Abandonment if I don't pick up over time shifts??

[hollyspiller0253]

I am a full time nurse 3p-11p. Our 11-7 nurse is out on DBL. The charge nurse told me she will file Abandonment charges against my license If I don't pick up some of those extra shifts.

Here is the thing...it isn't Abandonment because they knew of those absences in a reasonable time frame to find appropriate coverage. We even have contract nurses available.

What can I do about all of this?

And she didn't even ask me to pick up the shift. She threatened me with mandation, and when I informed her she could not legally mandate me she immediately told me she would file abandonment charges against my licence.

I'm in NY.

HELP

[CosmoRN77]

Actually give me her direct number. Ill cuss this hog out myself!! LMAO!!!!

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

~PedsRN~ said:

I would almost be tempted to file something against her with the BON. Can you talk to management? She sounds like a real winner.

Seems she is almost creating a hostile work environment, and I'm sure the BON would be more interested in her perceived version of the nurse practice act......

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

What really gets me about this, Is that people are forced to apologize and attend BS anger management if they yell at someone or mildly lose their temper and no one got hurt. But supervisors pull crap like this and it's accepted. We haven't gotten any better with bullying, we've gotten worse.

[DeeAngel]

Start looking for another job, document absolutely everything and leave. You are working for a bullying, lying psychopath. You have to be at work to abandon patients, not just refusing to work an extra shift. That's just called not working an extra shift! Most of us refuse to work those extra shifts all the time.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

jrwest said:

but, seriously. What if no one shows up . who does she give her assignment to -the manager over the phone??? She cant just leave. How is that not abandonment?

If I understand the OP, that's not what has happened. Her manager has threatened to report her immediately for abandonment for refusing to pick up a future overtime shift, not for refusing to stay late when her relief hasn't shown up. That's absolute nonsense. The manager has advance notice of a maternity leave situation. She needs to staff those shifts with voluntary overtime, or use agency nurses. Or better yet, hire PRNs who can fill those gaps.

[klone, MSN, RN]

SmilingBluEyes said:

Simple. You can't "abandon" patients for whom you not have taken report and assumed care for.

That is the bottom line. That and she is so FOS that it's insane. Don't give in.

I'm only this far, so I don't know if this was addressed. But from what I gathered, these are patients whom the OP was taking care of during her shift, and the nurse who's out on leave comes on and takes over at 11p. They're wanting her to do a double shift (?). So yes, these are patients that she had assumed care for.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Horseshoe said:

If I understand the OP, that's not what has happened. Her manager has threatened to report her immediately for abandonment for refusing to pick up a future overtime shift, not for refusing to stay late when her relief hasn't shown up.

No, I think the OP's "relief" is the person who is out on leave, and they failed to get someone to cover her shifts, so they're wanting the OP (and others) to cover that second shift, essentially doing a double shift. Technically, that would be patient abandonment, but it's a pretty dick move to force the nurses to do that.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

jrwest said:

I think I see what COULD happen though. He/she works 3 11. No one is slated to cover 11-7. so , since no one shows up at 1100, there is no one to give report to. Then that would be abandonment.

Time for a new job.

And it looks as though that is what the faclity INTENDS to do. Although I wonder what would happen if, when the night nurse didn't show, she called the DON to come and relieve her.

[CosmoRN77]

I would get a lawyer if the last comment is true.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

CosmoRN77 said:

I would get a lawyer if the last comment is true.

How many of us can afford to just trot out and hire a lawyer?

[MinnieMargaret]

She is a bully and needs to be reported.

[CosmoRN77]

legal consultations are usually free and your a nurse you should be able to Pay for a lawyer. And if u can't then maybe you SHOULD pick up that extra shift