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

Nurses New Nurse

Published

Hello everyone, I need some advice!I'm a new grad, I just graduated in September and was offered a job right out of school in an area I really love. The hospital is great, conveniently close, etc. I love it and could see myself staying here indefinitely...but I can't. I only live here right now because my wife is finishing up her master's in social work. She will be finished next May and already has a job offer (they paid for her schooling so she can't turn it down) all the way on the other side of the country. Which means this May, I will be leaving my new job. I feel horrible about it - as a new grad, I will be on orientation for most of this time. The hospital is paying a lot of money to train me, and I'm going to leave as soon as they start to see a return. My contract doesn't say I have to stay, but I just don't know what to do. Staying is clearly not an option unless I want to leave my wife, and I don't. The hospital has no idea I plan on leaving next year, and I feel no one would have hired me if they knew that. Had anyone asked if I planned to stay, I would have told them, but no one did. Anyone have similar experience? I feel like they will hate me when I leave and might even write me bad recommendations for a new job. Bt honestly I don't know what else to do - I couldn't have just not work these 8 or so months waiting on my wife to graduate, I needed to make money and start paying back my loans and didn't want to forget all of my nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well it isn't fair to your employer, however there really isn't anything to be done about it. You are leaving no matter what. I would at least give them a heads up when it gets much closer to the time. Maybe a 3-4 week notice vs the typical 2 week.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

YOU have to do what is best for YOUR family. It is unfortunate for the hospital yes, but this is a situation that I'm sure happens a lot! Maybe not specifically but plenty of people get on their own after orientation and decide the position is not right for them or that it is not a good fit. Give your notice when you are ready to leave and explain your situation. I don't think your nurse manager will be happy, but I'm sure they will understand. :) High five for getting hired as a new grad btw!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I certainly wouldn't worry too much or feel bad at all. Those same hospitals will discard you like yesterdays trash and not even blink. Give the customary 2 week notice and that should suffice.Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You're right, they wouldn't have hired you if they'd known, and they will "hate" you when you leave (you will probably be flagged as "ineligible for rehire," at a minimum). You made the best choice you could make for yourself in the circumstances.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

so staying back a few months is completely not an option? maybe when the end comes you can word your excuse in wuch a way as to cloud the truth and have them hate you less . .......

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Give them a written resignation explaining that it is difficult to resign, but you have to move. Give them a month of notice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You're right, they wouldn't have hired you if they'd known, and they will "hate" you when you leave (you will probably be flagged as "ineligible for rehire," at a minimum). You made the best choice you could make for yourself in the circumstances.

You have got to be kidding me? Why on earth would someone be marked as inelgible for rehire because they quit? That would only happen if sufficient notice were not given, not because someone decided to or had to move and leave the position. To the OP, do not stress over this one bit. There are so many people who quit on my unit before even a half year was up, it is very commonplace. You don't owe the hospital anything but a thank you for the experience and the job. The more notice you can give the better. You only need to let them know you have to move out of state for your wife's job, nobody needs to know this plan was in the works before you were hired in. That is your business. Please don't worry, it really is not a big deal. Hospitals claim that they spend tons of money training new nurses, but honestly I don't believe it. There would be a whole lot more contracts being signed that hold you to a committment. I am just glad that you are having a good time earning your stripes ;o)!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree with NoviceRN10. You don't have to tell them that it was in the plans, rather you can be honest and say that you have to move because of your wife's job. They can't hold that against you because you have to move for your family. There are tons of reasons people quit their jobs and family is one of them and they cannot hold a grudge against you because of that. Either way, it sounds like you will be moving and you will have some good experience to help you get a future job. Additionally, like the others have said, hospitals train people all the time and while it seems like they are doing you a huge favor, really they are looking out for themselves, plus they are used to this. Turnover in hospitals and healthcare is high, so you aren't catching anybody off guard! Seriously. I know the unit that I first got hired on before I graduated paid to train me and once I got my RN I never worked as an RN there because I got a better job offer, of course I turned in my notice and the manager was rude about it, but whatever. Then two years later I went back to the same hospital system and was not blacklisted or flagged as ineligible or anything and I have worked on two different units for 2 years now. Unless you do something insane and don't give notice and aren't a good employee there is NO REASON they should even consider you ineligible for rehire. PLUS you didn't sign a contract of any kind, so you aren't obligated to them for any reason.

Just enjoy your experience and don't reveal the future plan with your coworkers, that is where you need to watch yourself...IMO...people gossip enough without needing to add some fuel to the fire.

Good luck to you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in hospice.
so staying back a few months is completely not an option? maybe when the end comes you can word your excuse in wuch a way as to cloud the truth and have them hate you less . .......

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.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It's good that you "feel bad" because it means you have a conscience.

However, I agree with everyone else. Look out for yourself. That's what the hospitals do! (Remember, "corporations are people too.") :roflmao:

Seriously, I would give a one month notice and just tell them that you have to move for your wife's job and it's not an option to stay. That being said, I wouldn't get too "chummy" with the people you work with and tell them about your wife being in school and how your family lives elsewhere, etc, etc. When the time comes, people will put pieces together and figure out that you knew when you took the job that you were leaving.

In the end, it wouldn't really matter, but I think it would be best for you and future references if you make it seem like something you hadn't planned for.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Well it isn't fair to your employer, however there really isn't anything to be done about it. You are leaving no matter what. I would at least give them a heads up when it gets much closer to the time. Maybe a 3-4 week notice vs the typical 2 week.

I agree 100% ... Unfortunately, I will have to do the very same thing in about two months; however, I will give them the heads up one month before I leave. I am sad to be leaving this job, but I must do what is right for my family. Don't feel bad or sad you are not alone and given the current situation in our country, they will understand.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment