Job abandonment-CNA

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I have a question. But first, heres the situation. Ive been accused for job abandonment as CNA because its true i walked out of work soon after i clocked in. I hadnt been designated a work area so no not like i left my patients hanging half way through but i get it. Its technically that. I did because i was disrespected by a coworker. Anyway...bottom line 5 days later i get a call by a co worker saying that they reported me to the state for JOB ABANDONMENT.

MY MAIN worry is that im a nursing student. Will this affect my nursing career?? Anybody know? I live in NJ.

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You didn't accept a patient assignment and your name was not on a patient assignment?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

What is your job?

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im a CNA

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no, assignments were being changed around due to extra staff. Anywho, my main concern is will it affect me as a nursing student/future nurse?

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I don't know the answer, ask an attorney familiar with nursing licensing, you can find one through TAANA. I think (but don't know) when the BON is considering a RNs application, they have the right to know if an applicant (who formerly worked as a CNA) had any past patient safety complaints filed against them.

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Vzuniga627 said:
I have a question. But first, heres the situation. I've been accused for job abandonment as CNA because its true I walked out of work soon after I clocked in. I hadnt been designated a work area so no not like I left my patients hanging half way through but I get it. It's technically that. I did because I was disrespected by a coworker. Anyway...bottom line 5 days later I get a call by a co worker saying that they reported me to the state for JOB ABANDONMENT.

MY MAIN worry is that im a nursing student. Will this affect my nursing career?? Anybody know? I live in NJ.

I don't know about that particular incident, but your general attitude is going to give you problems with school and nursing (if you manage to make it through school).

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Contact the BON to clarify any questions they may have.

Generally speaking BONs do not regulate employment issues. Job abandonment is an employment issue. Patient abandonment is a BON issue.

You will be fine.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

No idea about the specifics of job abandonment in your state, but just on a purely common sense level clocking in and then leaving is totally unacceptable for any job. Feeling "disrespected" by a coworker is an insane reason to up and leave work, unless you're going for a dramatic "I QUIT!!" exit.

So in that sense, yes, it will affect your nursing career. People - patients, families, coworkers, everyone - can be jerks, and if your first instinct is to take your ball and go home every time you feel disrespected you have a very long, hard road ahead of you. Best of luck.

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One of the more disturbing aspects of nursing is the idea that workplace violence, in any form, is an unfortunate but unavoidable condition of employment and thus should be tolerated.

If more people simply removed themselves from an unhealthy work environment then things would be very pleasant for everyone. Sometimes the best action is to simply "take your ball and go home."

Being the patient's advocate does not mean you cannot be your own advocate too.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
Vzuniga627 said:
I have a question. But first, heres the situation. I've been accused for job abandonment as CNA because its true I walked out of work soon after I clocked in. I hadnt been designated a work area so no not like I left my patients hanging half way through but I get it. It's technically that. I did because I was disrespected by a coworker. Anyway...bottom line 5 days later I get a call by a co worker saying that they reported me to the state for JOB ABANDONMENT.

MY MAIN worry is that im a nursing student. Will this affect my nursing career?? Anybody know? I live in NJ.

Job Abandonment is one thing. Patient Abandonment is worse and if you weren't assigned any patients at the time you left, you should be OK on that end. However, Job Abandonment may affect your ability to collect unemployment for a while and it can also affect your ability to get hired at another job simply because you have walked off the job in the middle of a shift.

Walking off the job in the middle of a shift, even if it's because you were disrespected by a coworker isn't (usually) a good reason to walk off in the middle of a shift. It would have been far better to complete the shift, clock out, and then quit. Then the employer wouldn't have any reason to report you to the State for Job Abandonment.

To truly get an idea about what Job Abandonment can bring you for current/future trouble, I would highly suggest contacting a NJ lawyer that deals with employment law. That may also be your only hope of ensuring that you minimize any "damage" to you that comes from your action of walking off in the middle of a shift.

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U are completely right. I shouldve managed MYself better. Telling the nurses i was leaving and Clocking out wasnt the best thing to do.

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