The large Hospital I work at, I transferred to an eye/plastics clinic-in interview I was told I would work clinic hours-stay over a little once in a while/in reality a Dr stays over 3 times a week and sometimes till 9pm-I questioned this and the (non medical) manager told me just to leave when I'm ready (with Pts still in exam rooms)-the only one left in this clinic is the Dr and a resident (not even a front desk person). when I asked to talk to the head nurse-they would not let me (she works at a different site). These eye patients are not optical Pts and some are in bad shape. I feel this is unethical leaving Pts.
In any other area, Pts are closely watched, and not left alone in any circumstances.
In no other clinics are patients left alone in exam rooms for some period of time? In all of those clinics, someone is with the pt. from the moment they walk in the doors to the moment they leave? Not trying to sound mean, just trying to show the realities of the situation. I don't know your background, but as someone else said, maybe you are having difficulty adjusting from the acute setting to the ambulatory setting. I know initially my instincts of what should happen based on acute care and Emergency nursing would be different from what is expected in the clinic setting.
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Would you ask for a signed letter stating that it is ok to leave? Or would you risk your license? How would you handle it?
Nurses initiate and execute physician prescriptions/orders/recommendations. Surely physicians are capable of doing the same with their own orders. I think you have an extremely skewed vision of what puts your nursing license at risk. If these were unattended PACU patients it's a different story. If SoP is leave at 5pm after alerting the provider and resident then you leave Even unlicensed MA's are qualified to be clinic closers in an outpatient settings
Would you ask for a signed letter stating that it is ok to leave? Or would you risk your license? How would you handle it?
No, I would not ask for a signed letter stating that it is ok to leave an outpatient alone with a doctor. I would ask the doctor if they needed me to stay, if not, I would say I was leaving.
We are leaving them in Exam rooms- what if the fall and bang their heads on a microscope?
Would you ask for a signed letter stating that it is ok to leave?
No, I personally wouldn't.
Or would you risk your license?
I don't see how that would happen if the patients are left with your coworkers (the physicians). I assume that it's "patient abandonment" that has you worried. I'm not a medical legal expert and can't offer legal advice, but common sense tells me that patients aren't being abandoned when the everyday routine is that at least one physician remains in the clinic and assumes responsibility for them.
OP, I honestly believe that you are overthinking this as well as "over-worrying". In my opinion the amount of anxiety you seem to be experiencing is out of proportion.
Why would I be doubtful? Remember at the interview the interview they said clinic hours I would have to stay over once in a while, then after I brought up the doctor staying late 3 days a week late (the manager was clueless about this) they (the non medical people) said I should leave when I was ready, this doesn't make sense!! If a patient does get injured will they throw me under the bus?
Ok, so it's not abandonment which is what I think you fear OP. Try thinking of it in terms of handing off care in an acute setting. When I (in my clinic) hand the provider a prepped chart and tell the computer system I've prepped the pt and handed them off, I've done my duty. I've given whatever "report" I need to to relinquish care. In an acute setting would you sit around and wait for the nurse you've relinquished to to do an initial assessment?
psu_213, BSN, RN
3,878 Posts
In no other clinics are patients left alone in exam rooms for some period of time? In all of those clinics, someone is with the pt. from the moment they walk in the doors to the moment they leave? Not trying to sound mean, just trying to show the realities of the situation. I don't know your background, but as someone else said, maybe you are having difficulty adjusting from the acute setting to the ambulatory setting. I know initially my instincts of what should happen based on acute care and Emergency nursing would be different from what is expected in the clinic setting.