nursing facility emergency protocol possible patient abandonment ?

[amber_nicolee22]

So im currently working at a after care facility for patients who have just undergone voluntary medical procedures.the ratio of nurses to patient is 1 nurse to 3 patients.during the night shift the facility is locked up and if there is 3 patients or less there is only one nurse in the entire facility (no administrative or receptionist either).the rooms do not have a code button or anything to call 911 so in an event of an emergency i would have to leave my patient and get the phone to dial "911" and run downstairs to unlock the doors of the facility for the paramedics..now does this fall under patient abandonment? and i am almost 100% sure that my license would be in jeopardy if something were to happen with my patient. does anyone know of any regulations and or laws that this would fall under? so i can address this to my NM and owner? and shouldnt there be someone there with the nurse regardless of the amount of patients on the floor in case of an emergency the nurse can stay with the patient while the other calls 911 and opens the doors?

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Bring your cell phone to work with you, and think about people, including patients that you could call to that would be ambulatory and able to open the door. If you cannot leave the patient instruct the operator to get fire to break a window since you are performing CPR. Let them eat the cost.

Email your boss about your concerns. Perhaps someone from housekeeping (or someone else) would prefer to do their shifts when there isn't as much traffic around, and could be your second pair of hands. Save the email so if you are ever in the situation you can prove he/she was aware of the issue.