*PLEASE HELP* Is this considered patient abandonment in IL??

[JRN6311]

Hi everyone! I am new to this site, though I've read many many articles- I just signed up today, and unfortunately I find myself in a situation I could really use some input on.

I've tried to find this on my own but so far have not found concrete information for the state of IL.

SO here is my dilemma.....

I was scheduled to work a 7am-7pm shift and had woke up feeling ill. I had vomit twice, but it was too late to call off for work since our facility requires a 3.5 hour window. I didn't have a fever, and I thought it would be best to go to work and try to get through the day. I arrived at work to learn that my unit had been closed down, and that I was going to be working on a different floor. So I went up to that floor and mentioned to the charge RN that I wasn't feeling so well and what my intentions were - to just trudge through the day. Then before I was able to even finish getting report, I felt dizzy and also had a sudden urge to vomit so I left to go to the bathroom. I had not seen any patients yet. I called the house supervisor, because it was still very early in the shift, only 0735 or so, and told her that I wasn't well and asked if she had anyone that could replace me from float pool, or one of the many RN's that had been cancelled this day. She said she would call and see who she could get, but that if I was sick that I should go home. I let the charge RN know that I had gotten sick again, and that I needed to go home. So as far as chain of command regarding illness, I had done exactly what we are suppose to do.

At the time when I left, they did not yet have a replacement and the charge RN said that they would have to split up my group. I left thinking that though the other nurses would have a larger patient load, all my patients would be covered.

Then I received a phone call about 30 mins later from my manager stating that I am going to be investigated for patient abandonment and that I should contact our union rep.

I read on another post that in cases where the RN becomes ill, that cannot be considered abandonment but this was regarding NY law.

I've contacted my union rep, but it would be great to hear feedback, if anyone can help I'd GREATLY appreciate it!

[sapphire18]

If you have taken report and accepted the assignment, you cannot leave before reporting off to the accepting RN(s). Did you leave without giving anyone report?

[Sun0408, ASN, RN]

What did the union rep say?

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

You didn't finish getting report, had seen no patients, you did chain of command appropriately and the supervisor told you to go home being in full knowledge of the facts. As to the rest of it, this reminds me of the old George Burns joke. George goes in to see his doctor all bummed out. "What's the matter, George?" says the doc.

"It's my neighbor. He's 87 years old, and he says he gets a new girl in every week and makes whoopee with her. I'm so depressed about this. What should I do?"

"Well, George, you can say that too."

Moral of the story is that they can say they're going to threaten you with abandonment but it doesn't mean it's true. We can't give legal advice here, so call your malpractice carrier and tell them all about it. I would be willing to bet that a well-written letter from the lawyer on your behalf could work wonders.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I don't see how this patient abandonment, but employers are ridiculous anymore. They can threaten all they want, but your BON is the one who calls the shots.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Welcome to AN! The largest online nursing community!

I am sorry you are going through this. As per the TOS we cannot offer legal advice. What you need to do is NOT discuss this on the web in a public forum. Notify your malpractice carrier, speak only to your Union Rep, and possibly contact a lawyer.....ask your malpractice carrier for a reference for a lawyer.

Google patient abandonment state of IL.

Thread closed for staff review.