this is why I want to call off on my last day

Nurses General Nursing

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I have given my two weeks notice in and I'm tempting to call off on my last day. I was wondering why my coworkers have been doing this but now I totally understand.

I was treated very differently in my last two weeks: People order lunch take-outs without asking me, they sit at different tables during lunches. One day, I was the only one without an orientee. Those who I considered "my friend" are distancing themselves. I have always been considerate for my coworkers and I get along with most people at work, this does hurt my feelings.

In addition, the morale at my work is very low. I am the 5th nurse quit on my floor in the past two months. We lost more than half of our staff in the past two years. The administration does not care. We worked short for so long and now they finally brought in agency nurses.

anyway, I don't want to burn any bridges but now I know why it has been a tradition at my work to call off on the last day. I love my job but I just hate to be there.

Work the last day. Take some food in as a gift to your coworkers. Thank each one who has been good to you, just say good bye and good wishes to the others, if any.

Don't sacrifice your rehire ability or lose your vacation time (which I don't think would be kosher with the Dept. of Labor, but I'm not sure about that). Soon it will all be over and you will not have burned your bridges with these people.

Work the last day. Take some food in as a gift to your coworkers. Thank each one who has been good to you, just say good bye and good wishes to the others, if any.

Don't sacrifice your rehire ability or lose your vacation time (which I don't think would be kosher with the Dept. of Labor, but I'm not sure about that). Soon it will all be over and you will not have burned your bridges with these people.

The DOL does not regulate benefit time.

Calling off would, in my opinion, further the "people are a convenience" culture you're experiencing. It would be saying: "Since I don't get the social support I want, you're no longer of use to me, and calling off is easier to do. Whether my call off hurts you or not is of no consequence to me."

So, your first decision is whether you want to play their game or not. Calling off is playing their game. The second (and third, and fourth, and infinity) decision you're facing is whether to act like that yourself, or not, the next time this sort of thing presents itself to you. Next time you're leaving a job, perhaps you won't feel so burnt by the reaction of others if you see it for what it is. Also, when you're on the other side of the fence and someone else is the one leaving, you'll perhaps not be like your current coworkers are being.

What great advice!

If you don't like/agree with the way these people are acting, why in the world would you want to "reply in kind" i.e. act like they do?

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

If you ever want to be able to use these people as a professional reference I suggest you work out your last day.

I wouldn't. It's your last shift. It's like a break-up...you are getting to leave, getting what you want. Work the job you were hired to do. Calling out on the last shift adds to the culture that you say you want to leave.

As frustrating as this situation can be, you always have an opportunity to make it the best and safest shift possible. And never let nitwits dictate what you do, or lower your own standards and integrity.

Do the right thing, it doesnt matter what other people are doing, only what YOU do. Do you want future employers to find out you chickened out on your last day? Nursing can be a very small world sometimes, dont burn bridges over stupid nonsensical stuff.

If you ever want to be able to use these people as a professional reference I suggest you work out your last day.

Even if one has no plans to use anyone from a facility as a professional reference, one should bear in mind that a prospective employer is not prohibited from contacting a previous employer to verify employment history, during which the previous employer is free to provide any information they wish, as long as it is factual.

Did you really just ask a bunch of nurse whether you should stick it to a bunch of nurses?

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Work the last day. Take some food in as a gift to your coworkers. Thank each one who has been good to you, just say good bye and good wishes to the others, if any.

Don't sacrifice your rehire ability or lose your vacation time (which I don't think would be kosher with the Dept. of Labor, but I'm not sure about that). Soon it will all be over and you will not have burned your bridges with these people.

THIS. Have some class. Leave on a good note. You never know when you will meet these folks again. Nursing's a small world. Rise above and be nice. Do NOT leave them short-staffed. That is beneath you as a professional. You AGREED to work that shift, so do it.

I have found in life the best course is to always take the high road. Don't let them drag you down to their level or give them the satisfaction.

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
At my facility, a no call/no show or calling off the last day puts you on the do not hire list (including all 14 of the parent organization's sites in 2 states). Are you certain you will never want to work for that facility again or any of its affiliated sites?
Agreed. I would think really hard about this before you decide whether to call off on the final day. Your facility may consider it as not fulfilling your notice--and in all honesty, they have a strong case. Look at it this way: less than 2 weeks and you're out of there. So why not leave on the best terms possible...especially since a. you may find yourself applying to work for them again, b. even at another facility, you may find yourself working with/under someone from your former facility and/or c. nursing is a small world and you'd be surprised who knows who and where. Not having an orientee...well, I can understand that especially as you're leaving. Don't take that one personally. Best of luck whatever you decide.

Past experience has taught me the following: (1) People you though were your staunchest supporters will turn on you when you resign; (2) People who barely acknowledged your presence will back you up when #1 occurs; (3) Management's going to pull a fast one on you somewhere. My solution has been to kill 'em with kindness - a good departure is something you'll always cherish, and #1 & #3 will always get theirs somewhere along the line. JMHO.

----- Dave

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