Quit Job and Now Accused of Abandonment

[FolksBtrippin]

I quit my job without notice. I had a very good reason to do that. I am a manager and not responsible for patient care. No one was abandoned. Everyone was safe. 

I sent an email about my resignation including my reasons and a higher up person (not a nurse) stated that my company would be filing a complaint with the board of nursing for patient abandonment because I did not give notice. 

I know it’s BS. But I want to hear from you if this has happened to you and how it played out. 

I already have a lawyer specializing in whistleblowers. Just need to hear from people who’ve been there and the moral support.

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

I was threatened with abandonment in 2005. I’d reported an issue (nothing was done about it). I kept walking into the same crap. Finally, I was fed up and told them that the next time they tried to send me to that unit, that’d be the day I quit. 
 

The supervisor called me at home to say that the shift I signed up for had canceled and I was being sent to that undesirable unit. I reminded her of the previous scenario and my own remedy for it. When she said I had no choice or I’d be levied with abandonment, my response was, “you do realize you’re calling me at home, right? I’ll see you when you get here because I’m not coming there”. Sixteen years and counting...guess she got lost.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

On 9/18/2021 at 4:12 AM, Been there,done that said:

Yes. Quitting without notice will bite you in the buttocks.

I honestly don’t care in this case. It had to be done. I worked there for 3 months and don’t need the reference. 

[vanurseny, MSN]

My first job was in med surg and I was struggling. I felt I wasn't ready to be on my own and I asked them for one more month. They said no and not to worry but I was terrified that I would mess up bigtime and it would affect my license. I gave notice before my shift that I was quitting and the nurse on the phone said she would report me for abandonment. I was a new nurse but I knew my state practice act and said I'm not even at the hospital to accept the patient so that doesn't count. I told her to read up on the practice act and hung up on her. In hindsight, it was not the right thing to do and I'm sure I messed up their schedule but looking back I knew I was not capable of med surg and never did it since. That was almost 15 years ago. Sometimes you need to quit without notice especially if its an at will state. 

[amoLucia]

21 hours ago, Davey Do said:

Employers will nearly always fight the claim. However, if good grounds are found in your reason for quitting, the case can be won.

 

Couple times I was initially denied 'unemployment'. DOL scheduled hearing dates but 2 times my 2 ex-employers never responded. So I did collect.

I made comment re PTO & COBRA. I have lost PTO, and that hurt $$$. Thereafter I always tried to make sure I never had any great outstanding PTO balances. Nobody ever fought my COBRA.

[feelix, RN]

I am sorry you will have to work around a bad reference. I am glad you saved your license. The very fact they are trying to BS you shows you made a good decision.

[cherylrenee]

On 9/14/2021 at 8:58 AM, FolksBtrippin said:

I'm trying not to out myself on here, so I'm going to be vague. But it was due to an unethical and dangerous practice, that I had complained about and had not been fixed. 

Good for you! You are very brave!

[CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN]

Respond to the email and attach a PDF of your state’s definition of patient abandonment. Then tell them to go ahead. 

[SmilingBluEyes]

Hell it's not abandonment. Go ahead and let them try.

[monkey205]

Many years ago I did walk off my job and quit.  I sent 56 pages of staffing lies, things that happened on the floor, pulling staff off floor during a code, I.e.  one nurse leaving to have a cigarette when her patient was actively coding, etc.   I won my unemployment claim and did not have any charges for abandonment filed against me.    You have to do what you have to do to save yourself as nobody else cares. 

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

On 9/18/2021 at 8:11 AM, vintagegal said:

Welcome to the era if you don’t do what I want I will punish you.

save every email. When I left my old DON position I printed every correspondence with the higher ups and I have it “just in case” in a file at home. These emails include multiple references to unsafe practice that was also ignored.

Don’t respond and don’t look back. They are trying to stress you out. Only ask HR when your last check will be mailed to you. At the most all they can do is let your future employer know that you are not eligible for rehire. It’s illegal for them to say anything else…

They can say whatever they wish.  I don't think it's illegal for an ex employer to badmouth a former employee as long as they speak truth.

I think many firms don't badmouth because they want to avoid legal challenges by former employees.

[Snatchedwig, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

The nerve

[BetterTomorrowThanToday]

It amazes me that a big, scary corporation will try strong-arm (wrong) tactics against a NURSE that is taking a stand against them. 
 

If your attorney is worth their weight in salt or Tic-Tacs or ? ? they should make blisteringly short work of that madness. And get you an agreed written letter of recommendation to boot. Just a thought (in case they try any back-handed monkey business, like that’s ever happened to anyone) so you can address with your counsel now if you haven’t. Last performance review is your guide. ?

Good Luck. Standing for what’s right will always matter. I believe advocacy is job 1.