New policies

Sour Lemon · Feb 15, 2018

I was recently handed a hand written check off sheet for a new policy. There isn't a signature or even a letter head. It was literally hand printed on loose leaf. Can I be made to follow such a policy??

Yes, but ... Did a delusional, homeless man hand you this "policy" as you were walking into your office? Did your boss? You haven't exactly provided an overload of detail. Does it require you to do something reasonable within your scope of practice, or poison endangered sea creatures?

brownbook · Feb 15, 2018

Assuming Sour Lemon's scenario didn't happen. Your boss, manager, charge nurse, sounds like an idiot.

You do not HAVE TO follow any policy whether signed or unsigned, typed or written. Management doesn't have to give a reason to fire you.

As Sour Lemon alluded to does the policy go against safe nursing practice, (poisoning endangered sea creatures), or mandate staff to work double shifts and always come to work when called in on their day off?

Davey Do · Feb 15, 2018

Yes, but ... Did a delusional, homeless man hand you this "policy" as you were walking into your office?

And: Do you work at WRMC (Wrongway Regional Medical Center)?

If you do, at least an administrator took the time to write it down instead of informing you by word of mouth or texting as they often do at WRMC.

I'm kidding about... well, actually, none of this.

Administrators at WRMC often do change policies through hearsay or other means of informal communication. When I am informed in such a way, I always ask, "Is it documented?" If not, then I am not responsible for following the newly established guidelines.

HOWEVER, in your case, Ronkrn, I agree that without a formal means of communication, the information is suspect.

To continue rambling on, I once had a supervisor reply to me "I got your note". As part of my reply to her, I corrected her by writing "by 'note' I take it you are referring to my formal letter of complaint".

I wasn't going to allow my formal documentation to be reduced to some palm-in-study-hall hand off!

Nosiree!

Oh and BTW: Welcome to AN.com, Ronkrn!

Ronkrn · Feb 16, 2018

Thank you. I guess my real question is does a handwritten note on loose leaf constitute "documented"? I've been at this less than a decade and remember being taught that all policies, especially new ones have a proper method of being introduced.

Anonymous865 · Feb 16, 2018

Where I have worked, there was a policy on policies. It spelled out the format that had to be used when creating a new policy, the approval process for the new policy, and how the policy had to be rolled out.

You could check if you have such a policy.

I doubt a handwritten paper would meet the policy requirements for new policies.