Losing my license?

[mindy kaling, BSN, RN]

I am so upset over this and can't stop thinking about it.

Background: I am an LPN, currently doing my preceptorship in an RN program and set to graduate in June. I also worked (until yesterday) in a nursing home, doing nights on weekends. On my last weekend working there, the morning nurse called I , and during my shift I called everyone trying to get coverage without success. When my shift ended, the weekend nursing supervisor was there (covering a different hall in assisted living until 10 a.m - it's a campus with AL and SNF in the same building) and also another nurse on another hall came in. I am the only night nurse, so I gave them both report for their respective places and counted narcotics.

I then asked the supervisor if he could cover the other hall, and split residents with the other nurse until a manager (mandated to come in during a staffing shortage, came in) because I had called all the managers plus the don and notified them of the shortage(no-one answered so I left voicemails).

The supervisor asked me to stay, but I explained that I was extremely fatigued and didn't feel safe to care for and pass meds for morning shift. I was also worried about driving home half asleep, which is dangerous!!!

After refusing to stay and work day shift(this was one hour past my end of shift), the weekend supervisor counted with me, took the keys, and went over to tell the other nurse they had to split responsibility.

On Monday the DON called me to meet with her and terminated me for ABANDONING CARE! and said she was going to report this to the Wa state BON!

I thought I would be saving my license by leaving because I was extremely fatigued after a busy night shift (I take care of 100+ residents solo at night, even though most of them sleep...)

Am I in the wrong? And would I potentially lose my license?, I work so hard and feel so unappreciated, and now my life could be ruined [emoji20]

[kimwarren72]

Calm down sister. I am Director of Nursing in a skilled nursing facility in Florida and although the states are different and some laws may be most are still the same. If you counted the narcotics and gave report to a licensed nurse employed at the facility then there is nothing anyone can do to you. I'm not sure I would fight the termination because it does not sound like your DON has common sense but if you really want to remain employed there I would report the occurrence to the corporate office. What you immediately need to do is prepare a factual statement of the events and sign and date it. Do not rely on your memory later on if it comes to that. In your statement you need to state who you counted with and gave report to and the conversation that took place including the nurse's willingness to take the keys. Hope this helps and do not let a bad DON make you think your nursing career is over.

[nurse0618]

The one comment you already received is the right way to handle this. I understand first hand what unfortunately goes on in long term health care as I was in this field of nursing as a RN Supervisor. If report was accepted and keys and the narc count was done then you did not abandon. But also if you were mandated to stay and refused the possibility of losing your job there could happen, as far as your licence ......based on what you explained I would say no.

[mindy kaling, BSN, RN]

Thank you for the replies, I am not as worried about the termination, I was more worried about my license. I have documented everything, gave the DON a copy and kept mine. I also called the BON to ask about the issue and they said all I can do is wait and see if the BON decides to investigate. I appreciate your responses, I feel much better. And no the facility policy doesn't mandate employees, but managers are mandated to stay and work on the floor

[KCMnurse, BSN, MSN, RN]

Sounds like you are in good shape, you delegated all responsibility to the oncoming staff when you gave report and counted the Narcs.

DO NOT contact the BON again. Just because your DON threatened you with that does not mean that she will. Last thing you need is the BON breathing down your neck about a non-issue. Keep your cool stick to your guns and wait for the dust to settle. I seriously doubt your license is in jeopardy.

[mindy kaling, BSN, RN]

Thank you KCMnurse, I feel a lot better knowing my license won't be touched. I also just registered and paid for my nclex-RN, so it would totally suck to be denied ability to do it after all the sweat I put into school....I can breathe a little now. Thanks for your input

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

Your license is safe. There were other nurses in the building, you gave report and handed over the keys before you left. That is not abandonment. Shame on the DON for trying to scare you with that threat!