Im trying to find my state's advisory on this issue (Illinois) but, here's the scenario. I've been working at a post acute rehab facility for a year and 8 months. Nurse to pt ratio on average was 1:15. That was manageable. We had one wing that was LTC that was 1:24. It being LTC that was manageable too.
Recently they wanted to start making my wing LTC as well. So they have been giving us nurses on that side about 24 patients as well. The problem is, there are still many rehab patients on that side, and each week about 5 patients come and go. Multiple admits and discharges every day. It is NOTHING like the LTC side where the only patients leaving are when they pass away.
Ok so Ive been giving this change a chance, but it is not working out (which is an understatement.)
Just in the last week, we've had a code (I wasn't on shift at the time, but the nurse working didn't know the pt was on the BR floor unresponsive for who knows how long bc she was caring for 23 other patients. I had a pt have a stroke which I didnt notice, luckily a CNA did bc pt was eating at the time. I had a pt who is supposed to be a feeder aspirate. No CNA was in the room. We had 4 CNA'S in the building with 80 patients. I didn't notice til family came in and noticed something was off. Sent him out, he was admitted. The list goes on and on...
I've had it recently. It's not working out. Its too dangerous. I came into work Sunday (yesterday) for my 3-11 shift hoping for the best even though my ladt 2 days have been a disaster. The AM nurse had tears in her eyes, she wasn't done with work yet, a pt was just returning from the hospital that she had sent out earlier, plus she just had a fall (falls have been increasing a lot with this change.) She began giving me report, and I just HAD IT. It was sheer chaos. She only gave me repory on 3 patients when I was like, No. I'm not accepting this assignment. I went to our ADON and told her if the 3 nurses in the back station who had 14 patients didn't pick up about 6 of my patients (giving them 16 patients each) then I cannot in good conscious accept this assignment. She said either clock out and I report you to the BON or work the shift and write your letter of resignation tomorrow. Ive been telling them for a while now that it is dangerous to no avail. I told her I don't want to quit working here, I just want the patients to be safe. She restated herself, so I clocked out and left.
I didn't get full report yet, nor accept the keys to the medcart. But I DID clock in. Is this patient abandonment and a reportable offence to the BON?
I've been googling left and right where to find in the ANA Scope and Standards of Nursing Practice and their Code of Ethics, but can't find it to show them proof. Does anyone know where to find it, Illinois? Ive searched high and low. I want to give it to my DON before they call so she know this was NOT patient abandonment.
The bizarre thing is that they are insisting that I had quit because I refused the assignment. They took me off my next scheduled day to work, so I called them and they said, no, you quit. I did no such thing! My DON, HR, and DCD (ADON) were on speaker as I had asked to speak with my DON explaining my side of the situation. They would not let me get a word in, continuously interrupting me. The call ended with all three of them saying they were calling the BON, and they quickly said, "This conversation is done, and they hung up on me. The "conversation" which was really an ambush.
Such a shame. I loved this job and my DON, and was an exemplary employee for almost 2 years there.
But good riddance now.
If anyone can locate where it states what does and what does not constitute abandonment, Id be greatful for the help. Im going to keep looking.
My main concern is that they will now give me a bad review ("no we wouldnt hire her again...") and that it could jeapordize my chances of future employment, especially my interview with a home health agency in 2 days.
I've been googling left and right where to find in the ANA Scope and Standards of Nursing Practice and their Code of Ethics, but can't find it to show them proof. Does anyone know where to find it, Illinois? Ive searched high and low. I want to give it to my DON before they call so she know this was NOT patient abandonment.
The bizarre thing is that they are insisting that I had quit because I refused the assignment. They took me off my next scheduled day to work, so I called them and they said, no, you quit. I did no such thing! My DON, HR, and DCD (ADON) were on speaker as I had asked to speak with my DON explaining my side of the situation. They would not let me get a word in, continuously interrupting me. The call ended with all three of them saying they were calling the BON, and they quickly said, "This conversation is done, and they hung up on me. The "conversation" which was really an ambush.
Such a shame. I loved this job and my DON, and was an exemplary employee for almost 2 years there.
But good riddance now.
If anyone can locate where it states what does and what does not constitute abandonment, Id be greatful for the help. Im going to keep looking.
My main concern is that they will now give me a bad review ("no we wouldnt hire her again...") and that it could jeapordize my chances of future employment, especially my interview with a home health agency in 2 days.
Thanks for everything guys!
Scratch that....found what I was looking for. Pt abandonment wise. 😊
They are booklets. You get them at the ANA website or on Amazon. I keep a copy on my iPad for instant reference when in the road, but my paper copies at home are all tabbed and marked up.
They are booklets. You get them at the ANA website or on Amazon. I keep a copy on my iPad for instant reference when in the road, but my paper copies at home are all tabbed and marked up.
Orion81RN
962 Posts
I've been googling left and right where to find in the ANA Scope and Standards of Nursing Practice and their Code of Ethics, but can't find it to show them proof. Does anyone know where to find it, Illinois? Ive searched high and low. I want to give it to my DON before they call so she know this was NOT patient abandonment.
The bizarre thing is that they are insisting that I had quit because I refused the assignment. They took me off my next scheduled day to work, so I called them and they said, no, you quit. I did no such thing! My DON, HR, and DCD (ADON) were on speaker as I had asked to speak with my DON explaining my side of the situation. They would not let me get a word in, continuously interrupting me. The call ended with all three of them saying they were calling the BON, and they quickly said, "This conversation is done, and they hung up on me. The "conversation" which was really an ambush.
Such a shame. I loved this job and my DON, and was an exemplary employee for almost 2 years there.
But good riddance now.
If anyone can locate where it states what does and what does not constitute abandonment, Id be greatful for the help. Im going to keep looking.
My main concern is that they will now give me a bad review ("no we wouldnt hire her again...") and that it could jeapordize my chances of future employment, especially my interview with a home health agency in 2 days.
Thanks for everything guys!