If you go home immediately after falling ill without informing your supervisor, what have you committed?

If a CNA leaves work due to illness without notifying their supervisor, the most appropriate choice is that they have seriously abandoned the patients. Abandonment in a healthcare context refers to a healthcare provider leaving their assigned duties or patients without proper notification or transition to another qualified individual, potentially putting patients at risk.

In this scenario, the CNA's failure to inform their supervisor means there is no plan in place for the continuity of care needed by the patients. Patients rely on their caregivers for safety, support, and care, and leaving abruptly can lead to neglect of their needs. It's essential for healthcare staff to follow protocols for reporting illnesses and arranging coverage to ensure patient safety and well-being.

Other options, while they might suggest mitigating circumstances, do not adequately address the ethical and legal implications of patient abandonment. Simply having enough sick time or having completed previous work does not change the immediate responsibility to ensure patients are cared for. Leaving without communication undermines the trust and safety that patients expect in a healthcare setting.