Nursing relief

[Ashlita]

So there is a facility in Oklahoma. They have no nurses. My mom was still working weekends there. She finished a double shift because she was double weekends. The facility has no Don or adon. There was absolutely no relief. She can only legally work 18 hrs. The staffing was not answering the phone at all, all day. Also the administrator was not answering the phone all day. Who is there to call when there is absolutely no one to work the building with eighty patients in it? Also there was storms the night before and power was off for almost twelve hours with no back up generators and administration never answered the phone. No texts or calls. Who do you call in those emergent times? And what is a nurse to do if there is absolutely no one to come in? When can you leave without it going against your license? Is there an emergency number on weekends??

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Oklahoma Board of Nursing click on the first link -- Abandonment Statement

Unless my tired eyes deceive me, it is not abandonment to leave at the end of your scheduled shift, and that the employer is responsible to ensure the unit is staffed. I mean ethics and dedication aside, what is she supposed to do -- work until she collapses, and leave work in an ambulance ????

I just looked at the Oklahoma dept of health site and found a 24/7 phone # to report a public health emergency. I would hope that 80 vulnerable elders with no nurse would qualify as a public health emergency...not an ebola pandemic, but still.

A vulnerable adult report should be made for each and every resident...(yes I know, not reasonable for someone after working 18 freaking hours!!) But at the very least, their butts need to be reported to the state. And since I'm so incensed for your mom, I think a call to the local news is in order.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

And how do those creeps in admin know she DIDN'T leave in ambulances, if they aren't answering their phones????

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Seriously- I would have called 911.