Patient Abandonment

[jung park]

Not the most proudest moment in my life. To be frank, I feel shameful. But here is my story and I would like some advice. At my Per Diem job, I been dealing with work side bullying. Honestly, the only reason I kept going was because my director was very supportive of me and was like a work mom. So today, I couldn't handle it anymore when the charge nurse was yelling at me and was cursing(in her native language) at me, and I walked out of the unit. Now the charge nurse knows I was leaving cause she told me to "leave I'm not afraid of you". Which I am still confused about because I only showed respect and was never threatening... So my question is: Is this patient abandonment? If so and reported to the board of nursing, what is the consequence of it? I appreciate in advance for your inputs. Thank you.

[jung park]

It is possible it isn't bullying but I do know the administrators like me(I hate how it's making me sound like a teacher's pet...) and some of the staff there definitely had it out for me. I would simply say good morning and I get a look, you would give to a rat... I mean past is the past I don't really have grudge and it definitely was a good learning experience(my shortcomings). I just have 0 idea on the BON processes my anxiety is killing me >.<.

my name here is not my real name.

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

20 hours ago, jung park said:

I do have NSO policy. Is it once you receive your summon(if I do), I contact taana?

I have NSO and to be honest my policy does not protect me against "Willful acts of negligence or malfeasance." You may not be covered in this instance but it's worth a call. 

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

There is patient abandonment and job abandonment .You felt threatened,you left,who did you report to?Did you notify supervisor.The bully claiming she is not afraid is the typical twist bullies put on when they realized they messed up.Hold your ground and cool.Bring her up on charges also,she will lie of course,but your "work mom" was aware of the bullying and allowed it to continue.(You are an adult and should not be having any type of work mom relationship as an adult and professional, but that is another story.).Write it all down and then it is wait and see.Hospitals love to threaten nurses with "abandonment",but do nothing to protect staff from a bully.-it is the elephant in the room.Best of luck.

[vintagegal, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

That’s when you say, “im feeling very ill I need to go home right away”. They have to let you leave if you feel sick, due to covid concerns.

[summertx]

On 12/25/2021 at 8:51 PM, jung park said:

Not the most proudest moment in my life. To be frank, I feel shameful. But here is my story and I would like some advice. At my Per Diem job, I been dealing with work side bullying. Honestly, the only reason I kept going was because my director was very supportive of me and was like a work mom. So today, I couldn't handle it anymore when the charge nurse was yelling at me and was cursing(in her native language) at me, and I walked out of the unit. Now the charge nurse knows I was leaving cause she told me to "leave I'm not afraid of you". Which I am still confused about because I only showed respect and was never threatening... So my question is: Is this patient abandonment? If so and reported to the board of nursing, what is the consequence of it? I appreciate in advance for your inputs. Thank you.

One rule is to never let a bad apple, there are plenty of those, ruin your license. This person made it terrible for you, the board of nursing won't look at that, they will look at whether the patient was safe or not.  It's too bad that they don't take a better look at nurses such as what you mentioned or toxic environments. Those words though, that she said, you need to write  a statement and give to your administrator. That is reportable to the BON for unprofessional conduct. 

[Msmedic68w, MSN, RN]

I don't think so, she told you to leave and you did. I won't be threatened or harassed and neither should you, she can't yell and curse at you. You felt unsafe and she told you to beat it, that's on her. Deuces ✌️

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

20 hours ago, vintagegal said:

That’s when you say, “im feeling very ill I need to go home right away”. They have to let you leave if you feel sick, due to covid concerns.

Even if you are feeling ill you can’t leave without going report and handing your patients over to another nurse unless of course you are being wheeled out on a guerny

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

Well that's a sticky situation you find yourself in, isn't it?  I hate to confirm it but  leaving one hour into a shift without properly handing off patient care to another nurse is at best job abandonment and at the very least grounds for termination with cause which would of course make you ineligible for unemployment in most states.   

Depending on the particulars' of the situation and your states regulations it very likely could also be considered patient abandonment with possible repercussions from your BON if it actually was reported.  Since the DON made a point of telling you it is reportable when you spoke to her I would go with the assumption that it was reported to the BON. You should have legal counsel in place and be prepared for when the day comes that the BON responds to the complaint.

In my opinion you could have a good argument that your charge told you to leave and that by complying your patients were transferred to her . As long as another nurse was present and took over care for your patients it might not be considered patient abandonment. But then depending on your particular state's regulatory language regarding abandonment and the whim's of the BON on any given day leaving like that could have some reasonably severe penalties.  I am not an attorney but again I do suggest you have one on retainer and ready to reply to any board complaints that might be heading your way.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Appears that you left in the heat of an argument. Unless you gave report, it is abandonment. I would notify my malpractice carrier and lawyer up.

 

[PMFB-RN, RN]

On 12/25/2021 at 8:51 PM, jung park said:

. To be frank, I feel shameful. But here is my story and I would like some advice. At my Per Diem job, I been dealing with work side bullying. Honestly, the only reason I kept going was because my director was very supportive of me and was like a work mom. So today, I couldn't handle it anymore when the charge nurse was yelling at me and was cursing(in her native language) at me, and I walked out of the unit. Now the charge nurse knows I was leaving cause she told me to "leave I'm not afraid of you". Which I am still confused about because I only showed respect and was never threatening... So my question is: Is this patient abandonment? If so and reported to the board of nursing, what is the consequence of it? I appreciate in advance for your inputs. Thank you.

Once you have accepted care of a patient by taking report on them you are responsible until relived by another appropriate health care professional and have given them report.

    If you haven't handed off care to another appropriate health care professional and given them report and leave your patient then yes you have abandoned your patients. 

   I assuming from your post that you didn't leave just to take a break. Taking a break is not abandonment.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

If you were instructed by the charge to leave, and you left, I don’t believe that is patient abandonment.

I agree that bullying needs to be reported.

Relax about the BON. It’s doubtful they will pursue this, but if they do, deal with it when it happens.