Assignment Despite Objection
Please use the digital forms above, as they are faster and easier to process. If you are unable to use the online form, you can also download a physical copy of the inpatient or outpatient form that can be scanned and emailed to us here.
What is the ADO Form?
The ADO form is used to document unsafe staffing levels or skill mix, lack of training, lack of necessary equipment or orientation to a unit, equipment failure or lack of supplies, missed meals/breaks, workplace violence, and more. The ADO should be seen as a legal and professional safeguard for workers and patients. Filing an ADO does not mean refusing the assignment, and staff should proceed with the assignment after filing unless it would violate licensure laws or professional standards.
Here are some of the common uses for an ADO form:
Protecting staff: By documenting the concern to a supervisor, the worker is creating a paper trail that can help protect them from liability if something goes wrong.
Notifying management: It alerts supervisors that the worker believes the assignment is sub-standard and therefore potentially unsafe, giving management a chance to respond or adjust the assignment in the moment and ensuring they cannot later plead ignorance of the issue.
Improving patient care conditions: Repeated ADOs can provide evidence of systemic issues (like understaffing, inadequate training, or unsafe patient ratios) that need to be addressed in order to better care for our patients.
Supporting collective action: Unions like UPTE often use ADOs to document contract violations or support our efforts to win better working and patient care conditions.