As a ShiftMed healthcare professional, you are never obligated to work beyond your scheduled shift. Your well-being and patient safety are our top priorities.
LPNs and RNs: Do not leave your post until a proper clinical hand-off is completed with a relieving nurse. This includes transferring keys, giving a report, and counting medications.
Leaving before a hand-off is complete constitutes patient abandonment, a serious violation reportable to your State Board of Nursing.
Key Guidelines
You Have the Right to Decline: You may refuse to stay for an additional shift for any reason, especially if you feel fatigued. Protecting your license and ensuring patient safety is paramount.
If you are an LPN or RN, you must complete a proper hand-off before leaving your post. This does not mean you're required to work an additional shift, but you must ensure there is a relieving nurse on duty before leaving.
Mandatory Restrictions: For safety and compliance, you are not permitted to work if:
You have exceeded 16 consecutive hours in a 24-hour period.
You have worked more than 56 hours in the current week.
If You Are Asked to Stay for an Additional Shift
If You CAN and CHOOSE to Stay
You must contact the ShiftMed Care Center at (800) 485-9002 immediately. This ensures the additional hours are properly authorized and entered into our system so you are paid correctly.
If You CANNOT or DO NOT WANT to Stay
Politely inform the facility that, per ShiftMed policy, you are unable to work beyond your scheduled shift. You are not required to provide a reason.
Special Circumstances: Nursing Supervisor Shifts
If you are acting as a nursing supervisor and your relief does not arrive, you must take the following steps:
Request Contact Information: Obtain the contact details for the facility's Director of Nursing (DON), Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON), or Administrator.
Escalate to Facility Leadership: Contact these individuals directly to resolve the coverage issue.
Contact ShiftMed: If facility leadership is unresponsive, immediately call our Care Center for assistance.
Remember, all LPNs and RNs MUST complete a proper hand-off prior to leaving your post.
Leaving before a hand-off is complete constitutes patient abandonment, a serious violation reportable to your State Board of Nursing.
Questions?
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