Now is this abandonment?

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Aug 8, 2008

does a CNA have a legal right to leave if she is being yelled at in front of employees and the residents and being treated unfairly and the DON said in her last mandatory meeting not to call late at night and was asking to work on her night off?.......... Now is this abandonment?

It all depends on the state that you're in but in California, I do know of a person who walked off the floor and they considered that abandonment. I'm not sure if the facility went after the license or not.

But word of advise how to handle a situation like that. First off I just want to point out that we're all human and no matter what, we all deserve to be treated with respect at work.

When you come across a situation like that this is what you say:

"I'm a professional, and since you have an issue with me, lets handle it the way a professional would handle it. Lets go to a place in private where we can talk like adults"

At the end of the sentance, you're walking and that's cuing them to follow you. Not only does that make them look stupid, but it also shows you that you know how to handle a situation....By doing that you're not abandoning your patients....But let a CNA know who's near you, or another nurse where you're going to be if a patient needs you. :) Remember you don't have to take their crap....Handle it the professional way.

sonomala · Aug 8, 2008

it is never a good idea to walk out of any job. word gets around in ways one never thinks of. if it were me, i would find another job, give the required notice, work it out with a smile and then leave with your head high.

EmergencyMedicine · Sep 17, 2008

not sure if this is the correct answer for you but the legal answer for the ILLINOIS DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH is yes, if you leave your patients at a scheduled shift time or until equal or higher care arrives specificly to care for your patients, that is called patient abandonment and you will be tried for your job and liscensure

AprilRNhere · Sep 17, 2008

I didn't think CNA's could "abandon" pt's as they are the nursing assistants. They don't technicaly assume responsibility for the pt's do they?

EmergencyMedicine · Sep 17, 2008

I didn't think CNA's could "abandon" pt's as they are the nursing assistants. They don't technicaly assume responsibility for the pt's do they?

your thinking is close, but if you leave and your nurse doesnt know, you were that highest level of care and you left (abandoned) those patients. Per law of the IDPH.

Tippy-ta-ta · Sep 22, 2008

i once walked off a job at a LTC facility. I was not clocked in yet, so i don't think it was abandonment. I had a very unreasonable assignment ( I felt ) I was the only CNA for two halls that had 20 rooms with 2 pt's in a room, one hall was a lock down unit for those that were psych patients, and only 1 LPN and a student LPN. It was the 3-11 shift and I was too serve dinner, bath those who needed to be bathed, and get them in bed. Alone, of course the DON said that the LPN would help me, but we had 2 halls one of which was a locked unit. You had to key in the password for the door to even open. I tod her I wasn't going to do it, it was dangerous and unrealistic, she yelled at me called me a lazy B. and told me I was gonna do it, I said a few choice words to her and left. She threw up the abondement and I looked back at her and said I never clocked in.

I of course never listed them on my resume or job applications. IMO that assignment was very dangerous and unrealistic. And when the DON yelled at me and called me a B I wasn't going to stay and put up with that.