2 weeks notice

[Powerof3jlw]

I am a new grad. I am currently in orientation on a CCU and was informed a couple of weeks ago that I was not meeting their expectations. They said that they would extend my orientation a few more weeks and at the end of that time, if I was still not meeting their expectations, I would be let go. I was also told that there were no other positions available at the hospital and that this is a terrible time to be looking for a job because of the December grads looking for positions. Needless to say, I have been completely stressed out since that conversation and have tried to work on those skills that were brought up in the meeting. However, based on comments made by my preceptor, I feel certain that I will be let go when I next meet with my NM. In order to avoid being let go, I am thinking of submitting a letter of resignation, giving 2 weeks notice.

My question to all of you who may have been in a similar situation is this: Once I turn in my letter of resignation with my last day of work stated in the body of the letter, I plan on working out my two-week notice. Since I am an orientee, what do I do if my manager insists on me leaving the hospital at the time that I hand her my letter? I am planning on giving HR a copy of the letter as well. If my NM does tell me to leave immediately, will my resignation letter still take precedence over being summarily dismissed? Should I go to HR before leaving the hospital to inform them that my NM has asked me to leave?

Any advice that you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[BettyBoop01]

My advice is different because I am a new grad and the job market is awful. At this point does it matter if you resign or get fired? I am guessing you cant use this place as a reference either way right?. If you give 2 wks they will not have you finish they are not going to want to incur the training costs of orienting you for 2 more weeks if you are not staying. My best advice would be to start looking for somthing else and if you find something else quit. If not, then stay until they make you leave and try your best. Maybe file for unemployment if they let you go. The only issue with this is that ever yjob app now asks "have you ever been let go or asked to resign" and you need to know how you will answer that question. If you quit, without being asked to resign you can honestly say you didnt like it and left on your own.

I dont think Id want to stay in a place that made me feel that way it must be incredibly stressful for you. Keep trying your best and try to line up something else asap! Remember everything happens for a reason, so if this door closes another will open. Being a new grad is stressful enough on a regular floor I cant imagine what ccu is lke! They picked you dfor this position so you must have something going for you! hang in there.

[Tsiasn]

Wow, this is such a hard situation.

I'm not goint to tell you what to do, but i know i've been there and felt that way; critical care is NOT easy starting off in and your preceptors can really make or break you.

I hope you come to the conclusion that's best for you!!!

[LaxNP, DNP]

Why not ask about having the manager help find another job within the facility. They have spent a good amount of money orienting you so far, this may help solve the issue and find something you can excel at. I come from a peds ICU and have seen this often. Some people are meant for certain areas and some people might not cut it. Cannot fault you for wanting to find your area. Many times, if someone isn't cutting it, the manager will help keep them with the company. However, I work at a very large hospital system and this is easier done there, but not sure of your area.

[Upgrading_Status, BSN, MSN, RN, NP]

Don't quit. Try your best to improve, extend your orientation. Do you feel as if they are testing you?

How is the rapport among your colleagues?

What is the purpose of a nurse educator? It is my understanding that they can smooth issues like this out.

[OutdoorRN]

Have you suggested getting another preceptor? Maybe there is someone who can train you with a differnt tactic?

[WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN]

I was in the same boat you were in. Thought I was doing ok, but then told by my preceptor that I wasn't meeting expectations and that I was coming across as not wanting to learn. I talked to my preceptor and our staff educator to find out what I was doing wrong and how to improve. I still wasn't improving to their standards. I had a heart to heart with my nurse manager and came to the conclusion that step down for surgical ICU was not a good fit for me as a new grad RN even though I had worked similar units before as an LPN. She actually applauded my maturity coming to this conclusion on my own and she assisted me in getting the transfer process started. Unfortunately there were no new grad positions anymore at that hospital and I was unable to secure employment and hubby and I had to move back home. She said I could use her as a reference and I even called her before interviews and asked her advice on how to interview from a managers view. I'm still looking for a job a year later and the nurse retention manager at that hospital came to the conclusion that my problem was not that I couldn't handle the unit, but that I was not handling the LPN to RN transition well and no one caught on until too late. I wasn't on the job long enough to get unemployment so I can't advise you there, but I agree with another poster....ask for a different preceptor it couldn't hurt right? I think I should have asked for another one even though I think she did the best she could. Don't give up.

[rn4ever?]

How about asking for a new preceptor, have you tried that? I'm not saying I'm right, but it's possible that your current preceptor is the one dragging you down and causing you all these issues. How's your rapport with her, with the rest of the team?

Quit only if you can afford it. But if not, hang in there.....the job market is not too promising right now.

[cecilsgirl]

OP, do you feel you are not a 'GOOD FIT".. I'm wondering .. what does that really mean? Others have suggested to use those words. It seems to be used a lot these days--- does that wording really mean anything besides, " I was asked not to work there anymore?"

Please know I am thinking about you, Good Luck, what were some of the reasons they said you were not going to make it there?, if you could share..

[coolpeach]

I was in a similar situation at the beginning of the year. Somehow the 3 interns (I was one of them) got on the bad side of the nurse manager, but I am not sure how. She never fires anyone, but instead makes things so horrible the quit. She did this and one by one the interns started to quit .....until there was me. I am older, have a family to support, and I wasn't going to quit.

I dealt with horrible schedules, preceptors from hell, scary assignments, and much more. I held on tight, and kept making it through day by day. This manager had several people who she was personal pals with. They went out to clubs, an hung out etc. These people also ran to her with everything they could eaves drop on, or tattle about. The remaining nurses were terrified of her because they felt one wrong move or word would be their job. She ended up putting one her buds as my preceptor, and my life became hell. I am sure that this preceptor was given instructions, and they had powwows, and laughing sessions on planning my demise, and laughing at my fear. This preceptor was also angry because I took her friends job so that didn't help. I was doing great until out of the blue my manager moved me to this particular preceptor after she ran the other two interns off.

Anyway, after a bit with this wonderful teacher I was called in and given the same speech as you. I knew my days were numbered...I just knew it. I knew if I really wanted I could stick it out, but I was afraid that they would put me in a situation where made a mistake and put my license at risk. I knew if I did hang on that eventually they would just fire me.

I had not been at the job long enough to get unemployment so that didn't matter either way. I was afraid that being fired from my first job would make it much harder to find another job. I don't know if this is true, but its what I was afraid would happen. I was also afraid that if I gave my two weeks notice that they would walk me out.

I ended up going over my managers head to her boss. I knew she was aware of what went on, but of course she acted like my best friend in the world. I told her about the difficult time I was having, and how it just wasn't a good fit. I didn't bring up all the bad stuff that was going on. I explained I just wanted out with a clean record, a letter of recommendation, and to work out my last two weeks. I said it in such a way, and made eye contact to let her know I knew she knew what was going on (if that makes sense). She did not want to risk me causing a stink, and I am sure she wanted the manager underneath her to be happy so she agreed.

We set the following Monday to turn in my letter of resignation. I typed it up all official with "not a good fit". They did not want to pay a nurse to continue my internship with me since I was leaving so I made discharge for calls for 12 hours a day for two weeks (not fun, but I was getting paid). They wrote me a letter of recommendation, and even put it on good paper, and in a pretty envelope. She gave me her personal number to use as a reference.

I started putting in online apps the weekend before I officially turned in my letter of resignation. I got a call that first week for a online interview. I went to an interview the second week, and got the job. The job was actually at my first choice for a hospital, but they weren't hiring when I graduated. So there were three days there that I actually officially had two jobs LOL. I am also listed as a rehire so thats good even though I would never go back there.

This is just what I did, and I think I got really lucky here. I hope you do too.

[wondern, ASN]

:hug:

[Jules A, MSN]

OP, do you feel you are not a 'GOOD FIT".. I'm wondering .. what does that really mean? Others have suggested to use those words. It seems to be used a lot these days--- does that wording really mean anything besides, " I was asked not to work there anymore?"

Please know I am thinking about you, Good Luck, what were some of the reasons they said you were not going to make it there?, if you could share..

I think a "GOOD FIT" is a legitimate term and it goes both ways. There is no shame in acknowledging that some units are not a complimentary situation for all personalities, styles or skill sets. I'm leaving a unit that was not a "GOOD FIT" for me. It had some good points (I loved the staff) and bad points, as do I, but our core values and approaches to nursing this particular population didn't jive. Simple as that so when this became apparent I found another gig. I won't own all of it because I know that I am a competent nurse, have been successful and am appreciated at my other job. This unit's management just didn't mesh with me. I was not asked to leave although I think I heard an audible sigh of relief when I gave my notice.