Want to resign outright. What happens?

Nurses Professionalism

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I am in a horrible position in a facility which I want to run not walk from, ASAP. I don't care about the money anymore ...I WILL lose my license in this place if I stay. (Luckily my spouse earns enough that I can quit for a few months if need be -- wont be fun, but I can do it). I don't appreciate the co-workers, the managers the docs, ANYTHING about it and I want to go. In fact, I want to turn in my resignation this week. However, I've always, always been a conscientious person and never wanted to leave anyone in a lurch and I don't want to mess up a good employment record either.

What repercussions could I face if I resigned immediately from this part time position?

In my area, jobs are not as plenitiful as they once were, but there ARE nursing jobs around. I have my application into a few and am getting bites. I just can't seem to get anything w/ the schedule I want.

If I didn't find work until next summer I really wouldn't mind. I'm in grad school and also working a lot w/ my son at home who has special needs.

Anyway advice appreciated, as always. A colleague of mine left this place and found a job 2 weeks later. She just didn't even bother to list it as she'd only been there 4 months or less. I've only been there for 3 months. My 3 month eval was good.

You can always chance it and just quit, but you are burning a bridge that you can probably never rebuild. You never know what the future will hold--will your hospital be bought out by a bigger entity, suddenly spreading your Do Not Rehire status throughout a huge organization? Will your hospital eventually buy up all the local physician practices, making those unavailable for you due to a do not rehire status?

What's the rest of your work history like? Have you stayed at all your other nursing jobs for significant time periods? Or have you skipped around? Do you have good experience that can get you a job elsewhere?

I think it's always a bad idea to just quit. If at all possible, put in your two weeks notice.

Specializes in Med/Surg.

Never, ever, EVER leave without finishing your resignation period (usually 2 weeks). Even though they are dangerous, they are still able to mess you up when you go for another job. You want to leave on good terms, because you may have to go back there one day. It may not seem like it now, but try to think about this rationally.

If you think your license is seriously in jeopardy then walk. If you can possibly work your contractual notice period then do it, as Sod's Law says that one day you may end up working for/with someone from this facility again and you don't want to feel sheepish and embarrassed if that happens. Jobs don't always work out so 3 months is enough time to have given it a good chance. Hold your head high and just say you don't feel you are a good fit. No other explanation necessary.

I have to agree with pp; do not quit without notice, although they may expect you to give as much as 4 weeks notice (I once left a job on a horrible floor and was told if I gave less than 4 weeks I would be ineligible for rehire; I didn't care at this point - and already had another job - and just gave 2 weeks. I haven't tried to apply at this hospital since so I don't know if they would still consider me "ineligibe for rehire" 11 years later).

As for leaving this job off your resume - again, it can be risky. If you get hired and someone finds out later that you omitted a previous employer, you can be fired for dishonesty. I wouldn't do it, but some people think otherwise.

No matter what, if you work in such a horrible place, be aware that they may make you "ineligible for rehire" no matter what you do (because you had the nerve to quit!). But you have no control over that; just protect yourself and do the right thing - resign on the best terms possible with the notice they require.

Best of luck to you,

DeLana

P.S. It's difficult to give good advice since we don't know just what exactly is endangering your license (and you're wise not to give too many details on a public forum). Without a license you can't work at all - so quitting without notice may be the lesser evil.

Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

check with policy. You may not need to have 2 weeks notice for a part time position. I would give notice if possible, but if you really feel threatened it is better to keep your license. Also, contact the BON or Health Dept if there are violations.

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

If at all possible, do not quit without giving notice: either 2 weeks or whatever your facility policy mandates. The nursing world is smaller than you think and the odds are good you'll cross paths with your old coworkers/bosses again in other settings. Also, while your old facility can't officially say anything negative outside of "will not rehire" when people verify your employment there, word-of-mouth can spread pretty fast.

Though I agree with DeLana: if you truly feel you will lose your license even if you stay two weeks longer (and I mean you really believe it can happen and you're not just venting), then leave ASAP and take your chances.

Best of luck.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I agree with most of the others here. Resign ASAP, but work out a proper notice if at all possible. Check your employer's policy, employee handbook, or whatever to find out what the proper notice is for someone in your position.

Don't take the chance of significantly damaging your future career options by simply quitting without notice unless it is absolutely necessary to prevent injury or direct harm. Your emotional health is important, but you have managed to survive in this job for a while now, a little while longer will probably not make much difference in the long run. Unless there is some imminent danger in staying, resign like a proper professional.

I always find it a little "over dramatic" when people here on allnurses say they HAVE to quit TODAY to save their license ... but somehow they have managed to work there for the past several months or years. They wait until their emotions are boiling over and then shout "emergency" as if that justifies leaving without notice. Plan your exit like a professional if at all possible to preserve your professional reputation. People often underestimate the importance of a positive professional reputation.

Specializes in Med Surg,.

I feel differently. I wish so many times I would have ran as fast as possible. I ended up on probation. If that manager wants to trouble your life they can and will. You do not need the resume filler, you need you license. Go and go quickly. It is professional to work a notice. However, you seem worried about safety. There are other ways to quit. Take an immediate leave for mental anguish.

Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

Rehire and job reference aside, it is the PROFESSIONAL thing to do to offer 2 weeks notice and work it honestly. Fear for your licence- that is a problem for the BON to look into, or your employer. If you are determined to quit- talk to your unit manager- express your concerns for your licence, only the employer can let you out of your two week notice. It may even be possible to be an agent for change in your current employer wheather you stay or go. If you quit without notice you loose all credibility.

There is the question of sanity or like sissykim mentioned "mental anguish". My own sanity is not worth it.

Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.

I have been in nsg 10 yrs and have seen many nurses quit/ get fired/ ask to resign and then get another job. Sadly, it is fairly common- at least in the locales where i have lived.

I personally worked with a traveler RN on a m/s floor who had horrible attendance and quit in the middle of her contract d/t unsafe conditions. I stuck it out for 1.5 yrs and ultimately ended up on the mgr's bad side and she 'asked me to go find other employment and then give resignation.' 5 months later i went back to this hospital to have a baby and here was this 'travel nurse' working on the l&d unit as permanent staff.

Also the mgr who asked me to resign recently got fired herself so i am now thinking about reapplying there.

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