Mandating/Abandoning Clients in Ontario

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I am curious about what others think about what the CNO (College of Nurses of Ontario) says about abandoning clients. If I am working a shift and someone calls in for the next shift, do I have to stay if they cannot find coverage? I cut and pasted a link to CNO guidelines below, as well as an excerpt from the same information. When I read the article, I feel its a roundabout way of backing nurses into the corner and saying that they do have to stay if no replacement is found.

If no replacement is found and the nurse on duty simply cannot stay, I feel that the next person in line for replacement is the nursing manager. But that's my opinion in a perfect world :roflmao:

Abandoning clients

"However, refusing to work an extra shift or overtime is not the type of situation that was intended by the inclusion of "discontinuation of services" as a category of professional misconduct. As far as your professional responsibility is concerned, it is your personal decision whether to accept or decline extra work hours. Nurses are often asked to work overtime or subsequent shifts. This is a labour relations issue, therefore the College cannot comment on their right as employees to refuse these requests. It is necessary, however, that you notify your employer that you are unable to accept the additional shift, so that the employer has the opportunity to arrange for additional staffing. A different situation occurs if you are the only person caring for a client(s) and your replacement does not show up. It is a serious threat to client safety if you leave at the end of your shift and there is no one to provide care. Notify your manager of the situation and clearly state how long you are able to stay. Document the action you took to facilitate your manager's efforts to find a replacement."

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Nanny cam

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What do you mean by that?

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My understanding is that if you leave before your replacement shows up, or there is no one covering your patient, it is abandonment. It doesn't matter if it leads up to Ot. We are allowed to work up to 16hours, so they could require you to stay until that point. I've never had no one to cover me/ the charge nurse re arrange assignments 1hr post my shift

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Actually this is a serious topic. I learned this the hard way.

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Agreed. What happened in your situation? What's your opinion of mandating? At my facility, luckily there is an agency we use for coverage in the event of none of our own staff being available. I just can't imagine being told, yes you have to stay or you're fired and/or going to be reported to your governing body.

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It's really difficult to explain because no one would probably believe me as I have no proof or evidence.

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Well my dear, I am here to support you if you want to try and explain. Nurses have to stick up for each other when it is right.

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