having to tell your manager you're quitting....the good, bad, and ugly

Nurses General Nursing

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Well, I am thinking about getting a new job, and just thinking about having to tell my manager that I am leaving is giving me the heebie jeebies. I've done it2 times before and it still creeps me out. Just the fear of not knowing how they will react-how do you say it? then, 30 day notice before leaving? Working out that 30 days, having everyone ask you why you're leaving, etc etc. honestly, hearing people say they'll miss you over and over again is hard!

first manager, I said " I found a new position" and she said "awww, man"

second one, I honestly dont remeber what she said.

so, when you told your boss you were quitting, how did it go? good? bad? funny? how was your last 30 days (2 weeks, whatever your notice was)? This job (if I leave) is going to be harder b/c its in home case management so I have clients of my own that I will have to say goodbye to over and over again.

anyways, whats your story?

It depends on why I am leaving the job, I have faxed a resignation letter with 2 weeks notice, at Christmas time, because the manager had been horrible to me.

I have left to pursue further education, and the manager tried to convince me to stay by telling me I'd have to pay for my benefits out of pocket (Instead of telling me that I was needed, an asset etc.)

I have left because I was being harassed by a manager and she was soliciting nurses to report every little thing I said and did.

I have left because my schedule was constantly changing, so gave notice to return to prn (casual) as it gave me more flexibility and consistency.

It is rare that they are happy to see you go, and I have heard my current manager berate ppl who have left behind their backs and in front of other staff for leaving her "stuck". Truth is, they are always stuck, so there is never a good time to leave.

Sometimes I feel like they are driving me out, and then they seem shocked when I go. Go figure.

Specializes in Cadiothoracic, psychiatric.

When I left my last nursing job, my manager said, "I figured." I was kind of surprised she said that... but I was moving back home to my family after being away for a year.

Honestly I was nervous telling her, but I did it in person. Some of my co-workers told me I could have just emailed my manager, but I don't think that is professional at all! How awkward would that have been the next day after she read it?

My old company wanted a 4 week notice, but I was so DONE that I just worked 3 weeks. They didn't hold it against me. I easily got another job pretty quick.

I love my new job, by the way!!!!

Specializes in Med Surg.

Always document your notice and if possible get a signed copy of it from HR. If they go ahead and fire you over the notice you should be able to stick them for unemployment - as long as your documentation is in order.

On another track, when I had an employee quit, I would wish them luck and tell them if the new job worked out well to let me know - I might have wanted to follow them.

Specializes in LDRP.
My big problem with leaving is everyone experssing their opinions on whether they think it's a good move for me or not. They seem to think it's their job to approve/disapprove of my decision. I would be happy with a simple; "best of luck to you, you'll be missed!"

i've gotten that before, when i left my last job. i was told by one nurse that she did some clinical rotations there in school and it was really boring and she hated it and the nurse she shadowed hated it too. I was told by another nurse that she knew someone who worked there before and she hated it too. after i already accepted the job there....whats the point?

Specializes in ER, Medical/Surgical.

When I first put my resignation in my boss went and told everyone I work with. She was very nice about my leaving and said that she would miss me a lot. The next day I get to work and everyone is saying "Why are you leaving?" and "Don't leave, stay with us." that next day i retracted my resignation. As I drove home and thought about it more I knew I wanted to be a charge nurse and had to leave my current job even though I loved the people I worked with. Thats when I decided to email my manager which turned into a two page story telling her how much I loved the unit, how much I was going to miss everyone, and how everyone asking me about leaving was making it harder. I went in after that time off and she said that she got the feeling I really wanted to leave now and was going to leave the decision to me. I chose to leave but I totally understand where you are coming from when you say it's hard to leave. It really is!

Specializes in FNP.

How about:

"I'm leaving for a new opportunity. This is my 6 weeks notice, my last day is______. Best wishes to you. Have a nice day." Hand a properly typed letter espousing the same thing, and you're done. What so hard about that?

Listen, I've been a manager, we don't take it personally. Go with god.

My unit has had several nurses quit because we have a manager that's not supportive AND hospital big wigs that's hypocritical and all about the bottom line (even though this puts patients at risk). It doesn't really matter which words you use, just as long as it's professional. I know it's hard feeling unvalued and all those hours of "going above and beyond" go unnoticed but WE know and our patients know how good a job we do to care for them.

Best of luck to you.

Specializes in LDRP.
How about:

"I'm leaving for a new opportunity. This is my 6 weeks notice, my last day is______. Best wishes to you. Have a nice day." Hand a properly typed letter espousing the same thing, and you're done. What so hard about that?

Listen, I've been a manager, we don't take it personally. Go with god.

Glad its so easy for you. Big, life changing decisions and the conversations that go along with them aren't the easiest thing for me, and I'm glad they aren't. If they were, then I might not be so cautious when making those decisions.

I did put on my big girl panties and dealt with it professionally. The world didn't end, and I didn't throw up or cry

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