Nurses have no control over staffing patterns or reimbursement mechanisms. Refusal to accept an assignment or other patient cares beyond the pre-designated period of time shall not constitute leaving a nursing assignment . Patient abuse requires an immediate response by the licensed nurse and the licensed facility. Nurses need to follow operational guidelines that are required by institutional settings that address patient abuse. Additionally, nurses are already ethically, professional and legally obligated to report these abuses.
Facilities have a legal mandate to report patient abuse.
The Board should increase communications with other government agencies to ensure that patient abuse reporting occurs. Mandatory reporting of those who would disclose their addictions to a EAP program or rehabilitation support group is very problematic. There is a lack of a clear definition of who determines when a nurse has substance abuse impairment for the purpose of mandatory reporting. Delete this regulation as written. Such alternative programs are already being used for medicine, social work and psychology.