The problem is:  I was preparing my cna's schedule ahead of my shift and was behind the nurses station and the call bell went off.  There were other licensed nurse sitting there to answer the bell and they didn't get up.  I was seen by someone from corporate and they fired me for neglect.  I assumed that this was a liability issue against my liscense and made the decision on that;.  Now I'm 60 years old withour a job and want to fight back in the legal system.  do I have a case?  It should be covered under the Nurse Practice Act that I can't be leagally terminated for neglect when I was protecting my license and the facitities license.  Pa is an "At Will" state but there are exclusions preventing wrongful termination if it is against the law to do something or against public policy.

If there had not been another nurse in the immediate area to have answered the call light, & if I were employed at that facility & not on the time clock, I would have answered it the light & relayed the residents needs to the nurse in charge. Since you were at the desk, it was probably thought you were on duty. Since others were there who were on duty, they should be reprimanded  for not answering it. You need to find a good attorney & fight this. Older, responsible nurses are hard to find & most needs their jobs as well as any. Next time, I would find a different place to do the paper work when not on the time clock. So sorry about you being fired,especially for something like that.

The call bell was answered immediately by someone else but not the nurse at the nurses station another aid or activity person.  I was heard by a corporate person at the desk that i can't answer the bell because I was off duty.  It was an unfortunate incident. I should have been less concientious and not said anything and moved on.  But it was an instinct of mine to reply to anyone immediately and the nurses at the nurse station just sat there.  They still have there jobs.  I don't and i'm appoaching 60 years ol and can't find a job.   I loved my job there and I wanted to retire there.

Go Shanna...

HMMMM

" This can become," a very debatable topic," when it comes to," answering callbells,change of shifts,report, the count,etc."

   There are numerous questions that arise,though too long to discuss here.The main concern is," you just never know".

   True account,occured more than 20 yrs.ago.I was the Charge Nurse,LTC;breakfast time and am cares were in progress.

   **The infamous,callbell rang without being answered in,"timely-fashion".Turns out to be,"electrical fire in the room".**

    Fortunately,Fire Department,Nursing staff safely,"evacuated the residents within close-proximaty,and the appropriate repairs

   to the building were completed.Human life is priceless; why nickel and dime it for what its worth."