I walked out during my orientation. I was placed with a nurse on a med cart. I came in while she was passing meds. My orientation started an hour after the shift began. She had the keys and I did not do a change of shift report. She was logged into the system and I was not. I gave a few medications and took some vitals. I told both the orientating nurse and ADON that I am not interested in working there and walked out. Can I be charged with patient abandonment?
OP has zero obligation to remain in orientation for a job that they've decided is a bad fit.
My opinion is based on the fact the OP acted on the responsibilities of their job. They administered medication. The OP ACCEPTED that task/responsibilities of their job by performing that job. . We, of course, will never know what strong objection that pushed the OP to quit. Despite not getting report, not having key handed over, the OP did a 180 degree and did a 'drama' exit, Me thinks they were asked to do something they did not know how to do and were embarrassed to ask for help.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
londonflo said:
My opinion is based on the fact the OP acted on the responsibilities of their job. They administered medication. The OP ACCEPTED that task/responsibilities of their job by performing that job. . We, of course, will never know what strong objection that pushed the OP to quit. Despite not getting report, not having key handed over, the OP did a 180 degree and did a 'drama' exit, Me thinks they were asked to do something they did not know how to do and were embarrassed to ask for help.
That's your opinion. The OP started orientation, that's not the same as accepting responsibility for the care of patients.
That's your opinion. The OP started orientation, that's not the same as accepting responsibility for the care of patients.
toomuchbaloney said:
The OP ACCEPTED that task/responsibilities of their job by performing that job.
Did anyone force their hand in giving the medication to the patients? They acted of their own free will.
toomuchbaloney said:
That's your opinion. The OP started orientation, that's not the same as accepting responsibility for the care of patients.
That IS my opinion. When someone kills someone with a knife, we don't say it is not the same as accepting responsibility for the knife. Actions ARE actions.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
londonflo said:
Did anyone force their hand in giving the medication to the patients? They acted of their own free will.
That IS my opinion. When someone kills someone with a knife, we don't say it is not the same as accepting responsibility for the knife. Actions ARE actions.
The OP was on the first day orientation. In your opinion that means that they accepted responsibility for a patient assignment. Your understanding of what is expected in the first day of orientation seems to be in conflict with what the OP described or what is common or typical in orientation.
The OP didn't kill anyone. They abruptly terminated their employment in the first hours of the orientation to the job.
The OP was on the first day orientation. In your opinion that means that they accepted responsibility for a patient assignment.
Yes.
toomuchbaloney said:
Your understanding of what is expected in the first day of orientation seems to be in conflict with what the OP described
Yes,
toomuchbaloney said:
seems to be in conflict with what the OP described or what is common or typical in orientation.
The OP never described what was expected, common or typical in the job--only that they did not get report, keys but still began to function with a medication role.
toomuchbaloney said:
The OP didn't kill anyone
Is that now the current measurement for competent work by nurses?
toomuchbaloney said:
They abruptly terminated their employment in the first hours of the orientation to the job.
With drama, drama, drama.
I have had my say. I have no respect for the actions of this nurse. The ADON was available...the OP said they talked to them just to quit.No professional problem solving, nothing except drama.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
londonflo said:
Yes.
Yes,
The OP never described what was expected, common or typical in the job--only that they did not get report, keys but still began to function with a medication role.
Is that now the current measurement for competent work by nurses?
With drama, drama, drama.
I have had my say. I have no respect for the actions of this nurse. The ADON was available...the OP said they talked to them just to quit.No professional problem solving, nothing except drama.
Your feelings about the nurse who wrote this are yours and those feelings influence your opinion about the way they quit.
The OP began orientation, which is decidedly different from assuming responsibility for a patient assignment.
Why did you mention killing someone with a knife as a reference or example if it's not relevant?
Me thinks they were asked to do something they did not know how to do and were embarrassed to ask for help.
There's nothing in the OP to indicate that was the reason for quitting.
And as far as accepting responsibility, he was an orientee. While having some shared responsibility due to his license is true, the ultimate responsibility was with the preceptor. It was the preceptors assignment not his. In spite of leaving abruptly, the patients still had a nurse assigned to them with full responsibility.
No employer wants to keep paying someone or continue putting any resources into someone who has decided to leave
I would not a personally make a rash decision like that. But speaking legally he did nothing to jeopardize his license.
And no reason to include the job in a resume, there is no gap in employment to raise any red flags because it couldn't have been more than a few days.
Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
I'll point out that continuing to orient at a company you intend to leave helps literally no one. Orientation is an investment that neither party should continue if the employee doesn't want the job.
Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
londonflo said:
My opinion is based on the fact the OP acted on the responsibilities of their job. They administered medication. The OP ACCEPTED that task/responsibilities of their job by performing that job. . We, of course, will never know what strong objection that pushed the OP to quit. Despite not getting report, not having key handed over, the OP did a 180 degree and did a 'drama' exit, Me thinks they were asked to do something they did not know how to do and were embarrassed to ask for help.
I've never orietated to a position and been on numbers from day one. Usually its been four-five days orientation.
My orientation among other things involved learning the EMAR, giving meds, getting to know the patients, staff etc. Had I been asked to do something I felt was unsafe I would also be out of there.
The OP accepted to orientate nothing more
chare said:
Interesting. In my experience, every application I've submitted as for all employment history, most commonly the previous 10 years. Perhaps these are regional practices.
I did it prior to nursing but during nursing school when we were encouraged to write our CVs we were told that potential employers have no interest in reading more than 2-3 pages and really don't care about our childhood paper run
I did it prior to nursing but during nursing school when we were encouraged to write our CVs we were told that potential employers have no interest in reading more than 2-3 pages and really don't care about our childhood paper run
I agree, for a resume. However, my post referenced the job application. And, as I wrote in my quoted post, in my experience every nursing position I've applied for has required a detailed, complete work history for a specified period, usually 10 years.
Job abandonment, yes. Patient abandonment, no. You did not leave the patients without a nurse taking over their care, they already had an assigned nurse and you were orienting with that nurse. So if the management tries to threaten you with the overused "we'll report you for patient abandonment" they don't have a case for that.
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londonflo
3,002 Posts
My opinion is based on the fact the OP acted on the responsibilities of their job. They administered medication. The OP ACCEPTED that task/responsibilities of their job by performing that job. . We, of course, will never know what strong objection that pushed the OP to quit. Despite not getting report, not having key handed over, the OP did a 180 degree and did a 'drama' exit, Me thinks they were asked to do something they did not know how to do and were embarrassed to ask for help.