|
BORN policy statement on patient abandonment
Standard of Conduct Policy 01-01
Title: Determination of Compliance with the
Standard of Conduct at 244 CMR 9.03(15) Prohibiting Patient Abandonment
Purpose: The Board of Registration
in Nursing adopts this policy to establish criteria for the evaluation
of compliance with its regulation at 244 CMR 9.03(15) prohibiting
patient abandonment by a licensed nurse.
Dates Adopted/ Revised: July 12, 2000; September
13, 2000 (revised)
Policy: When the Board evaluates a complaint
of patient abandonment, it will determine whether patient abandonment
has occurred based on information demonstrating that the licensed
nurse:
a) accepted responsibility for the nursing care
of a patient or group of patients;
b) voluntarily withdrew from caring for the patient
or patients with any ongoing nursing care need;
c) failed to give reasonable notice to an appropriate
person that she or he was withdrawing from caring for the patient
or patients so that arrangements could be made for continuation
of safe care; and
d) failed to report essential information to an
appropriate person.
The Board evaluates each allegation of patient abandonment
on a case by case basis. In general, the Board would not consider
that patient abandonment has occurred when a nurse is asked to work
beyond the nurse’s established work schedule and informs the employer
that she or he is unable to do so.
The following situation is an example of patient
abandonment:
• A nurse accepts an assignment of patient
care and then leaves the facility. The appropriate licensed nursing
staff does not know that the nurse is not in the facility, nor has
the nurse given a status report on her patient or patients to another
nurse who assumes responsibility for patient care.
The following situation is not an example of patient
abandonment:
• A nurse ends her or his employment relationship
without advanced notice, provided that the nurse has not accepted
responsibility for the nursing care of a patient or group of patients.
|
