New Grad Quitting After Less Than a Year (advice!)

netglow, ASN, RN · Nov 24, 2012

If you can at all, stay.

What's 6 months or a year? Remember, her job might not work out... and, people do this kind of thing all the time. Also, do you read all the crap that hits the fan on this board? Most out there for NGs is crap, and chances are 99% that your new gig [ IF ] you even get one will be crap.

08RNGrad · Nov 24, 2012

my facility requires a 1 month notice. Do not assume 2 weeks is sufficient, look into your facilities HR manual and see what it is there. Life happens, explain you are leaving b/c your wife's career. They will be disappointed, but that's life. Best of luck.

Stcroix, ASN, PhD, RN · Nov 25, 2012

I have read a lot of threads that discuss a hospital makes a large investment in training a newbie. I am sure to a degree there is truth there. What I have not read was that the reciprocal must happen as well. By that I mean, doesn't it seem possible that another newbie trained at another hospital is forced to move to the aforementioned hospital's area and joins the staff with minimal training? After all, some folks leave the system that trained them, but others move in, right? I know some go to home health etc and never return, but I know for a fact that highly trained people move into the system too. Just my 2 cents.

FurBabyMom, MSN, RN · Nov 25, 2012

I left two positions within my first year as a new grad. One was horrible beyond measure and there would have been major repercussions with respect to licensure had I stayed and/or known more about my first employer as an RN. As it is, the BON in that state, the Office of the Inspector General, FBI, and five other government agencies are investigating that facility. The facility is in an area to get patients from multiple states automatically making it a federal matter (interstate vs intrastate commerce). As it turns out, most of my friends that stayed while waiting to find employment elsewhere (I realized about 4 weeks in what a mess it was, and had interviewed for 4 other positions at multiple organizations by week 10), were laid off in a round of lay offs this past spring...in the end it wouldn't have mattered. I left after 11 weeks. And I started my second job a week later.

My second job was (initially) awesome compared to my first. I learned so much. They took a risk on me knowing they hired me from out of state with a 75 mile one way commute to work. I had to have emergency surgery and was off work 3 weeks, during that time my parents were relocated cross country for my dad's job. That made it hard, sure. But I came back to work when I was released following my recovery, I relaized things had shifted/changed. I did my best and then some. I worked over, and got the crap end of the stick related to lax management on that unit. I don't know why it was even allowed that the schedule was released that only 2 licensed staff members were scheduled on several night shifts. I don't know why the 'rules' about "mandation" in a state that did not allow mandation were applied to only some staff members (coincidentally all newer grads and newer staff).

The job I have now, I happened to look to see what kind of stuff exists for options for when I'd completed my year - to move closer to my family. A program with an internship style orientation in a specialty I was always attracted to drew my attention. I initially applied because, you know, the worst (and most likely) response would be no. I got selected for an interview. I did well in my interview but it was super competitive...I figured I would get a response indicating I had not been chosen. Imagine my surprise when one day I was in the middle of sleeping for work, I happened to hear my phone ring, I answered it, and the department HR rep was calling with an offer!

I think there is a reason to be courteous to your employers, if for no other reason than the references. But sometimes things just happen the way they are supposed to happen. I met with my boss and personally told her about my resignation with a letter. She accepted it, but she said she hadn't expected me to return from medical leave. I called off once in 9 months! Seriously! Get a grip! Okay then. I then offered to work an extra two weeks because I had time to kill before moving but staffing was incredibly bad. Which is just an example of why that unit is in such a bad place with staffing. About half the people on the unit were looking to leave when I left.

LobotRN, BSN, RN · Nov 25, 2012

Sorry if this has been said before...but your employer, per your post, doesn't know jack. Get over it, give a professional notice, make plans and start getting ready for the interview/job hunt mayhem coming your way, and tell your current employer:

"Thank you so much for allowing me to be part of your team. My wife has secured a position out of the area. We are leaving on such/n/such date. I will be available until x.x.x dates for shifts, and will do what is possible in the time left to make for a smooth transition."

Get on getting on.

BTW, best of luck to you!

justin.j · Nov 25, 2012

I agree with what many have said here. You have to do what's best for you. However, keep in mind that what's best for you will take into consideration your future employment. Before going into nursing school, I worked as an HR manager and I can tell you that I always appreciated having more than 2 weeks notice when someone was leaving. Even if you weren't there for a year, you would probably be more likely to get a positive reference if you're upfront and honest. If you tell them 2 weeks before you leave that you're leaving because you're moving, clearly they're going to know that you've had this information for a while. No guarantees you'll get a good recommendation, but you may as well do your best to try for one. Good luck to you! :-)

Anoetos, BSN, RN · Nov 25, 2012

I don't know what kind of protection you have where you work, but from a basic ethical perspective, the right thing to do is to tell your employer what's going on. This may cause problems right now but it will make explaining it to future potential employers easier.

Like most others have said, you must do what is right for your family. I wouldn't worry about what the facility thinks, you can bet that if they needed to lay you off, they wouldn't hesitate.

I hope everything works out and that you'll return to let us know how it goes.

DizzyLizzyNurse · Nov 25, 2012

Can't you just stay for a little while after your wife leaves? That way you stay a respectable amount of time (maybe 6 months after orientation) so it looks good on your resume. My brother and his fiance are doing this now. She is a lawyer but many people decided to become lawyers just like nurses and she had trouble getting a job. She finally got a job offer....and then my brother got a promotion at a job across the state. She didn't want to quit the job after only working for a couple months and my brother didn't want to turn down the promotion so she is staying with a friend here to get some experience and then plans to move with my brother across the state. My parents did this when we were kids as well. I come from a military family and we had to move often enough as it was. My parents didn't want us to have to move overseas a few times as well so my dad went without us and then came home.

If you look around you can get decent airplane prices or you can drive if it's close enough. You can talk on the phone and Skype. But I think you will have a hard time getting another job if you just leave right away. Don't take it for granted that you will get a second job as easily as you did you the first one.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Nov 25, 2012

I agree with not giving them more than the required notice. Why should you give more notice? Your employer certainly won't extend the courtesy. Give the proper notice that your facility requires and leave it at that.

Crazed · Nov 25, 2012

He's supposed to just break up his family for months because of a job? As one poster said, this hospital would toss him like yesterday's trash if they thought it would serve their interests. They all would. In cases of absolute necessity, people have to separate for a time, but it should never be something that is chosen. Can I ask, are you married or do you have kids? Because I can't imagine someone with a family actually suggesting this.

I have a family and I can say that this is hard but doable. The fact of the matter is this economy is forcing us all to make some difficult choices. He should think about this in the long term - stay where he is and get 18 months of experience, move, and negotiate for better pay, or move to be with the wife while she's in school.

It's a short term solution to a long term problem and makes total sense.

Mulan · Nov 25, 2012

Where is the OP?

Is this a legitimate thread or one started only to get a discussion going?

IcySageNurse · Nov 30, 2012

Thanks for comments all, it's very helpful. Those suggesting staying, no. I cannot stay here for 6 months to a year while my life moves across the country on her own. Neither of us would be happy and I am not going to hurt my family like that just for an employer.