40 weeks pregnant and working alone

[ShelbyaStar]

I'm a new nurse that started working at this facility in July. Census has been hanging around 40 and I work nights. Acuity is not super high, most of my time is spent giving PRN pain meds and dealing with behaviors, and on some other random tasks that are delegated to night shift.

I asked to not be scheduled past my due date, that maybe I would pick up shifts at that point but no longer wanted to be scheduled for them. Guess what, due date is today, and I am scheduled tonight and tomorrow night and who knows what after that. I told the scheduler that I am not comfortable with this and at least need to have someone specific I can call that can drop everything and come in quickly should I go into labor at work. I was told not to worry and I'd be texted the plan yesterday. Guess what, I wasn't.

I feel reasonably confident tonight isn't the night, but after this, not so much. I am hoping I will be pleasantly surprised with an extra nurse on staff tonight or a note saying to call so and so if needed but I'm not holding my breath. It doesn't help it's the weekend and harder than usual to find a replacement.

I guess my question is, worst case scenario I go into labor at work in the middle of the night with no other nurse on and cannot get anyone to come in to replace me. Would it be patient abandonment if I left under these circumstances? Am I and my license better off if I don't show up in the first place?

[emmy27]

Sorry about the PTO (though not shocked that such a shady company would try to stiff you on your earned benefits) but congratulations on your baby and getting out of that place!

[amoLucia]

I don't know how your separation will be classified by your employer. If they claim that YOU abandoned your job, you may have a fight ahead. You've only been there 6 months or so. Some places do not grant PTO until AFTER 1 year; altho you continue to earn it, you're just not able to use it until after that year benchmark (check your employee handbook if you have one).

It may be that you might still be eligible for your PTO. Try a phone call to your state Dept of Labor for some info.

Congrats on the new baby!

[emmy27]

A full year to use PTO? I've never heard of that- isn't it usually just till the probationary period is over?

How many people can go a full year without being sick, having a personal or family medical appointment, going on vacation, or being called off?

[amoLucia]

Sorry - let me explain. Sick time was usually granted as it was needed (if time was already EARNED). But at SOME places, the ability to take vaca time was AFTER one year (some places, not all, did allow it after 6 months).

I've worked places that were not too gracious or generous when the need for an employee to take emergency time off arose. It would be off WITHOUT pay. Anything other than personal sick time use usually required some advanced notice request time which may or may not be approved.

One was expected to use regular days off to schedule a doc appt (for self or fam) or car repair, etc.

The State of NJ Civil Service employee sector had 3 EMERGENCY days in their contract. They were intended for the emergent/STAT need type things. You could call in for that EMERGENCY day and no one could press you for info or give you a hard time. It was one of the NICEST benes of working Civil Service.