What are my responsibilities as a nurse manager? Could I be implicated in a patient abandonment charge?
It is the responsibility of the licensed manager or supervising nurse to delegate professional responsibilities only to persons who are qualified by education, experience or by licensure to carry out the responsibility. An investigation by the State Education Department of abandonment charges would consider whether administrative and supervisory personnel have made adequate provision for staffing, as discussed below, to ensure necessary patient care in all situations. The action of administrators or supervisors who are licensed by the education Department may lead to charges of unprofessional conduct depending upon their role and the relationship of that role in providing necessary professional services. Responsibilities of the nurse manager/administrator in patient care include: • Assuring that the qualifications and capabilities of personnel are appropriate to patient needs; • Accepting a nurse’s reasonable notice to terminate the nurse-patient relationship and seeking a qualified re
