Giving, Accepting, or Rejecting an Assignment

Washington State Nurses Association

575 Andover Park West, Suite 101, Seattle WA 98188

www.wsna.org

GUIDELINES FOR THE REGISTERED NURSE

Giving, Accepting, or

Rejecting an Assignment

CONTENTS

Foreward i

Scenarios 1

Issues Central to Potential Dilemmas 1

Legal & Professional Issues 2

Professional Practice Issues 2

Liability for Nurses 2

Employment & Contract Issues 2

Guidelines for Decision Making 4

The Nurse’s Responsibility 4

Management’s Responsibility 4

Administration’s / Healthcare Facility’s Responsibility 4

Process for Identifying Issues and Decision-Making 5

Application of Guidelines for Decision-Making 5

Example Issue: Floating — Competence 6

Example Issue: Unfamiliar Drug 7

Example Issue: Additional Shift — Overtime 8

Example Issue: Providing Care to Speciic Patient Populations 9

The Bottom Line 10

Summary 10

Appendix I 11

Standards of Nursing Conduct or Practice 11

Violations of Standards of Nursing Conduct or Practice 13

Appendix II: Further Information 14

Appendix III: ADO Form & Instructions 15

Appendix IV: Scope of Practice Decision Tree 17

Appendix V 20

Patient Abandonment 20

Questions of Assignment 21

Appendix VI 22

Hours of Health Care Facility Employees — Deinitions 22

Hours of Health Care Facility Employees — Mandatory overtime prohibited — Exceptions 23

Hours of Health Care Facility Employees — Penalties 23

CONTENTS

Revised by PNHCC ............................................................................................. October, 2002

Approved by WSNA Board of Directors .................................................. November, 2002

Revised by PNHCC ............................................................................................. February, 2012

Approved by WSNA Board of Directors .................................................. March, 2012

Washington State Nurses Association

575 Andover Park West, Suite 101

Seattle, WA 98188

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

FOREWARD

Registered Nurses frequently face practice dilemmas where work

assignments and / or workload requirements place the nurse in a

difficult situation. The Nurse Practice Act holds each individual

nurse accountable for the quality of nursing care provided and sets

forth minimum standards of practice to which nurses are expected

to utilize and incorporate into their daily practice.

WSNA has developed a number of tools for helping nurses cope

with these unusual and troubling staffing situations. This book-

let was intended for that purpose. It is modeled after documents

produced by the Florida and North Carolina State Nurses Asso-

ciations. The American Nurses Association has encouraged state

nurses associations to develop guidelines specific to the needs of

each state. We believe this booklet has accomplished that charge.

Abbreviations Used in These Guidelines

ANA ................. American Nurses Association

RCW................ Revised Code of Washington

WAC ................ Washington Administrative Code

RN .................... Registered Nurse

WSNA ............ Washington State Nurses Association

FORWARD

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

SCENARIOS

Nurses are concerned about current legal, social and economic conditions that have the potential to lead to unsafe assignments.

These conditions create serious ethical dilemmas and could lead to situations that endanger patients’ safety, and render

the nurse at all levels of the agency legally liable. Some of these situations are described in the following scenarios.

Issues central to potential dilemmas

• The right of the patient to receive safe, professional nursing care

at an acceptable level of quality.

• The responsibility for and appropriate utilization and distribution

of nursing care services when nursing becomes a scarce resource.

• The responsibility for providing a practice environment that

assures adequate and cost-eective nursing resources.

• The responsibility of the nurse to the nursing profession’s stated

“non-negotiable ethical standards” (ANA Code of Ethics for

Nurses).

You are asked to care for an unfamiliar

patient population or to go to a unit or

perform a procedure with which you

feel unqualiied. What do you do?

You are asked to work an additional

shift. Your immediate response is that

you don’t want to work another shift.

What do you do?

You recognize your fatigue and its

potential patient harm, yet you are

required to work overtime.

What do you do?

Due to a decrease in the average daily

census there has been a reduction in

budgeted nursing positions. The census

rises and there are no additional qualiied

sta available. You are asked to assume

responsibility for an increased patient

load. What do you do?

Nursing sta, management, and administration may dier in

their interpretation of the ethical principles and the legalities

within the Law Relating to Nursing Care and Regulations of

Health Professions (also known as the Nurse Practice Act).

Dierences may create conlict. These guidelines endeavor

to facilitate strategies for problem solving and support both

practitioners and administrators as they operationalize practice

within the complex environment of the health care system.

These situations are familiar

and emphasize the rights and

responsibilities of the registered nurse

to make informed decisions.

The nurse’s decision regarding giving,

accepting or rejecting assignments

is based on his / her professional and

personal value system.

The nurse assumes individual

accountability for his / her nursing

judgment and actions.

Underlying all these situations are the

ethical dilemmas and accountability

of individual nurses. All members

of the health care team, from sta

nurses to administrator, share a joint

responsibility to ensure that safe,

eective and appropriate patient care

is provided.

Is any nurse better than no nurse?

If I am loated to another unit, it is presumed that the patients will receive better

care than if no one went. But if I go and make a mistake, who is responsible?

My sta is so tired and frustrated and so am I.

How do I help them deliver safe, effective patient care and yet meet the budget?

Who is going to be shortchanged tonight?

Two of the patients assigned to me are critically ill and unstable.

The patients in the adjoining beds are equally unstable and are

assigned to an inexperienced nurse. She needs my help, her patients

need my help, my patients need my help. What do I do?

SCENARIOS

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

Professional Practice Issues

The Nurse Practice Act of Washington (WAC 246-840-700) states

that “the nurse shall be responsible for the quality of nursing care

given to clients.” This language charges the individual nurse with

responsibility for the quality of care delivered once the nurse has

accepted an assignment. In the Uniform Disciplinary Act (18.130

RCW), conduct that may be deemed unprofessional for any health

care professional includes “incompetence, negligence or malpractice

which results in injury to a patient or which creates an unreason-

able risk that a patient may be harmed” RCW 18.130.180(4), and

“failure to adequately supervise auxiliary staff to the extent that

the consumers’ health or safety is at risk.” (RCW 18.130.180(14)).

The intent of these laws is to establish expectations toward a mini-

mum standard of care to be delivered once a licensee has accepted

responsibility for a particular patient assignment.

These minimum expectations are further elucidated in the Standard

of Nursing Conduct or Practice (WAC 246-846-700). Language in

the introductory portion of the rule states that the nurse’s respon-

sibility for the quality of nursing care given to clients “cannot be

avoided by accepting the orders or directions of another person.”

The rule goes on to outline expectations about the minimum be-

haviors necessary for safe nursing practice.

Subsequent language in the next rule (WAC 246-846-710) is even

more instructive, as it spells out exactly what constitutes a violation

of standards of nursing conduct or practice. Included in this rule are:

improper delegation of nursing care functions or responsibilities

(2)(a); “failing to supervise those to whom nursing activities have

been delegated” (2)(b); and “performing or attempting to perform

nursing techniques and / or procedures for which the nurse lacks

the appropriate knowledge, experience, and education and / or

failing to obtain instruction, supervision and / or consultation

for client safety” (3)(a). Section (4)(b) of this same WAC deems

it a violation to practice “nursing while impaired by any mental,

physical and / or emotional condition to the extent that the person

may be unable to practice with reasonable skill and safety.”

The above-cited rules and other portions of the Nurse Practice Act

indicate that the expectation is placed upon nursing staff to deliver

no less than minimum-standard nursing care once an assignment

has been accepted; to be prepared mentally, physically and edu-

cationally to deliver safe care; to delegate care appropriately; and

to adequately supervise those to whom care has been delegated.

Failure to practice within these constraints may result in action

being taken against an individual nurse’s license by the Washing-

ton State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC).

Another pertinent section of the rule is WAC 246-840-710(4)(c),

which defines a violation of the standards as “willfully abandon-

ing clients by leaving a nursing assignment without transfer-

ring responsibilities to appropriate personnel or care giver when

continued nursing care is required by the condition of the client.”

Nurses occasionally report that an immediate supervisor will cite

this rule to pressure them into accepting an assignment the nurse

feels is unreasonable or unsafe. However, NCQAC’s policy states

that abandonment occurs only when the nurse willfully leaves an

assignment he or she has accepted without transferring responsi-

bility to appropriate personnel (see Appendix V).

Liability for Nurses

Beyond considerations of action against one’s license, a nurse must

also weigh the risks of harm which may befall patients in his /

her care if the nurse accepts an unreasonable assignment. Recent

court decisions have held nurses to strict professional standards of

knowledge and performance. Thus, if the “average prudent nurse”

would not have accepted a particular assignment, the nurse who

does decide to accept it will be judged by that professional standard.

For example, if the nurse chooses to provide care to patients in an

area with which she/he is not familiar, and the nurse violates the

standard of care expected of a nurse in that area, then the nurse

and the employer may be held liable for the harm that results.

Employment & Contract Issues

Nurses who refuse to obey an employer who assigns them to a

particular work area risk disciplinary action from their employer.

In situations where a nurse judges that he/she is unable to accept

an assignment without serious risk to patient safety, the nurse has

the right — and the obligation — to inform the employer that he/

she does not feel comfortable and able to provide safe care. The

Washington State Nurses Association has developed a form for

informing employers about unsafe assignments. This form is the

“Assignment Despite Objection” (ADO) form (see Appendix III).

Filling out and delivering a copy of this form to the immediate

supervisor does not automatically guarantee protection from any

action taken against the nurse’s license nor will it always protect

the nurse from a malpractice suit in the event a patient is injured

as a result of the care the nurse is able or unable to deliver. It can,

however, specifically document a situation and can be a very effec-

tive tool for the Practice Committee or Conference Committee to

bring an issue to management’s attention. Documentation on the

LEGAL & PROFESSIONAL ISSUES

There are considerations in law, regulation and precedent that nurses should be aware of when

deciding upon a course of action regarding a patient care assignment. These considerations can

be divided into professional practice issues, and employment and contract issues.

LEGAL & PROFESSIONAL ISSUES

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

ADO form can also indicate a good faith effort on the part of the

nurse to call attention to problems placing the patient and employer

in serious jeopardy while not raising the issue of insubordination.

It also renders the employer responsible in addition to the nurse.

Employers may have violated their regulatory duty to provide

sufficient, qualified personnel to properly staff each department

of the facility in accordance with WAC 246 – 318-040.

Use of the ADO process should be viewed as part of a “Quality

Improvement Program”. The information gathered can be used

in very powerful and effective ways. Local Unit officers, as well

as nurse managers, can use the information documented on the

ADO forms to provide evidence that a problem on a particular unit

exists or that it is in fact house-wide. Using the ADO form allows

Local Unit officers or nurses on the unit to assume responsibility

for gathering information directly from the nurses affected. Ap-

proaching a meeting with specific details (dates, times, specific

events) is much more powerful, “business like”, and effective than

anecdotal unsubstantiated allegations. It also allows management

to more effectively investigate an issue.

At these times nurses walk a fine line between losing their jobs

because of insubordination or losing their licenses or risking

malpractice suits because they followed their employer’s instruc-

tions. For nurses who are covered under a collective bargaining

agreement negotiated by the Washington State Nurses Association,

there is often language in the contract which deals with profes-

sional concerns such as staffing and patient assignment. There is

usually language calling for the formation of a Nursing Practice

Committee where these issues can be addressed and solutions can

be found in a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect.

It has been suggested

that professional rights provisions be ne-

gotiated into collective bargaining agreements. The professional

rights provision recognizes that nurses must adhere to professional

standards of practice as well as to the employer’s nursing policies.

Through the professional rights provision, the employer promises

it will not structure nursing assignments so as to compromise a

nurse’s professional standards of practice. The professional rights

provision will incorporate into the nurse-hospital relationship the

recognition that a nurse can and must make professional judg-

ments regarding assignments and staffing, thus offering additional

protection to the nurse from charges of insubordination.

It has also been suggested

that the professional rights provisions

of an employment contract can be strengthened by including an

indemnity clause to protect the nurse whose liability is founded on

an unreasonable assignment. An indemnity clause will insure that a

nurse who accepts unreasonable assignments will not be held liable

concurrently for the employer’s failure to provide adequate staff.

1 Edith Kelly Politis, “Nurses’ Legal Dilemma: When Hospital Staing Compromises Profes-

sional Standards”, University of San Francisco Law Review, Vol 18 (Fall, 1983), 140141.

2 Ibid.

In Washington State, WAC 296-126-090 provides options to em-

ployees who feel the number of hours they are required to work or

other matters relating to overtime employment are detrimental to

their health, safety or welfare. Under this rule, an employee may

request the Department of Labor and Industries to make an inves-

tigation and to issue findings and conclusions. If the circumstances

are found to be detrimental to the employee, the industrial welfare

committee may adopt additional or revised employment standards.

LEGAL & PROFESSIONAL ISSUES

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

GUIDELINES FOR DECISION MAKING

The complexity of the delivery of nursing care is such that only professional nurses with appropriate education

and experience can provide nursing care. Upon employment with a health care facility, the nurse enters into

an agreement with that facility to provide nursing services in a collaborative practice environment.

The Nurse’s Responsibility

• Provide competent nursing care to the

patient.

• Communicate concerns regarding

needed resources and / or the work

environment that may potentially

impede the delivery of quality patient

care. This includes utilizing the chain

of command as well as use of available

documentation tools such as incident

reports, QA memos, and ADO forms to

inform healthcare leaders of issues of

concern.

• Exercise informed judgment and use

individual competence and qualiications

as criteria in giving, accepting or

rejecting an assignment. Nurses have

individual accountability for the care of

each patient.

• Clarify assignments, assess personal

capabilities, jointly identify options for

patient care assignments when he/she

does not feel personally competent

or adequately prepared to carry out

a speciic function. The nurse may be

held legally responsible for judgments

exercised and actions taken in the

course of nursing practice (ANA code).

The nurse has the right to refuse an

assignment that he/she does not feel

prepared to assume.

Management’s Responsibility

• Ensure competent nursing care is

provided to the patient.

• Evaluate the nurse’s ability to provide

specialized patient care and provide

appropriate orientation and training

to a new or changing clinical setting

and / or patient population. Nursing

competencies must be discussed at the

time of employment and updated as

competencies change, clearly identifying

clinical areas in which the nurse is

competent to serve.

• Provide and organize nursing resources

to ensure that patients receive safe,

eective and appropriate nursing care.

• Communicate, in written standards,

the process to make consistent

and appropriate assignments and

reassignment decisions.

• Collaborate with sta to clarify

assignments, assess personal capabilities

and jointly identify options for patient

care assignments when the nurse

does not feel personally competent,

adequately prepared, or appropriately

resourced to carry out a speciic function.

• Recognize that working frequent long

hours and adjusting to shift changes

may interfere with a nurse’s physical and

mental health and impair performance of

clinical activities and judgments.

• Recognize that a nurse loated to a

charge position requires a substantial

amount of clinical experience and a

high level of clinical judgment and skill

in that area as he/she is responsible for

providing consultation and direction to

other nursing sta.

• Take appropriate disciplinary action

according to facility standards.

Administration’s / Healthcare Facility’s Responsibility

• Ensure the presence and ongoing

enhancement of a care environment

conducive to the delivery of quality

patient care.

• Plan and budget for appropriate

resources based on patient requirements

and priorities for care, recognizing

individual patient safety takes

precedence over facility needs and

priorities.

• Ensure competent nursing care is

provided to the patient.

• Provide education to sta and

management in the decision-making

process regarding patient care

assignments and reassignments,

including patient placement and

allocation of resources. Recognize

staing decisions must be made by

nurses with appropriate education and

experience.

• Provide a clearly deined mechanism for

immediate internal review of proposed

assignments. This should include

participation of sta involved, and the

documentation and review of incidents in

which the appropriateness of assignment

is in question.

GUIDELINES FOR DECISION MAKING

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

When faced with a decision to

accept or reject an assignment,

the interests of the nurse and the

agency are best served if both

undertake a process of identifying

the issues and exploring all possible

options. This is a suggested

framework for decision-making:

Clarify what is being asked of the nurse.

Assess the capabilities of the nurse.

Identify all possible options for meeting patient needs.

Make a decision, communicate the decision to the

nurse’s immediate supervisor, and if appropriate,

document the decision-making processes.

APPLICATION OF GUIDELINES FOR DECISIONMAKING

The pages which follow contain some examples of how a nurse may apply the guidelines for

decision-making as outlined in previous pages. The professional nurse should keep in mind

that the nurse manager and the staff nurse share the responsibility for, and commitment to,

the delivery of safe, competent nursing care to patients in the clinical setting. Maintaining a

proactive rather than reactive stance toward decision making, and perceiving the roles of nurse

manager and staff nurse as complementary rather than antagonistic, is more likely to result in

a solution that addresses the concerns of both the staff nurse and the nurse manager.

PROCESS FOR IDENTIFYING ISSUES AND DECISIONMAKING

PROCESS FOR IDENTIFYING ISSUES AND DECISION MAKING • APPLICATION OF GUIDELINES

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

CLARIFY

What is the nurse being asked to do?

• How many patients is the nurse being asked to care for?

• Do these patients require specialty knowledge and skills in order

to deliver safe nursing care?

• Will the nurse have immediate access to qualiied and experienced

RNs?

• What procedures and / or medications will the nurse be expected

to administer?

• How complex are these procedures/medications?

• What kind of orientation would be necessary for the nurse to

function on the infant unit temporarily?

ASSESS

What are the capabilities of the nurse (Tom)?

• Does the nurse (Tom) have the knowledge and skills to safely meet

the expectations outlined?

• Does Tom have experience with infants or with patients with

similar needs as those she/he is being asked to care for?

• Has the nurse been oriented to this or a similar unit?

• Would the perceived discrepancies between Tom’s abilities and the

needs of the patient lead to an unsafe patient care situation?

IDENTIFY OPTIONS

If Tom believes he can provide safe patient care, he should

accept the assignment.

If Tom believes the discrepancy between his abilities and the

needs of the pateint could lead to potentially unsafe patient

care, further discussion is needed and other options developed.

• Is it more feasible for Tom to transport the infant to the home

hospital?

• Can another nurse on the infant unit take on the assignment

and Tom assist?

• Is another nurse from the adolescent unit better able to loat

to the infant unit, with the stipulation that Tom orient to the

infant unit in case the situation arises again in the future?

• Is there a nurse from another unit who can loat to the infant

unit, with Tom assuming care of that nurse’s patients?

MAKE A DECISION

If none of the options developed are viable or

acceptable to Tom, he must either:

Accept the assignment documenting carefully on the ADO form

his concern (if any) related to patient safety and the process he

used to inform the agency (manager) of his/her concerns. Keep

a personal copy of this documentation, provide a copy to the

immediate supervisor, and send a copy to the Local Unit Oicer

(where a collective bargaining agreement exists). Courtesy

suggests a copy also be sent to the area manager. Once he

reached this decision it is unwise to discuss the situation or

his feelings with other sta and / or patients. Now he is legally

accountable for these patients. From this point, withdrawal from

the agreed upon assignment may constitute abandonment

unless the care has been oicially transferred to an appropriate

caregiver.

Or…

Refuse the assignment and accept the possibility of disciplinary

action. Document carefully his concern for patient safety and

the process he used to inform the manager of his concerns.

Keep a personal copy of this documentation, provide a copy

to the immediate supervisor, and send a copy to the Local

Unit Oicer (where a collective bargaining agreement exists).

Courtesy suggests that a copy also be sent to the area manager.

Example Issue: Floating — Competence

Scenario: The evening supervisor asks Tom, a new graduate who has just completed his orientation to an adolescent pediatric

unit, to cover the patient assignment of an infant unit nurse who needs to transport a stable infant to its home hospital.

EXAMPLE ISSUE: FLOATING  COMPETENCE

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

CLARIFY

What is Sue is being asked to do?

• Will Sue administer the drug, or assist another health care provider

who has knowledge of the drug?

• Is the research protocol available to her, and does she have the

time available to read and understand it as it pertains to the drug?

• Does the drug have potentially serious side eects she is qualiied

to monitor?

• What other information is necessary for her to safely administer

the drug?

ASSESS

What are the capabilities of the nurse (Sue)?

• Is she capable of familiarizing herself with the drug and relevant

policies and procedures in the time available?

• Does she have experience with or knowledge of similar drugs?

• Do the demands of her current patient assignment preclude the

safe administration of the drug?

IDENTIFY OPTIONS

If she believes she can administer the drug safely, she should do

so.

If she believes the discrepancy between her abilities and the

needs of the patient could lead to potentially unsafe patient

care, further discussion is needed and other options developed.

• Is another nurse available who is better able to safely

administer the drug and care for the patient?

• Can she consult with a nurse on another unit or in another

clinical setting who can provide her with information?

• Can her patient load be decreased so that she can focus

better on the patient receiving the drug?

MAKE A DECISION

If none of the options developed are viable or

acceptable to Sue, she must either:

Accept the assignment, administer the drug documenting

carefully on the ADO form her concerns (if any) related to nurse

and patient safety and the process she used to inform the

agency manager of her concerns. Keep personal copy of this

documentation, provide a copy to the immediate supervisor,

and send a copy to the Local Unit Oicer (where a collective

bargaining agreement exists). Courtesy suggests that she also

send a copy to the area manager. Once she has reached this

decision, it is unwise to discuss the situation or her feelings with

other sta and / or patients. Now she is legally accountable for

this patient.

Or…

Refuse to administer the drug, documenting carefully her

concerns related to nurse and patient safety and the process

she used to inform the manager of her concerns. Keep a

personal copy of this documentation, provide a copy to the

immediate supervisor, and send a copy to the Local Unit Oicer

(where a collective bargaining agreement exists). Courtesy

suggests that she also send a copy to the area manager.

Once she has reached this decision, it is unwise to discuss the

situation or her feelings with other sta and / or patients.

In both of the above scenarios, the nurses’ actions are guided by the

principles of the American Nurses Association’s “Code of Ethics for

Nurses (2001),” specifically Provision 4 which states, “The nurse is

responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and

determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the

nurse’s obligation to provide optimum patient care.” This is also

reflected in the Washington State Nurse Practice Act, which states,

“The nurse shall be responsible and accountable for practice based

on and limited to the scope of her/his education, demonstrated

competence, and nursing experience.”

The clinical setting, as represented by the nurse manager, has the

prerogative for meeting its obligations to its patients, to require

that staff nurses be oriented to units to which they may be floated,

and that nurses participate in educational programs that prepare

them to administer unfamiliar medications and procedures. Both

nurse managers and staff nurses can work together on Nurse

Practice Committees to anticipate future needs and prepare to

meet those needs.

Example Issue: Unfamiliar Drug

Scenario: Sue is asked to administer drug XYZ, an experimental chemotherapeutic, to

one of her patients. Sue has no knowledge or experience with drug XYZ.

EXAMPLE ISSUE: UNFAMILIAR DRUG

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

CLARIFY

What is Nurse P being asked to do?

• Would she provide care for the same patients she is caring for on

her current shift?

• Is she being asked to care for patients she does not feel competent

to care for? (If yes, refer to previous discussions.)

• Is this a chronic request due to poor scheduling, inadequate

staing, or chronic absenteeism?

ASSESS

What are the capabilities of the nurse (Nurse P)?

• Is she really tired, or does she just not feel like working?

• Is her fatigue level such that her care may be unsafe?

• Does she have non-work responsibilities that preclude her working

another shift?

IDENTIFY OPTIONS

If she perceives she can provide safe patient care and is willing

to work the additional shift, she should accept the assignment.

If she is unwilling to accept the assignment, she should inform

Nurse B of her reasons and discuss other options.

• The willingness of another nurse to accept the assignment.

• Call in a qualiied o-duty nurse.

• Oer to work half the shift with another nurse called in to

work the other half.

If she does not accept the assignment and the manager

continues to attempt to persuade her, it may be appropriate

to consult the next level of management, such as the house

supervisor or the nurse executive.

In further dialogue she should continue to weigh her reasons for

refusal versus the agency’s need for an RN. If she has a strong al-

ternate commitment such as to child care, or if she seriously feels

her fatigue will interfere with safe patient care, she should restate

her reasons for refusal.

At this point it is important for her to be aware of the legal rights

of the agency. Even though a nurse may have legitimate concern

for patient safety and her own legal accountability, or legitimate

concern for the safety of her children or other commitments, the

agency may initiate action, including termination, if she refuses

to accept an assignment. Therefore, it is important to continue to

explore options in a positive manner, recognizing both she and the

agency have a responsibility for safe patient care. (See Appendix VI)

MAKE A DECISION

If none of the options developed are viable or

acceptable to Nurse P, she must either:

Accept the assignment, documenting carefully on the ADO

form her concern and the process she used to inform the

agency (manager) of her concerns. Keep personal copy of this

documentation, provide a copy to the immediate supervisor,

and send a copy to the Local Unit Oicer (where a collective

bargaining agreement exists). Courtesy suggests that she also

send a copy to the area manager. Once she has reached this

decision, it is unwise for the nurse to discuss the situation or her

feelings with other sta and / or patients. A nurse is now legally

accountable for this patient. From this point, withdrawal from

the agreed upon assignment may constitute abandonment.

Or…

Refuse the assignment, being prepared for disciplinary action.

Document carefully on the ADO form her concern and the

process she used to inform the agency (manager) of her

concerns. Keep personal copy of this documentation, provide

a copy to the immediate supervisor, and send a copy to the

Local Unit Oicer (where a collective bargaining agreement

exists). Courtesy suggests that she also send a copy to the area

manager. Once she has reached this decision, it is unwise for the

nurse to discuss the situation or her feelings with other sta and

/ or patients.

As discussed in the scenarios related to floating and competence,

proactive nurse managers and staff nurses will attempt to collabo-

rate in developing options so that requests for nursing staff to work

additional shifts will be minimized. A legal principle that may guide

nurses in decision-making relating to working overtime is that of

abandonment. The reader is referred to the discussion regarding

this principle in the section titled “Legal and Professional Issues.”

Example Issue: Additional Shift — Overtime

Scenario: Nurse P is told by Nurse B, the charge nurse, that she must work another shift because of multiple sick

calls for the upcoming shift. Nurse P is reluctant to work an additional shift because of her own fatigue level.

EXAMPLE ISSUE: ADDITIONAL SHIFT  OVERTIME

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

Each of the above scenarios may present value, ethical and moral

conflicts for the nurse. The Washington Nurse Practice Act states,

“The nurse shall conduct nursing practice without discrimination…

The nurse shall respect the client’s right to privacy by protecting

confidential information.” The American Nurses Association’s

Code of Ethics for Nurses (2001) states, “The nurse in all profes-

sional relationships, practices with compassion and respect for

the inherent dignity, worth and uniqueness of every individual,

unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, per-

sonal attributes, or the nature of health problems.” On the other

hand, the nurse is responsible for maintaining his / her personal

safety and, as a citizen, is bound to observe the law.

In applying the decision-making guidelines, the nurse clariies

the issues in the situation, assesses him / herself, and identiies

options.The nurse examines his/her reluctance to care for any

specific patient population and may pose the following questions:

• Is the reluctance due to a speciic religious or moral tenet? What

would violation of this tenet mean to the nurse personally?

• If the nurse’s reluctance is health centered, does this reluctance

have a scientiic basis?

• If the discrepancy between the nurse’s belief system or concern

for personal safety, and the patient’s need for nursing care is

signiicant and the nurse believes that he / she is unable to provide

competent and committed care, the nurse would:

Inform the employer of the reluctance and provide strong rationale

and documentation to support the necessity for refusal of the as-

signment. Recognition by the organization of an individual nurse’s

right to refuse to care for a specific patient population sets a major

personnel precedent and will not be made lightly.

A health care agency has a responsibility to provide care for all

patients accepted into the organization. Due to this responsibility

the nurse cannot be guaranteed that he/she will never be asked

to provide care for the patient in question.

If the employer chooses to honor the nurse’s reluctance to care for

a specific patient population, he/she must expect to be assigned to

an area in which these patients are least likely to be found.

Remember, even if this alternative is chosen and the nurse’s re-

luctance honored, the occasion may arise in which the situation

requires him/her to care for patients in this population.

If the nurse’s reluctance is not honored by the employer, the nurse’s

responsibility is to agree to meet the employer’s expectations or

to resign.

Consider the occasion where the nurse’s reluctance has been hon-

ored, but he / she is now faced with a proposed assignment to a

patient in this population. The options used in previous scenarios

may be utilized such as switching assignments with another nurse.

Example Issue: Providing Care to Speciic Patient Populations

Scenario: Nurse R, a home care nurse, is assigned to visit Mr. Smith and do daily dressing changes. Mr. Smith lives in a neighborhood in

which numerous drug-related crimes have taken place. He informs Nurse R that he has purchased a gun and keeps it in the bedside table.

Scenario: Nurse T is a hospice nurse assigned to care for Mrs. Jones. During his initial assessment, Nurse T is told that Mrs.

Jones and her husband are proponents of “rational suicide” and are making plans for the assisted death of Mrs. Jones.

EXAMPLE ISSUE: SPECIFIC PATIENT POPULATIONS

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

THE BOTTOM LINE

When faced with a situation where you are concerned about an

assignment, there are four options:

• Accept the assignment, documenting your professional concern

for patient safety and the process you used to inform the

facility (manager) of your concerns. Keep a personal copy of this

documentation, provide a copy to the immediate supervisor, and

send a copy to the Local Unit Oicer (where a collective bargaining

agreement exists) . Courtesy suggests that you also send a copy

to the manager(s) involved. Once you have reached this decision it

is unwise to discuss the situation or your feelings with other sta

and / or patients.

• Accept the assignment, documenting your professional

concerns for the chronic nature of the request and possible long-

term consequences in reducing the quality of care.

• Accept the assignment, documenting your personal concerns

regarding working conditions in which management decides the

legitimacy of employee’s personal concerns. This documentation

should go to your manager. You may wish to request a meeting

with your manager to discuss the incident and your concerns

regarding future requests.

• Refuse the assignment, being prepared for disciplinary

action. If your reasons for refusal were patient safety, nurse

safety, or an imperative personal commitment, document this

carefully including the process you used to inform the facility

(nurse manager) of your concerns. Keep a personal copy of this

documentation, provide a copy to the immediate supervisor, and

send a copy to the Local Unit Oicer (where a collective bargaining

agreement exists). Courtesy suggests that you also send a copy to

the area manager.

In addition, you will need to document the rationale for your deci-

sion. It may be necessary to use the facility’s grievance procedure.

Documentation may either utilize the agency’s format, the WSNA

forms, or include the following elements on a blank sheet of paper:

• the nurse’s name

• the date of the occurrence

• the time of the occurrence

• the person making the request of the nurse

• the nurse’s concerns related to the request

• pertinent information about staing, census, acuity, transfers,

discharges, admissions

• the action taken by the nurse

SUMMARY

Principles and considerations for giving, accepting or rejecting

an assignment were reviewed. The process to determine whether

or not to accept or reject an assignment involved the following:

1. Clarify the situation

2. Assess the capabilities of the nurse

3. Identify all possible options for meeting patient needs

4. Make a decision, communicate the decision to the nurse’s

immediate supervisor, and if appropriate, document the

decision-making process

Some specific examples of how a nurse may apply the guidelines for

decision-making in the actual work situation have been presented.

Staff assignment dilemmas will always be present and mandate

that active communication between staff nurses and all levels of

nursing management be maintained to assure patient safety.

A proactive approach to potentially conflictive situations can be

taken in several ways: the nurse should discuss the potential for

conflict before accepting employment in a health care setting. The

employer should also anticipate potential conflicts around the pa-

tient populations cared for by the agency and develop guidelines ad-

dressing the potential conflicts. These guidelines should be shared

with prospective employees as part of the interviewing process.

The likelihood of a satisfactory solution will increase if there is

prior consideration of the choices available. This consideration

of available alternatives should include recognition that nurses

are professionals and should be involved in the decision-making

process. Professional nurses are accountable for nursing judgments

and actions regardless of the personal consequences. Providing

safe nursing care to the patient is the ultimate objective of the

professional nurse and the health care facility.

THE BOTTOM LINE • SUMMARY

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

APPENDIX I

Standards of Nursing Conduct or Practice

WAC 246840700

The purpose of deining standards of nursing conduct or practice

through WAC 246840700 and 246840710 is to identify respon-

sibilities of the professional registered nurse and the licensed

practical nurse in health care settings and as provided in the Nurs-

ing Practice Act, chapter 18.79 RCW. Violation of these standards

may be grounds for disciplinary action under chapter 18.130 RCW.

Each individual, upon entering the practice of nursing, assumes a

measure of responsibility and public trust and the corresponding

obligation to adhere to the professional and ethical standards of

nursing practice. The nurse shall be responsible and accountable

for the quality of nursing care given to clients. This responsibility

cannot be avoided by accepting the orders or directions of another

person. The standards of nursing conduct or practice include, but

are not limited to the following:

2. The nursing process is deined as a systematic problem solving

approach to nursing care which has the goal of facilitating an

optimal level of functioning and health for the client, recognizing

diversity. It consists of a series of phases: assessment, planning,

intervention, and evaluation, with each phase building upon the

preceding phases.

REGISTERED NURSE

Minimum standards for registered nurses include the following:

Standard I

Initiating the Nursing Process

Assessment & Analysis The registered nurse initiates data

collection and analysis that includes pertinent objective and

subjective data regarding the health status of the clients. The

registered nurse is responsible for ongoing client assessment,

including assimilation of data gathered from licensed practical

nurses and other members of the health care team;

Nursing Diagnosis / Problem Identiication The registered nurse

uses client data and nursing scientiic principles to develop nurs-

ing diagnosis and to identify client problems in order to deliver

eective nursing care;

Planning The registered nurse shall plan nursing care which will

assist clients and families with maintaining or restoring health

and wellness or supporting a digniied death;

4. Implementation The registered nurse implements the plan of

care by initiating nursing interventions through giving direct care

and supervising other members of the care team; and

Evaluation The registered nurse evaluates the responses of

individuals to nursing interventions and is responsible for the

analysis and modiication of the nursing care plan consistent

with intended outcomes;

LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE

Minimum standards for licensed practical nurses include the following:

Standard I

Implementing the Nursing Process

The practical nurse assists in implementing the nursing process.

Assessment The licensed practical nurse makes basic obser-

vations, gathers data and assists in identiication of needs and

problems relevant to the clients, collects speciic data as directed,

and communicates outcomes of the data collection process in a

timely fashion to the appropriate supervising person;

Nursing Diagnosis / Problem Identiication The licensed practi-

cal nurse provides data to assist in the development of nursing

diagnoses which are central to the plan of care;

Planning The licensed practical nurse contributes to the devel-

opment of approaches to meet the needs of clients and families,

and develops client care plans utilizing a standardized nursing

care plan and assists in setting priorities for care;

Implementation The licensed practical nurse carries out planned

approaches to client care and performs common therapeutic

nursing techniques; and

5. Evaluation The licensed practical nurse, in collaboration with

the registered nurse, assists with making adjustments in the care

plan. The licensed practical nurse reports outcomes of care to

the registered nurse or supervising health care provider;

APPENDIX I: STANDARDS OF CONDUCT OR PRACTICE

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

3. The following standards apply to registered nurses and licensed

practical nurses:

a. The registered nurse and licensed practical nurse shall com-

municate signiicant changes in the client’s status to appropri-

ate members of the health care team. This communication

shall take place in a time period consistent with the client’s

need for care. Communication is deined as a process by

which information is exchanged between individuals through

a common system of speech, symbols, signs, and written

communication or behaviors that serves as both a means of

gathering information and of inluencing the behavior, actions,

attitudes, and feelings of others; and

b. The registered nurse and licensed practical nurse shall docu-

ment, on essential client records, the nursing care given and

the client’s response to that care; and

The registered nurse and licensed practical nurse act as client

advocates in health maintenance and clinical care.

4. Other responsibilities:

a. The registered nurse and the licensed practical nurse shall

have knowledge and understanding of the laws and rules

regulating nursing and shall function within the legal scope

of nursing practice;

b. The registered nurse and the licensed practical nurse shall

be responsible and accountable for his or her practice based

upon and limited to the scope of his/her education, demon-

strated competence, and nursing experience consistent with

the scope of practice set forth in this document; and

c. The registered nurse and the licensed practical nurse shall

obtain instruction, supervision, and consultation as neces-

sary before implementing new or unfamiliar techniques or

procedures which are in his/her scope of practice.

d. The registered nurse and the licensed practical nurse shall

be responsible for maintaining current knowledge in his/her

ield of practice; and

e. The registered nurse and the licensed practical nurse shall

respect the client’s right to privacy by protecting coniden-

tial information and shall not use conidential health care

information for other than legitimate patient care purposes

or as otherwise provided in the Health Care Information Act,

chapter 70.02 RCW.

Standard II

Delegation and Supervision The registered nurse is accountable for

the safety of clients receiving nursing service by:

1. Delegating selected nursing functions to others in accordance

with their education, credentials, and demonstrated competence

as deined in WAC 246840010(10);

Supervising others to whom he/she has delegated nursing func-

tions as deined in WAC 246840010(10);

Evaluating the outcomes of care provided by licensed and other

paraprofessional sta;

The registered nurse may delegate certain additional acts to cer-

tain individuals in community-based long-term care and in-home

settings as provided by WAC 246840910 through246840970

and WAC 246841405; and

In a home health or hospice agency regulated under chapter

70.127 RCW, a registered nurse may delegate the application,

instillation, or insertion of medications to a registered or certi-

ied nursing assistant under a plan of care pursuant to chapter

246335 WAC;

Standard II

Delegation and Supervision Under direction, the practical nurse is

accountable for the safety of clients receiving nursing care:

The practical nurse may delegate selected nursing tasks to

competent individuals in selected situations, in accordance with

their education, credentials and competence as deined in WAC

246840010(10);

The licensed practical nurse in delegating functions shall super-

vise the persons to whom the functions have been delegated;

The licensed practical nurse reports outcomes of delegated nurs

ing care tasks to the RN or supervising health care provider; and

In community based long-term care and in-home settings as

provided by WAC 246840910 through246840970 and WAC

246841405, the practical nurse may delegate only personal

care tasks to qualiied care givers;

Standard III

Health Teaching The registered nurse assesses learning needs includ-

ing learning readiness for patients and families, develops plans to meet

those learning needs, implements the teaching plan and evaluates the

outcome.

Standard III

Health Teaching The practical nurse assists in health teaching of cli-

ents and provides routine health information and instruction recogniz-

ing individual dierences.

APPENDIX I: STANDARDS OF CONDUCT OR PRACTICE

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

Violations of Standards of Nursing Conduct or Practice

WAC 246840710

The following conduct may subject a nurse to disciplinary action

under the Uniform Disciplinary Act, chapter 18.130 RCW:

1. Engaging in conduct described in RCW 18.130.180;

Failure to adhere to the standards enumerated in WAC 246840700

which may include, but are not limited to:

a. Failing to assess and evaluate a client’s status or failing to insti-

tute nursing intervention as required by the client’s condition;

b. Willfully or repeatedly failing to report or document a client’s

symptoms, responses, progress, medication, or other nursing

care accurately and / or legibly;

c. Willfully or repeatedly failing to make entries, altering entries,

destroying entries, making incorrect or illegible entries and / or

making false entries in employer or employee records or client

records pertaining to the giving of medication, treatments, or

other nursing care;

d. Willfully or repeatedly failing to administer medications and /

or treatments in accordance with nursing standards;

Willfully or repeatedly failing to follow the policy and procedure

for the wastage of medications where the nurse is employed

or working;

Nurses shall not sign any record attesting to the wastage of con-

trolled substances unless the wastage was personally witnessed;

Willfully causing or contributing to physical or emotional abuse

to the client;

Engaging in sexual misconduct with a client as deined in WAC

246840740; or

i. Failure to protect clients from unsafe practices or conditions,

abusive acts, and neglect;

Failure to adhere to the standards enumerated in WAC 246840-

700(2) which may include:

Delegating nursing care function or responsibilities to a person

the nurse knows or has reason to know lacks the ability or knowl-

edge to perform the function or responsibility, or delegating

to unlicensed persons those functions or responsibilities the

nurse knows or has reason to know are to be performed only

by licensed persons. This section should not be construed as

prohibiting delegation to family members and other caregiv-

ers exempted by RCW 18.79.040(3), 18.79.050, 18.79.060 or

18.79.240; or

Failure to supervise those to whom nursing activities have been

delegated. Such supervision shall be adequate to prevent an

unreasonable risk of harm to clients;

4. a. Performing or attempting to perform nursing techniques and

/ or procedures for which the nurse lacks the appropriate

knowledge, experience, and education and / or failing to obtain

instruction, supervision and / or consultation for client safety;

b. Violating the conidentiality of information or knowledge con-

cerning the client, except where required by law or for the

protection of the client; or

c. Writing prescriptions for drugs unless authorized to do so by

the commission;

5. Other violations:

Appropriating for personal use medication, supplies, equip-

ment, or personal items of the client, agency, or institution. The

nurse shall not solicit or borrow money, materials or property

from clients;

b. Practicing nursing while aected by alcohol or drugs, or by a

mental, physical or emotional condition to the extent that there

is an undue risk that he or she, as a nurse, would cause harm

to him or herself or other persons; or

c. Willfully abandoning clients by leaving a nursing assignment,

when continued nursing care is required by the condition of

the client(s), without transferring responsibilities to appropriate

personnel or caregiver;

Conviction of a crime involving physical abuse or sexual abuse

including convictions of any crime or plea of guilty, including

crimes against persons as deined in chapter 43.830 RCW

[RCW 43.43.830] and crimes involving the personal property

of a patient, whether or not the crime relates to the practice

of nursing; or

Failure to make mandatory reports to the Nursing Care Quality

Assurance Commission concerning unsafe or unprofessional

conduct as required in WAC 246840730;

Other:

The nurse shall only practice nursing in the state of Washington with

a current Washington license;

7. The licensed nurse shall not permit his or her license to be used by

another person;

8. The nurse shall have knowledge of the statutes and rules govern-

ing nursing practice and shall function within the legal scope of

nursing practice;

9. The nurse shall not aid, abet or assist any other person in violating

or circumventing the laws or rules pertaining to the conduct and

practice of professional registered nursing and licensed practical

nursing; or

10.

The nurse shall not disclose the contents of any licensing examination

or solicit, accept or compile information regarding the contents of

any examination before, during or after its administration.

APPENDIX I: VIOLATIONS OF STANDARDS OF CONDUCT OR PRACTICE

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

APPENDIX II

For Further Information

Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission

P.O. Box 47864

Olympia, WA 985071099

360.236.4702

www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertiicates/NursingCommission.aspx

Washington State Nurses Association

575 Andover Park West, Suite 101

Seattle, WA 98188

206.575.7979

206.575.1908 (fax)

www.wsna.org

American Nurses Association

8515 Georgia Avenue

Suite 400

Silver Spring, MD 209103492

301.628.5000

301.628.5001 (fax)

18002744ANA (4262)

www.nursingworld.org

National Council of State Boards of Nursing

676 N. St. Clair Street, Suite 550

Chicago IL 606112921

312.787.6555

www.ncsbn.org

APPENDIX II: FURTHER INFORMATION

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

APPENDIX III

Assignment Despite Objection (ADO) Form

INSTRUCTIONS A nurse questioning an assignment is encouraged to communicate this concern in the following manner:

a. Discuss the concern with the person responsible for the assignment on that shift. This person should then

assess options and seek to remedy the situation. When no alternatives are identiied as possible, the person in

charge should contact his / her immediate supervisor on duty.

b. The supervisor should attempt to resolve the situation utilizing available resources as he/she determines

appropriate.

c. If the nurse is dissatisied with the decision of the supervisor, the nurse should initiate an Assignment Despite

Objection (ADO) form and, if necessary, a quality management form, prior to end of the shift.

d. If there is no mutually satisfactory resolution to the problem, and the problem appears to be one which will be

recurring, the nurse may submit his / her documentation to the unit sta meeting.

e. If the problem is unresolved, the Local Unit should submit the documentation for review and recommendations

to the Nurse Practice Committee or Conference Committee, as the Association designates. The parties shall

ensure that patient conidentiality standards are fully met.

f. Nurses who raise assignment concerns should be free from restraint, interference, discrimination, or reprisal.

WHAT TO DO AND WHEN TO DO IT

Nurse Supervisor Local Unit Oicers WSNA (Nurse Rep)

Timeframe

for Action

Day of complaint 1 – 14 days 14 – 30 days 30 – 60 days

Action(s)

File one copy; one copy to

immediate supervisor; one

copy to LU Oicer

Investigates Bring to conference committee Examine trends

Await response Responds to nurse Responds to nurse

APPENDIX III: ADO FORM & INSTRUCTIONS

Assignment Despite Objection

I, ________________________________________________________________________ , a Registered Nurse employed at _______________________________________________________

(Name) (Hospital / Agency)

on ____________________________________________________________, ________________________________________________________ hereby object to the assignment as

(Shift) (Date)

o charge / lead nurse o team leader o primary nurse o sta nurse o other

made to me by ________________________________________________________________________________ at _______________________________ on _______________________________

(Supervisor / Person in charge) (Time) (Date)

In my professional opinion, the situation described here is not adequate to meet the needs of the patients assigned to me at this time. Please be aware that

while I will do all that I can to ensure safe and proper care for my patients, I fear that my efforts and those of the staff may not be sufficient. Therefore,

I am informing you that I cannot take responsibility for any error or incidents that take place as a result of this unsafe condition created by inadequate

staffing, systems / equipment failures.

My objections to this assignment are (check all that apply):

¨ Charge nurse unable to perform

charge nurse duties, secondary to

increased patient care assignment

¨ Inadequate nurse to patient ratios for

patient acuity based on my clinical judgment

¨ Insuicient support sta requires

me to assume additional duties

¨ Not trained or experienced in area assigned

¨ Not oriented to this unit / case load

¨ Patient care equipment missing or unusable

¨ Necessary equipment is not available

e.g.: supplies, IVs, medication availability

¨ Not trained or experienced to use

equipment in assigned area

¨ System failure

e.g.: computer, phone, pyxis, call system

¨ This assignment posed a serious

threat to my health and safety

¨ This assignment posed a serious

threat to the health and safety of

a patient under my direct care

¨ Forced / Mandatory Overtime

¨ Missed breaks

o Meal breaks o Rest breaks

¨ Other

Brief statement of problem(s), including any pertinant information about staffing, census, acuity, transfers, discharges, and / or admissions:

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Those I notified about my objection to this assignment:

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________ ____________________________________

Signature Date / Time Home phone number

Complete this form and have it signed by your immediate supervisor.

Make two copies; give one to the supervisor, one to a local unit oicer, and keep the original for your records.

Please consider also completing your own facility’s organizational Quality Assurance Form.

Supervisor

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________

Supervisor’s Name Supervisor’s Title

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Action taken

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________

Supervisor’s Signature Date / Time

Local Unit

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________

Name of Local Unit Oicer Date / Time

Washington State Nurses Association

575 Andover Park West, Suite 101, Seattle WA 98188

Revised: November 2011

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

APPENDIX IV

Scope of Practice Decision Tree

Adopted by permission of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Revised 7 December 2011.

1. Describe the act to be performed.

Review the scope of practice for your licensure level:

RN Assessment, nursing diagnosis, setting goals, planning care strategies, implementing care, delegating care to qualiied others, supervising,

evaluating, teaching, managing care, maintaining client safety, collaborating with other health care members.

LPN Contributing to assessment, participating in development of plan of care, implementing aspects of care as directed, maintaining client

safety, participating in evaluating care, and delegating care to qualiied others.

ARNP Assessing clients, synthesizing and analyzing data, understanding and applying nursing principals at an advanced level; providing expert

teaching and guidance; working eectively with clients, families and other members of the health care team; managing clients’ physical

and psycho-social health-illness status; utilizing research skills; analyzing multiple sources of data, identifying alternative possibilities

as to the nature of a health care problem, and selecting appropriate treatment; making independent decisions in solving complex client

care problems; performing acts of diagnosing, prescribing, administering and dispensing therapeutic measures; and recognizing limits

of knowledge and experience, planning for situations beyond expertise, consulting with or referring to other health care providers as ap-

propriate.

Is the act expressly permitted or prohibited by the Nurse Practice Act for the license you hold?

UNSURE WITHIN SCOPE FOR YOUR LICENSE PROHIBITED

Go to 2 Go to 3

2. Is the act consistent with at least one of the following standards?

• Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC) standards of practice

• National nursing organization standards of practice

• Nursing literature and research

• Reasonable, prudent nurse in similar circumstances

YES NO

Go to 3

Not within the scope of practice

APPENDIX IV: SCOPE OF PRACTICE DECISION TREE

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

3. Do you personally possess the depth and breadth of knowledge to perform the act safely and eectively, as

acquired in a pre – licensure program, post-basic program, continuing education program or structured self-study?

YES NO

Go to 4

Until additional knowledge gained

4. Do you personally possess current clinical skills to perform the act safely?

YES NO

Go to 5

Until clinical skills are attained

5. Is the performance of the act within the accepted “standard of care” which would be provided in

similar circumstances by reasonable and prudent nurses who have similar training and experience

and consistent with appropriately established facility / agency policies and procedures?

YES NO

Go to 6

Performance of act may place both

patient / client and nurse at risk!

6. Are you prepared to accept the consequences of your action?

YES NO

Perform the act*

*With valid order when necessary, and in

accordance with agency policies and procedures

The accountability is not assumed!

Notify the appropriate person(s).

APPENDIX IV: SCOPE OF PRACTICE DECISION TREE

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

INTERPRETIVE STATEMENTS

NCQAC members, as well as the Department of Health staff mem-

bers who carry out the work of the NCQAC, are not able to answer

specific clinical scope of practice questions either on the telephone,

via e-mail, or in writing. However, several resources have been

developed and approved by the NCQAC to assist individual nurses

to analyze and review their own questions. Staff at the NCQAC

office are available to listen to your questions so that appropriate

materials can be supplied as you decide how best to proceed with

your particular clinical situation.

Resources currently available are:

• Scope of Practice Decision Making Tree

• The Law Relating to Nursing (often referred to as the “Nurse

Practice Act”)

• Interpretive Statements issued by the NCQAC which may be

applicable to your issue

• A large variety of professional nursing associations and health

care organizations are active in this State and may be able to

advise you about current practice.

• Many nurses have been assisted with practice questions after

researching current nursing literature, by reviewing employee

standard procedure manuals, and by consulting with their own

organization’s sta education oices.

If you feel you still need a response to your question, please submit

an Item Review Form found on the NCQAC website. Once the of-

fice has received your written request, the practice committee of

the NCQAC will evaluate the request to determine whether or not

the NCQAC will consider issuing a written interpretive statement.

APPENDIX IV: SCOPE OF PRACTICE DECISION TREE

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

APPENDIX V

Patient Abandonment

Department of Health Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission Policy

Title: Patient Abandonment Deined Number: A13.05

Reference:

Contact:

Eective Date:

Supersedes:

Mary Dale, Discipline Manager

March 13, 2009

July 1, 2005; October 22, 2003 Amended to correct WAC citation. October 25, 1996 Amended 9/28/01 to relect correct WAC citation. The

LPN and RN Boards were merged in 1994 and the rules were combined in 1997 which resulted in new WAC numbers.

Approved: Chair

Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission

Purpose Statement:

This policy will clarify WAC 246-840-710(5)(c).

Policy Statement:

A licensed nurse-patient relationship begins when the nurse ac-

cepts the assignment for patient care. Patient abandonment occurs

when the nurse leaves the nursing assignment without transfer-

ring patient care and giving specific patient information to an

appropriate care giver.

The Nursing Commission is utilizing the following terms for the

purpose of this policy:

“Nursing assignment” - nursing care functions or responsibilities

which the nurse has been directed to perform by a person autho-

rized to administer, supervise, or direct the nurse; or independently

assumed responsibility for, based on his or her own professional

judgment.

“Transferring patient care” - reporting the condition, circumstances,

and needs of all patients under the nurse’s care in oral or written

form directly to another nurse or appropriate caregiver who ac-

knowledges receipt and understanding of the report.

“Appropriate caregiver” - state-regulated health care professional

whose scope of practice and qualifications include the transferred

nursing care functions/responsibilities or appropriate family

members as may be defined in the agency policies.

Examples:

The following situations are NOT examples of patient abandonment

but are examples of employer-employee issues, and will not subject

the licensee to possible disciplinary action by the Commission:

• A licensed nurse has completed his/her regularly scheduled

work shift, and then notiies the employer that the employment

relationship between the nurse and the employer is being ended.

• A licensed nurse ends the employer-employee relationship

without providing the employer a period of time to obtain a

replacement for the speciic position which the licensee held.

• A licensed nurse does not return from a scheduled leave of

absence, and has not provided the employer with period of time to

obtain replacement sta for that position.

• A licensed nurse is asked to work beyond his/her regularly

scheduled work shift and informs the employer he/she will not

comply with that request.

The Commission believes that failure of the licensee to provide the

employer with sufficient notice of intent to end the employment

relationship does not constitute patient abandonment. However,

the Commission does not encourage licensees to end their employ-

ment relationships in such a manner.

This policy is intended to address only the rules cited above regard-

ing patient abandonment, and should not be construed to modify

in any way the Nursing Commission’s interpretation of any other

laws related to nursing care, nor should it be construed to relieve

the licensed nurse from the requirement to abide by all other laws

related to nursing practice, including standards of practice set

forth in WAC 246-840.

APPENDIX V: PATIENT ABANDONMENT

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

Questions of Assignment

Reprinted with permission from Washington State Department of Health Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission

Questions from nurses, supervisors, employers, etc., frequently

arise regarding delegation of assignments and refusal of assign-

ments. “Floating” is frequently expressed as an area of concern.

Nurses may feel incompetent to fill in on units with which they

are unfamiliar (especially critical care units). Sometimes nurses

are asked to take more responsibility than they feel competent

to handle (i.e. being asked to be in charge of an unfamiliar unit).

Nurses may also feel that their assignment is “too heavy” and

may be required to work overtime or double shifts when they feel

mentally and/or physically fatigued. Nurses may be asked to do a

specific task or procedure that they do not feel qualified to perform

or that they believe is beyond their scope of practice. The situations

that arise are many and varied. There are no clear-cut answers or

solutions and the majority of these types of situations should be

resolved through cooperative efforts of the parties involved at the

employment setting.

There are, however, laws, rules and regulations that all nurses

should be aware when trying to resolve this type of situation

(RCW 18.130.080, WAC 246-840-710). Unprofessional conduct is

grounds for disciplinary action against a nursing license. Some of

the grounds that relate specifically to assignments are:

• Failure to utilize appropriate judgment in administering safe

nursing practice including failure to supervise those to whom

nursing activities have been delegated.

• Incompetence, negligence or malpractice, which results in injury

to a patient or which creates a risk that a patient may be harmed.

• Performing acts beyond the scope of practice for which the nurse

is licensed.

• Performing nursing techniques or procedures for which the nurse

lacks knowledge, experience, and education without instruction,

supervision, and/or consultation.

• Delegating nursing care, functions, tasks or responsibilities to

others who the nurse knows or has reason to know lacks the

ability or knowledge to perform or delegating to unlicensed

persons those functions or responsibilities, which are to be

performed only by licensed persons.

• Leaving a patient care nursing assignment without notifying

personnel so that reasonable arrangements for continuation of

care can be made when continued nursing care is required by the

condition of the patient.

At times, nurses are told by physicians, other nurses, or supervisors

to “just follow orders and my license will cover you”. Nurses may

also be threatened with job loss if they do not accept the assignment.

The license of one person can never protect another licensee from

potential disciplinary action if the licensee violates a law or any of

the rules and regulations. Nor can another person’s license protect

the nurse from potential civil and/or criminal liability.

All registered nurses are accountable to not delegate nursing care,

functions, tasks, or responsibilities that are contrary to the law

or to the detriment of patient safety. On the other hand, the nurse

accepting an assignment is accountable to utilize appropriate

judgment when accepting an assignment and to utilize technical

competence when carrying out nursing care.

Nurses may be told that if they refuse an assignment they may

lose their license for abandonment of the patients. Abandonment

occurs only when the nurse willfully leaves an assignment he or

she has accepted without transferring responsibilities to appropri-

ate personnel. The consequences if a disciplinary action is taken

against an individual’s license range from a letter of reprimand to

license revocation, including probation, limitations, or a fine. At

no time is revocation of one’s license an automatic consequence

of disciplinary action. Nurses should always utilize appropri-

ate judgment when considering the refusal of an assignment. A

possible alternative to refusal would be to accept that part of the

assignment that the nurse feels competent to perform and assist

with those activities for which the nurse does not feel competent

to accept total responsibility and accountability.

The laws and rules of the Nursing Practice Act are available on

the Nursing Commission website at: www.doh.wa.gov/Licens-

esPermitsandCertificates/NursingCommission/Laws.aspx. Also

see practice information, the Scope of Practice Decision Tree [also

found in Appendix IV of this document], and position statements

by the Nursing Commission by clicking on “Practice Information”

in the site directory.

☛

Please note: For the most current copy of this Appendix, please refer to www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertiicates/NursingCommission.aspx

APPENDIX V: QUESTIONS OF ASSIGNMENT

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

APPENDIX VI

Hours of health care facility employees — Deinitions

RCW 49.28.130

The definitions in this section apply throughout this section and

RCW 49.28.140 and 49.28.150 unless the context clearly requires

otherwise.

“Employee” means a licensed practical nurse or a registered nurse

licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW employed by a health care

facility who is involved in direct patient care activities or clinical

services and receives an hourly wage.

“Employer” means an individual, partnership, association, corpo-

ration, the state, a political subdivision of the state, or person or

group of persons, acting directly or indirectly in the interest of a

health care facility.

3. a. “Health care facility” means the following facilities, or any part

of the facility, including such facilities if owned and operated

by a political subdivision or instrumentality of the state, that

operate on a twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week

basis:

I. Hospices licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW;

II. Hospitals licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW;

III. Rural health care facilities as deined in RCW 70.175.020;

IV. Psychiatric hospitals licensed under chapter 71.12 RCW; or

Facilities owned and operated by the department of correc-

tions or by a governing unit as deined in RCW 70.48.020 in a

correctional institution as deined in RCW 9.94.049 that provide

health care services to inmates as deined in RCW 72.09.015.

If a nursing home regulated under chapter 18.51 RCW or a

home health agency regulated under chapter 70.127 RCW

is operating under the license of a health care facility, the

nursing home or home health agency is considered part of

the health care facility for the purposes of this subsection.

4. “Overtime” means the hours worked in excess of an agreed upon,

predetermined, regularly scheduled shift within a twenty-four hour

period not to exceed twelve hours in a twenty-four hour period or

eighty hours in a consecutive fourteen-day period.

“On-call time” means time spent by an employee who is not working

on the premises of the place of employment but who is compen-

sated for availability or who, as a condition of employment, has

agreed to be available to return to the premises of the place of

employment on short notice if the need arises.

“Reasonable eorts” means that the employer, to the extent rea-

sonably possible, does all of the following but is unable to obtain

staing coverage:

Seeks individuals to volunteer to work extra time from all

available qualiied sta who are working;

Contacts qualiied employees who have made themselves

available to work extra time;

c. Seeks the use of per diem sta; and

Seeks personnel from a contracted temporary agency when

such staing is permitted by law or an applicable collective

bargaining agreement, and when the employer regularly

uses a contracted temporary agency.

“Unforeseeable emergent circumstance” means (a) any unforeseen

declared national, state, or municipal emergency; (b) when a health

care facility disaster plan is activated; or (c) any unforeseen disaster

or other catastrophic event which substantially aects or increases

the need for health care services.

[2011 c 251 § 1; 2002 c 112 § 2.]

Notes:

Finding — 2002 c 112: “Washington state is experiencing a criti-

cal shortage of qualified, competent health care workers. To

safeguard the health, efficiency, and general well-being of health

care workers and promote patient safety and quality of care,

the legislature finds, as a matter of public policy, that required

overtime work should be limited with reasonable safeguards

in order to ensure that the public will continue to receive safe,

quality care.” [2002 c 112 § 1.]

APPENDIX VI: HOURS OF HEALTH CARE FACILITY EMPLOYEES (DEFINITIONS)

WSNA Guidelines for the Registered Nurse in Accepting or Rejecting an Assignment

Hours of health care facility employees —

Mandatory overtime prohibited — Exceptions

RCW 49.28.140

No employee of a health care facility may be required to work

overtime. Attempts to compel or force employees to work overtime

are contrary to public policy, and any such requirement contained

in a contract, agreement, or understanding is void.

The acceptance by any employee of overtime is strictly voluntary,

and the refusal of an employee to accept such overtime work is

not grounds for discrimination, dismissal, discharge, or any other

penalty, threat of reports for discipline, or employment decision

adverse to the employee.

3. This section does not apply to overtime work that occurs:

a. Because of any unforeseeable emergent circumstance;

b. Because of prescheduled on-call time;

c. When the employer documents that the employer has used

reasonable eorts to obtain staing. An employer has not used

reasonable eorts if overtime work is used to ill vacancies

resulting from chronic sta shortages; or

When an employee is required to work overtime to complete a

patient care procedure already in progress where the absence

of the employee could have an adverse eect on the patient.

[2002 c 112 § 3.]

Notes:

Finding — 2002 c 112: See note following RCW 49.28.130.

Hours of health care facility employees — Penalties

RCW 49.28.150

The department of labor and industries shall investigate complaints

of violations of RCW 49.28.140. A violation of RCW 49.28.140 is

a class 1 civil infraction in accordance with chapter 7.80 RCW,

except that the maximum penalty is one thousand dollars for each

infraction up to three infractions. If there are four or more viola-

tions of RCW 49.28.140 for a health care facility, the employer is

subject to a fine of two thousand five hundred dollars for the fourth

violation, and five thousand dollars for each subsequent violation.

The department of labor and industries is authorized to issue and

enforce civil infractions according to chapter 7.80 RCW.

[2002 c 112 § 4.]

Notes:

Finding — 2002 c 112: See note following RCW 49.28.130.

APPENDIX VI: MANDATORY OVERTIME (EXCEPTIONS TO PROHIBITION) • HOURS OF HEALTH CARE FACILITY EMPLOYEES (PENALTIES)