No nurse to relieve nurses

[Platypus]

I am currently on light duty (work related injury) and am a shift supervisor. I have been working primarily on the desk, assisting staff where I can.  Recently, we have been given the schedule book and call off phone and I track when people call off and try to fill the openings (previously this was held by an on-call nurse. admin.) One night, we had 4 admissions. I had one CNA leave early due to family issue another CNA called out and an RN called out. This is STR and LTC, there must be an RN in the building at all times.  I started calling staff about the open shift. I was able to get the CNA openings filled, but no luck on RN. I called the staffing agency and let the DON know she needs an RN for overnight.  She asked me for CNA numbers, tells me to strike off a CNA for the next day. no response to the nurse issue. I called her..no answer.

As the end of the shift approached, I called her again. I called the unit managers who also did not answer the phone.  I called the administrator, who also did not answer the phone. The two agency nurses (LPNs) for the other units needed to get sign ins for the building. These had not been taken care of, so I spent over an hour dealing with that. 

The two nurses who were left without a replacement were very upset. One did finally say they would stay if taken off the sched. for the next day. I stayed until 4 am to help get as much of the 4 admits completed as I could.

I am very angry with the admin, particularly with the DON whose license is on the building. It is her responsibility to the patients to ensure staffing is in place. In the past, they have actually come in themselves or arranged to have a unit manager come in. I felt abandoned and just amazed at the lack of accountability.

Would the nurses that were here at the end of the shift been in their rights to just hand me the keys and leave? I cannot physically be on the cart at this time.  I did end up calling the corporate complaint line because of the ridiculous amount of time I spend trying to get sign in and passwords for agency staff and that nobody was responding to my calls. What if there was a fire, building collapse or active shooter incident?