RN with family crisis, placed on leave on account of patient abandonment

The DON then notified the RN’s colleagues that the RN was on administrative leave and can be terminated upon completion of the leave. The RN desires to know if he has any legal remedies.

What is patient abandonment in nursing?

The American Nurses Association’s (ANA) definition of patient abandonment is “the unilateral termination of an established nurse-patient relationship without giving reasonable notice to the appropriate person so that arrangements can be made for continued nursing care by others…”. It is apparent that this RN was quite distraught by a death in her family and that’s comprehensible. However, leaving my job immediately was not one of the best selection. The Supervisory Board didn’t provide information whether she informed any of her colleagues or supervisor about her departure. If she didn’t inform anyone about her departure, it could be a serious mistake.

While performing duties, the RN must notify the nursing administrator when she or he needs to depart the power in order that patient care and other nursing duties could be performed by one other nurse or health care provider. This is obligatory to avoid compromising patient safety.

Consequences of abandoning a patient

Known as patient handover communicationTransferring patient care and responsibility from one healthcare provider to a different through accurate and complete information sharing is a critical step if a nurse must leave their position. Leaving work without the sort of communication clearly puts patients susceptible to injury or death. If such a risk occurs, the RN, the health care facility, and other health care personnel – including other nurses – could also be named within the professional negligence or wrongful death suit. The RN also faces the very real possibility of skilled disciplinary motion by her state board of nursing. State nursing practice statutes and rules prohibit licensed nurses from engaging in unprofessional or unsafe conduct. Leaving work without notifying her of a patient transfer under the circumstances described by the RN violated her legal and ethical obligations.

Director of Nursing Conduct

There isn’t any dispute that the director of nursing had the authority to put the RN on administrative leave. Most likely, he also has the best to terminate the employment contract. However, sharing RN discipline with co-workers may constitute a violation RN privacy and confidentiality within the workplace. State laws vary regarding worker privacy and confidentiality, so it could be obligatory for the RN to hunt legal advice on this matter from a nurse or attorney who focuses his or her practice on employment law and represents employees.

Lessons learned from this case

This case clearly highlights that no licensed nurse should leave patients without follow-up nursing care. This is a requirement if you happen to work in an acute care facility or nursing home. This can also be a requirement if you happen to work in other healthcare settings. For example, if you happen to work in home health care, you may’t just skip home visits. Rather, appropriate notice ought to be given to the patient and family that home health care services will not be provided, but emergency services will proceed to be provided for an affordable time period (e.g., 30 days). This allows the patient and family time to acquire other home care services. APRN centers can be accused of patient abandonment. As with home care colleagues, it’s essential to inform the patient and family inside an affordable time period that your services will not be provided and proceed obligatory take care of a specified time period. If you’re an worker corresponding to an RN, it’s possible you’ll face employer motion against you, including dismissal. Other lessons from this case include:

• Once a nurse-patient relationship exists, it can’t be abruptly ended without ensuring the security and care of patients.
• Learn as much as you may about patient communication and incorporate it into your practice.
• Review your worker handbook, which can include instructions on who to notify if you should leave the workplace.
• If you use a more “independent” practice, you should definitely provide appropriate and reasonable notice when services are discontinued and permit a selected time for continuation of services in order that the patient can receive care elsewhere.
• Individuals in independent practice must document termination of care within the electronic health record and in a letter to the patient and/or family via certified mail with return receipt requested.
• Get to know difference between patient abandonment, which falls under the jurisdiction of the board of nursing, and other employment issues handled by the employer.

If your employer or patient is accused of patient abandonment, you need to seek legal advice from a nurse or lawyer as soon as possible.

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