Would You do the same thing I did?

[vnsam]

would you do the same thing i did? was it really a crime and ground for termination? or i am missing something?

i am a lvn here in san diego working in a small hospital which am employed for more than five years now.

i've been lvn for more than a decade now and was never in trouble but only now. this really hurts me.

i work 12 hrs a day and mainly taking graveyard shift. i just got terminated today for job abandonment when i left work early due to family emergency which i think was the right thing for me to do as a father.

my wife on the other hand (also working that night) called me on my cellphone at 0400, telling me that our son called her and telling her that his sister has a temperature of 104.2f:nono: orally with severe headache and with occational nausea and vomitting. my wife also told me that she took the liberty of calling our supervisor that night at 0330 and was told that i can not leave until 0600 and was surprised to know that for 30 min past, the supervisor did'nt even bother telling me about it. my wife don't know how to drive and gets to work only by carpooling with co workers and she has no means of getting home without a car. my kids 3 kids (17, 15 and 14 years old) are hopeless at this time and so, i told my charge nurse in icu about this and hearing without reply i took that as a "no problem" with them. i did my 0400 duties and when i was done at 0445 (with no word yet from the supervisor) i went straight to her office and told her that i am done helping my charge nurses and i have to leave.

to my surprise instead of relieving my post she replied "well sam, you can not leave until six o'clock and i am busy with staffing". :trout: i was begging and told her that i really have to go since my wife is at work and don't drive but to no avail. by then, it was already 0449 when i clocked out and that was all. i left my work in a hurry knowing they would understand. but i guess i was wrong.. maybe, if it was someone else with the same problem; they could be sent home right away without problem.. it just so happened that it was me...

[smk1, LPN]

Tazzi, I think you & I are the only ones who feel this way. *sigh*

So educate us then. (not being disingenous, I reallywant to know!). A teenager with a severe headache and a fever of 104.2 and nausea/vomiting with what sounds like a sudden onset (it was around 3 am) seems like a decent call. Nursing texts say this, online medical websites say this and I can remember my physician saying this at one time or another. So why do you think this isn't a reason to show up in the ER?

[ERRNTraveler, RN]

So educate us then. (not being disingenous, I reallywant to know!). A teenager with a severe headache and a fever of 104.2 and nausea/vomiting with what sounds like a sudden onset (it was around 3 am) seems like a decent call. Nursing texts say this, online medical websites say this and I can remember my physician saying this at one time or another. So why do you think this isn't a reason to show up in the ER?

These symptoms warrant a dose of Tylenol or Motrin, and a trip to the Pediatrician's office when they open. Things that are LIFE OR LIMB THREATENING warrant an ambulance call (chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, trauma, stroke symptoms, etc...). Sure, if you call your pediatrician in the middle of the night, 99% of the time, they will tell you to go to the ER. Why? LIABILITY! They are covering their a**.

Now, this is just a wild guess, since I haven't seen this child, but, I'm guessing..... sinus infection?

[vnsam]

I agree with the others that it would be considered abandonment. But as a mother, if my child had a fever that high, I would be on the way out the door to, with or without their approval. Sometimes you have to make judgement calls about what is the most important and it will cost you something else. I think you made the right decision. Sorry that it cost you your job. Good luck with whatever you do next.

OH! I almost forgot: How is your daughter doing?

Leslie

She was diagnosed with dehydration, stomach flu and with fatigue eyes (needing to wear her eye glasses which we thought she is using when reading).

She was given iv for dehydration and few other instructions before sending home...She missed 2 days off school but she is fine now..

thanks

[NurseCard, ADN]

Just my two cents... in the psychiatric facility that I used to work, LVN's/LPN's were mainly support staff to the RN's and therefore could leave with permission without giving a report... well, as long as they gave some report to the RN in regards to which patients had which PRN's, which patients were due to have accu-checks, etc..

So, to me it really depends on the facility, as to whether or not it''s considered abandonment. If an LPN on the floor that I work now left without giving report... most definately abandonment, because they take a whole patient load.

[vnsam]

Sometimes, people act emotional and dramatic when it comes to the safety and health of their children. As a mother, I can absolutely relate.

One question, do LVN's in ICU take their own patients?

How is your daughter doing?

No I don't. I'm there to help 2 RN with 3 pt each now that I am not a RN. Basically, I am there for staffing issues only. I only take vital signs do the I&O's and giving PO medications if needed.

[lilcajunnurse]

So sorry we are forced to decide between our job and our family. I have been a single parent of 3 for several years now and I have always worked nights. I have taught my children simple first aid and CPR. I also have people lined up in case of an emergency at night.

This is one career that makes us choose between job and family. We work through birthdays, holidays, sickness and family get togethers. We work weekends, nights, hurricanes(here in Louisiana) and in emergencies.

But if we leave is it Abandonment--YES, IT IS!!! sorry to say but it is. We knew this going into this field of work. Sick people don't get well at our convience.

[CyndieRN2007]

She was diagnosed with dehydration, stomach flu and with fatigue eyes (needing to wear her eye glasses which we thought she is using when reading).

She was given iv for dehydration and few other instructions before sending home...She missed 2 days off school but she is fine now..

thanks

Thank goodness she is ok.

[Agnus]

There is a very big difference between job abandonment and pt abandonment.

I found myself in a position like this in Nevada.

I returned to work on my next scheduled day to find that I did not have a job. I filed unemployment. Of course they challenged it, claiming patient abandonment. The Unemployment does not look at pt. abandonment only job abandonment. Unemployment ruled in my favor. They challenged it again. We had a hearing. It was determined that there was no job abandonment.

THe LTC only went to the BON ONLY AFTER they lost the first challenge to my right to collect unemployment. Their to unemployment fees go up every time someone successfully collects it.

I receive notice of the complaint from the BON. I wrote a letter to the BON. They closed the case without a hearing or questioning me. They closed it because there was not Prima facia evidence. Meaning that at first glance I did not break any laws. They were unable to produce any further evidence against me that even suggested I might have been breaking a law.

I know every individual case is different. My point is things are not always cut and dry even with the BON. NEVER ever try to second guess them. Most people would have taken my case as pt. abandonment on the surface. The BON did not even have a hearing the evidence was so useless.

By the way job abandonment is not a crime in any US state.

[Agnus]

No I don't. I'm there to help 2 RN with 3 pt each now that I am not a RN. Basically, I am there for staffing issues only. I only take vital signs do the I&O's and giving PO medications if needed.

Interesting you say you did not have your own pt. assignment. I did not have a patient assignment the night this happened to me. You might be ok.

Not only did I not have any patients assigned to me. I also noted that on most nights our staffing was not as good as it was that night. I said all this in my letter to the BON. I don't know how they viewed this but it probably played a part in their decision.

[RN1121]

Come Hell or high water, my family comes FIRST....

There is NO job in the world that would ever come before my family.

If my children are sick and need me, I'll be there. No matter what.

Each situation is different.

If you felt the situation warranted you leaving to be with your children, you did the right thing.

I admire your dedication to your family.

[CyndieRN2007]

Come Hell or high water, my family comes FIRST....

There is NO job in the world that would ever come before my family.

If my children are sick and need me, I'll be there. No matter what.

Each situation is different.

If you felt the situation warranted you leaving to be with your children, you did the right thing.

I admire your dedication to your family.

:yeahthat:

[caliotter3]

Unfortunately, come hell or high water, family first. A parent who puts their family first makes arrangements for their well being while they are away at work. And nothing changes the fact that the OP had not done this. He can expect to be asked about his family care arrangements when interviewed for new jobs. And some employers will not look favorably upon someone who walks off the job, for any reason. They will call the former employer, if the prospective job process even gets that far. Glad to hear that the family member is recovered with no complications.

Added thought: There have been several posts recently about employers who report ex-employees to the board even for bogus matters in retaliation. Still hope that this employer does not do this. Even while a "bogus" report to the board is playing itself out, the info is there for potential employers to see. CA posts when allegations have been made, not just at the final outcome.