Pt Abandonment

[jwj4444]

I want to know if anyone can clarify for me, at the end of a 12 hr shift if the day nurse to take over patients does not show up for what ever reason is it considered abandonment if the night nurse leaves, if so is there some sort of constraint on the amount of time one can be kept after the shift. NC nursing laws, I dont really understand how that is used as leverage and even if it is allowed to be used please help.

[HepburnRN]

Yes I think it is, sorry as that seems to be.

[insenescence1]

Disclaimer; I am no expert on this issue.

I hold nursing licenses in about five states (and have let a couple more than that number expire). It appears that leaving without properly giving a report to a relief RN could be considered patient abandonment.

This, however, is not necessarily a loophole for the facility. Some facilities are in fact using this emotional element to extort more time out of their nurses, but legislators and nurses are biting back by making it illegal to force or mandate overtime. Hopefully ALL states will adopt such laws so we can say, "I won't be guilty of abandoning my patient, but YOU will be guilty of violating worker laws."

[maire]

I was placed in this position. I could not leave the building because there was no licensed nurse for me to give report to. I knew that I couldn't just walk out and didn't want to be accused of patient abandonment. However, I was unsafe to work because I could barely stand up. I put off the morning med pass as long as I could, then reluctantly started to pass meds, very slowly, until someone finally showed up. My two week notice was already in. I was tempted to not return.

[maire]

....double post

[peady2]

I was placed in this position. I could not leave the building because there was no licensed nurse for me to give report to. I knew that I couldn't just walk out and didn't want to be accused of patient abandonment. However, I was unsafe to work because I could barely stand up. I put off the morning med pass as long as I could, then reluctantly started to pass meds, very slowly, until someone finally showed up. My two week notice was already in. I was tempted to not return.

I guess if you are the supervisor, then it would be a problem when you literally have no one to give report to. As a staff nurse, there is always a super to give that report to.

In answer to the OP, it depends on your state. In NY, no it is not patient abanonment. The NYS Board specifically clarified this issue as such. However, you can be fired for refusal to follow orders.

Better to be fired than have your licence pulled for abandonment or some error that you make because you are just too tired.

[jwj4444]

Thanks much for the replies, I hate that it is used as leverage and really though if my hospital cant staff enough nurses or keep them on the general floors, Charge took 8 that morning and that still left 6 uncovered it was insanity anyhow best wishes more replies welcome they dont cover this well enough in school and the nc nurse board site doesnt realy clarify thanks again

[Diary]

I had someone abandon thier patients last week - she did not bother to give ANYONE report at all before leaving, just left the paper for the nurse that was coming at 9 PM, however, she was administering blood, and did not even ask anyone to cover her patients...

never ever seen that kind of behavior - I hope the hospital cuts her contract.

[copperrose]

Several years ago I was charge nurse and one of the nurses refused to take a transfer. Everyone else had and it was her turn. I can't remember how many pt's we had but it wasn't overwelming or I would have remembered. I called the house supervisor who came and talked to the nurse in the conference room. When they came out the supervisor looked at her running down the hall and said to me "Alittle childish aren't we." The nurse quit about a month later. (We had other problems with her too. In her mind she was a leading authority on just about everything) A couple of months after she quit, the nurse called the head nurse and wanted her job back. The head nurse said "Well M..., I'm sorry but we've filled your position" We hadn't but NO ONE on the floor wanted to work with her.

[PWhite]

If caught in that position, I would call the immediate Supervisor and give a "heads up".

If the response was that I had to stay on duty for more than 13 hrs, then we would have more to discuss.
It seems to me that the responsibility for the continuation of care and the safety and well being of the patients. should rest on the Supervisor.

If you have a Supervisor that can't deal with this situation, you need to leave the environment.
It's one thing to ask a Nurse who has worked an 8 or 10 hr shift to work longer. It's another situation entirely when you are asking a 12hr Nurse to continue.

[kitty29]

I want to know if anyone can clarify for me, at the end of a 12 hr shift if the day nurse to take over patients does not show up for what ever reason is it considered abandonment if the night nurse leaves, if so is there some sort of constraint on the amount of time one can be kept after the shift. NC nursing laws, I dont really understand how that is used as leverage and even if it is allowed to be used please help.

I our hospital you are allowed to work longer than 16 hours without 8 hours inbetween. As far as abandonment - we are a closed unit and have what we call mandator over-time. If such a situation occurs we use that...and you name and date are recorded should you be the one staying so there is a rotation...we have never had to use this tho.