Responsible for 132 clients and Working during breaks

[Nroh]

I have a question. Is there a cap or legal standard in Mississippi on how many clients RNs are responsible for working in an intermediate care facility for the intellectually disabled (11p-7a)? And is it legal for me to clock out for break, and still be responsible for the floor at such a facility? Does the facility, my title, or shift matter?

Asking bc there are 132 patients that I am responsible for, being that we are short a nurse on the 11-7 shift. There is another nurse (an LPN, we have the same duties) but when she's off I have to work by myself and when I'm off she has to work by herself. We were told that we still needed to clock out for break on the days that we work by ourselves but we would still be responsible for the floor if something happened. Is that ok? Has anyone dealt with this?

[Nroh]

Is this a privately owned facility?

Yes it's a private facility.

[Kratoswife]

Yes it's a private facility.

Only speak to your DON via email! Do not! I repeat do not speak to her about this verbally!

I smell a great lawsuit against this facility.

Please! I repeat don't speak to her about this again verbally!! If it isn't documented it wasn't done!

Good luck!

[LadysSolo]

I believe it could be a Federal violation also, unpaid wages would mean they have not been withholding and paying matching Social Security, and not withholding income tax and unemployment and Worker's Comp. At least that's what the restaurant got hit with (in adition to the wages, plus all the interest and penalties involved.)