Question:
Dear Donna,
I work with an RN who does home IV therapy. She is blind in one eye and can no longer drive. Another RN was assigned to her to be trained and to drive this nurse around for more than two months — driving is part of the job. The manager had two weeks notice that I was taking the last two Fridays off, but refused to pay overtime for the RN in training, saying she cannot cover one day. The only patients to be seen will be new consults and admitted on Monday. Am I being insubordinate and abandoning my patients? Can I be fired?
Home Care Nurse
Dear Donna,
I work with an RN who does home IV therapy. She is blind in one eye and can no longer drive. Another RN was assigned to her to be trained and to drive this nurse around for more than two months — driving is part of the job. The manager had two weeks notice that I was taking the last two Fridays off, but refused to pay overtime for the RN in training, saying she cannot cover one day. The only patients to be seen will be new consults and admitted on Monday. Am I being insubordinate and abandoning my patients? Can I be fired?
Home Care Nurse
Dear Donna replies:
Dear Home Care Nurse,
It is challenging to evaluate or comment on this complex situation without knowing all the details. If you believe you have been treated unfairly, you can always challenge any actions by your employer by following the employee grievance procedure (check your employee handbook or with human resources). Also, you can consult a nurse attorney to see what your rights are and for support with any further action that might be needed. Find a nurse attorney through The American Association of Nurse Attorneys (www.taana.org), through referral from your state chapter of the American Nurses Association (www.nursingworld.org) — whether or not you are a member — or by asking around.
Best wishes,
Donna
Dear Home Care Nurse,
It is challenging to evaluate or comment on this complex situation without knowing all the details. If you believe you have been treated unfairly, you can always challenge any actions by your employer by following the employee grievance procedure (check your employee handbook or with human resources). Also, you can consult a nurse attorney to see what your rights are and for support with any further action that might be needed. Find a nurse attorney through The American Association of Nurse Attorneys (www.taana.org), through referral from your state chapter of the American Nurses Association (www.nursingworld.org) — whether or not you are a member — or by asking around.
Best wishes,
Donna
Donna Cardillo, RN, MA, well-known career guru, is Nursing Spectrum/NurseWeek’s “Dear Donna” and author of “Your First Year as a Nurse: Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional” and “The ULTIMATE Career Guide for Nurses: Practical Advice for Thriving at Every Stage of Your Career.” Information about the books is available at www.Nurse.com/CE/7010 and www.Nurse.com/CE/7250, respectively. To ask Donna your question, go to www.Nurse.com/Asktheexperts/Deardonna. Find a “Dear Donna” seminar near you: Call 800-866-0919 or visit http://Events.nursingspectrum.com/Seminar.
