Suspension

[stasiastar]

Can a DON just suspend a Nurse if they came in 50 minutes before their shift, look at the assignment, the floor is very short staffed, with 2 nurses and 48 patients, 5 aides ,on call is called , no resolution to the situation , it's just basically, it is what it is, the nurse hadn't punch in and asked the oncall to consider this a call in and left back out of the building 10 minutes after entering.. but recieve a phone call later in the evening stating Suspension pending further investigation... what could possibly be being investigated?? Its not abandonment, it's 50 minutes before shift, he hadn't punched in...

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

In many cases "suspended pending investigation" is company speak for your behind is fired but we first have to go through the motions of following the disciplinary process. In this case it should result in your behind is fired. That is an awful way to behave. I am assuming with a ratio like you described that this is LTC and very few LTC facilities have the ability to pull staff from elsewhere when short. I've worked horrifically short staffed more times than anybody would care to, but at the end of the day the main reason we are there is to provide the best care we can in the circumstances we are presented with. Is it ideal? Of course not, but if this isn't a regular occurrence at this facility suck it up and do the best you can with what you have to work with.