needed a Spanish speaking nurse. I am going to send them their papers and just hope they dont report me to the BON. :imdbb:

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

Another thread on home health and abandonment:

Need Help With Abandonment Law!!! - Nursing for Nurses

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
Yes I know it is unprofessional on my part and I feel very bad but I have never even met the patient. Arent you suppose to meet first to see if you are comfortable with each other? I was also rushed through orientation just because they needed a Spanish speaking nurse. I am going to send them their papers and just hope they dont report me to the BON. :imdbb:

I don't think you meet the client beforehand in home health. I think you show up at the designated time, assume a cordial relationship, and go about your work.

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Specializes in Pediatric Home Care.

I have worked in home health for a few years now, and not once have I met a client before the shift. In home care, once you accept the client/shift, you are responsible to that client at that certain time. If anything were to happen to that client during the time that the shift is and you are not there, the company is still held responisble.

I have had a nurse who I was supposed to be training show up at my clients house, and tell me it was too far to drive and she wouldnt be staying, and she left. It was very unprofessional, and embarassing to myself, and the company. That being said, isnt hindsight great. You have now learned what to do next time, and what not to do. In home health, the more time you can give your company to replace you the better.

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Specializes in CTICU.

Man, this just shows the entitled attitude of some new grads these days.. all over people are posting that they can't get jobs, and this one quits over the phone because it's "too far". Wouldn't you find out where the patients would be before accepting a job?

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
I have worked in home health for a few years now, and not once have I met a client before the shift. In home care, once you accept the client/shift, you are responsible to that client at that certain time. If anything were to happen to that client during the time that the shift is and you are not there, the company is still held responisble.

I wonder if the OP was scheduled for a shift or was to book appointments for visits with the patient? Since she said she was to see the client 3x per week, I thought it was 3 visits per week?

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If you had already accepted the assignment and then decided to skip out I'm sure that would be considered abandonment. I work in a hospital..if I got report on all my patients, went to the vending machine to get a soda but then said "ya know I'm just too tired to work tonight I think I'll go home" and continued right out the doors to my car and went home, that would be along the same lines as what you did. Now, don't quote me on this but I heard from a few people that the patient actually must charge you with abandonment not the institution you work for. I'm not sure about the validity of that statement because it came up during a very heated conversation at work.

I do hope everything works out for you and I think you are sorry for what you did...but I would reconsider nursing as a field for you. There are days and nights where you feel like you are dragging yourself but there are still things to be done and YOU NEED TO DO THEM without a doubt. Think very carefully about your next career joice or job interview (if you decide to stick with nursing). Good luck.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

I need to get this straight... how far in advance did you let your employer know before you were scheduled to go see this patient? Like, were you supposed to go see the patient THAT DAY, and on that very day you decided, "you know what, that's too far away, I'm not going". Or would the visit have been in a couple of days, since the visits were only 3x/week?

If it were the very same day... that's somewhat appalling. :(

If it were a couple of days ahead of time... it's not the most professional thing in the world that you did, but it wasn't exactly horrible; they could have found a nurse to replace you, at least temporarily. Hopefully!

I agree also, that a home health job is completely inappropriate for a new grad UNLESS perhaps you are a new RN with several years experience as an LPN, or something.

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I'm just confused as 30 miles being "too far." Did you think the patients would all live in your neighborhood? I remember back in nursing school spending a day with a home health nurse and she covered a pretty wide area. (And we got lunch at a fantastic little bookstore that I could never find again.)

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