The nurse’s duty is not defined by any single event, such as clocking in or taking a report.
From the WABON standpoint, the focus for disciplinary sanctions is on the relationship and responsibility of the nurse to the patient, not to the employer or employment setting.
The primary concern is whether the nurse's actions compromised patient safety or caused patient abandonment. The nurse must:
- Have first accepted the patient assignment, thus establishing a nurse-patient relationship, and then,
- Severed that nurse-patient relationship without giving reasonable notice to the appropriate person (e.g., supervisor, patient, contractor) so that arrangements can be made for the continuation of nursing care by others.
Failure to fulfill a nursing responsibility may result in unsafe nursing care. Failure to practice with reasonable skill and safety is a ground for disciplinary action by the WABON.
The decision to take disciplinary action is based on the facts of the individual case, and the unique circumstances of each situation, and their application to grounds for disciplinary action in the nursing laws and rules.
The concept of the nurse’s duty to promote patient safety also serves as the basis for determining behavior that could be considered unprofessional conduct.
The Board believes nurses should be vigilant and exercise sound professional judgment when accepting assignments that may be requested by employers who need nurses to fill vacant shifts for licensed nursing staff or other staffing-related situations.
Clear communication between staff and supervisors is essential to finding solutions that best focus on patient care needs without compromising patient safety or a nurse’s license.