Worried about role discrepancies

World Canada

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So here's the background information... I have spent the last year and a half working as a ucp at a retirement facility. I love my job and my residents and I'll be sad to move on. This is a position I took during nursing school to gain some experience as I've been a server all my working life. I have since completed my bscn, passed my NCLEX and began my job search as an RN (all while working at this private facility). I've had reservations about continuing my employment at this facility since my registration and it just seems to be getting worse. I'm asked to complete tasks normally allocated to our "wellness manager" who is a registered practical nurse and just have her sign off on them, things like assessments and admission planning. Our facility has also started taking on patients that we are not equipped to deal with. For example palliative care or post ops under a "rest and restore" program. Most of the girls working in my position don't even have a personal support worker certificate and we have had several issues surrounding education and teaching, post op precautions, pain management and those types of things. I am at an impasse with management who don't want to see me go and assure me that I am not responsible for any adverse outcomes but I thought as a registered nurse I am responsible even if I'm working under a different designation. Prime example is a new palliative care resident who is on a lot of narcotics and the doctors orders state to hold narcs is resos are under 12 per minute. Makes sense, I understand the rationale but as a UCP at this private facility this is considered an assessment and ucp's are not able to complete this task. Am I liable by holding an RN designation if things go south even if I'm working in a different capacity? I would hate to leave my job without having an RN position lined up and I would doubly hate leaving my residents to undertrained staff, but I also don't want to jeapordize my future by staying.

Thanks if you made it this far (I'm likely rambling) and double thanks if you have any advice. I feel torn between moral obligation and self preservation and it's a tough spot to be in!

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

You will always be held to your highest licensure. You can work as a UCP but you are working under your RN license.

I would be looking for another job & fast. It seems like they want to keep paying you UCP wages even after you have become an RN but make you do the work (of a nurse).

If something were to happen to a resident & you were working with the resident, they could go after your RN license. Not good!

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Specializes in Public Health.
as a registered nurse I am responsible even if I'm working under a different designation.

Bingo! The CNO has a document about this as well, you can find it on the website!

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Thanks for the responses! I was pretty sure that's the way it was but my manager keeps insisting that nothing can or will happen because I am working under her delegation (she's an RPN) as a ucp so it would be her registration in jeopardy, not mine. I have been applying for other positions and have done one interview so far. I looked up the cno document and think I may print a copy and take it in with my letter of resignation.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Thanks for the responses! I was pretty sure that's the way it was but my manager keeps insisting that nothing can or will happen because I am working under her delegation (she's an RPN) as a ucp so it would be her registration in jeopardy, not mine. I have been applying for other positions and have done one interview so far. I looked up the cno document and think I may print a copy and take it in with my letter of resignation.

Your manager is lying to you. Just because you are working under her delegation doesn't mean you're working under her license. You are working under your own. So if you report something to your manager about a resident & nothing is done, the BON would expect you to have acted as an RN & done something about it.

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Specializes in Oncology, critical care.

No matter WHO you are working under, as a nurse registered with the regulating body of your province, you are 100% responsible for providing safe, ethical and competent care. If you see things -- even if they are not your direct responsibility -- that put patients at risk and do nothing, you are also responsible. There is no passing the buck in nursing. Everyone is responsible -- which is a good thing! Obviously you can't overhaul your organization on your own but please, please, please protect yourself and look elsewhere. Do not feel bad about leaving. I honestly can't think of a single person who stayed at one facility their entire career, people move on all the time (or at least change units).

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Specializes in geriatrics.

As others have said, you are held to your license. Get out of that facility as fast as you can.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Management can say what they want but when things happen .......... Guess where you will be and it will not be after them more like before them.

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Thanks everyone.... I was called today and given grief about not agreeing to give enoxaparin injections to a resident because I said it was not within my scope as per my employment at that facility. After a lot of guilt tripping since I'm "technically an RN" I went and handed in my resignation. I just hope a job offer comes in quickly as I can't afford to be without employment

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