Feeling guilty..

Nurses General Nursing

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Okay so I have been at my current peds office job for about 6 months. Last week, a nurse resigned with no notice. Today, we were told that another nurse resigned and that her last day is in 3 weeks. Between the first nurse quitting last week and finding out that the other nurse quit today, the children's hospital in my area called me for an interview. I have been fighting tooth and nail for over a year to get an interview at this facility and I am beyond excited. My manager at the office knows that my goal was to end up at this facility, I told her when she asked me my long term career goals at my interview.

She pulled me into her office today to talk about giving me more responsibility and she told me that she loves my personality and that she thinks I will do very well with these new jobs. She seemed really excited that I decided to go full time (I was PT when I was hired)

My interview is in 2 days and I have no idea how I'm going to break the news to her. I was thinking of doing it after the interview is already done. I seriously love everyone I work with and I really like my manager so it's going to be really tough if it comes down to me leaving if I were to be hired by the hospital. I think what I have a hard time with is knowing that I would be leaving them in a really bad place staffing wise. I think it's so difficult BECAUSE I like everyone. If I were miserable, it would be a different story.

I know she hired 2 new nurses, but they don't start until the end of the month. Plus they still have to pass their boards and be trained.

Has anyone ever dealt with an issue like this? Advice would be awesome.

Give a month's notice?

Give a month's notice?

I was thinking about that, but when I applied at this hospital previously it said that they only hold 1 training session a month, and it's at the beginning of each month I think. So, IF i were to be hired and gave a month's notice that would delay my orientation until September and I don't want that to affect their decision. I don't want to get ahead of myself, I haven't been interviewed or hired, but I'm trying to plan ahead, haha

I would then just tell her straight up that you're trying to get on at the hospital and will give 2 weeks notice when you receive an opportunity. I might offer some per diem shifts to help train the new staff.

Specializes in Pediatics, Family Practice.

It's good that you're thinking ahead. Be sure that you are aware of your current jobs policy on giving notice. Most jobs want 2 weeks, but some want 3 weeks or more. You need to know this anyway, so you can be sure when you let the potential new employer know when you can start. Never feel guilty about doing what's best for you. Always think what your employer would do....the employer would do whatever is in their best interest. The current job has hired new staff. If you can't train them, your manager or someone else will. Good luck on your interview :)

You don't have a job offer yet ...and there's a possibility that you might not get one. Don't get too far ahead of yourself. Go to the interview, see what they say, then decide what to do. Bringing this up to your current employer, at this point, would be foolish.

If the office wants to retain staff, they can offer better pay, better benefits and better working conditions. They could also hire established employees instead of new grads who do tend to move on rather quickly.

If the office is left short staffed, I guarantee you it won't be the first time. It's also not your fault. Just give customary notice when you actually get offered a new job that you want, and move on.

You don't have a job offer yet ...and there's a possibility that you might not get one. Don't get too far ahead of yourself. Go to the interview, see what they say, then decide what to do. Bringing this up to your current employer, at this point, would be foolish.

If the office wants to retain staff, they can offer better pay, better benefits and better working conditions. They could also hire established employees instead of new grads who do tend to move on rather quickly.

If the office is left short staffed, I guarantee you it won't be the first time. It's also not your fault. Just give customary notice when you actually get offered a new job that you want, and move on.

When would you tell her? My interview is tomorrow before my shift at the office. I don't know if I should let her know tomorrow after the interview so she's not surprised if she gets a phone call from them? I'm just nervous that they will call her as my reference before offering me a job (if they make an offer) before they give me a chance to give her a heads up. I don't want her to be blind sided.

do hospitals typically make job offers THEN call references?

When would you tell her? My interview is tomorrow before my shift at the office. I don't know if I should let her know tomorrow after the interview so she's not surprised if she gets a phone call from them? I'm just nervous that they will call her as my reference before offering me a job (if they make an offer) before they give me a chance to give her a heads up. I don't want her to be blind sided.

do hospitals typically make job offers THEN call references?

If I was you I would go to the interview and wait. If everything goes well and HR gives you a call because the manager wants to hire you, they will tell you what their process and outline is. If they want to go ahead they will check references first. If the references come back ok, they will make you an offer. At that time you can discuss if you want to take it and also how much notice you have to give and go from there.

If your current manager is one of your references, you should tell her that you applied but to be honest, it would be better to have a different person give you a good reference if possible.

Things can fall through and if you tell your current manager before you have an offer it may not be in your favor all around.

Since you don't have a job offer yet, I wouldn't say anything. I'm going through this now so here's what I did. I went on interviews and waited for offers. When I received the offer I wanted, I started their hiring process which included a background check. Where it asked "may we contact your current employer" I said, "No, I haven't given notice yet". I was hired contingent upon a reference from my current employer. Once I gave notice (I was required to give 4 weeks), I then contacted HR with my nurse manager's contact information. That way, my current NM found out from me that I was leaving, not by some random background check company and my new employer (which is actually a previous employer as well) knows that I'm decent enough to give the required notice. It worked out well for all parties. Good luck!

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