Quitting during Orientation!!?? Help!!

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2012

Mannurse2b or everyone else- Let me ask this, does it matter about burning bridges if I will not go back there again? Because my husband wants to move in a yr or so to a different state and I know how hard it was to find a job here without experience/ especially Med Surg experience so whenever I do move I will not have that experience and make it harder to find a job. So I kind of think PP will not give me that experience. Because anytime any PP RN on my unit tries to go anywhere else they tend not to get hired because they "don't have experience."

In my experience, yes. Because when you apply to new places, they'll want to know about your past history. If you can't provide a positive reference for those 4.5 years as a CNA because you burn your bridges as an RN, you're going to have a hard time getting a job.

I would finish orientation, put in some time in PP, and then try to cross train in L&D.

Jennie.K · Aug 12, 2012

Since I am getting a lot of "don't burn your bridges and you might need to go back" comments.
Let me ask this, does it matter about burning bridges if I will not go back there again? Because my husband wants to move in a yr or so to a different state and I know how hard it was to find a job here without experience/ especially Med Surg experience so whenever I do move I will not have that experience and make it harder to find a job. So I kind of think PP will not give me that experience. Because anytime any PP RN on my unit tries to go anywhere else they tend not to get hired because they "don't have experience."

Also, in some states, hospitals use private companies to screen potential employees. If your name lands on the "should not hire" list, you will not be able to get a job at any hospital that uses that company.

CrazierThanYou · Aug 12, 2012

Never burn bridges. Once, in high school, I had a well paying office job. However, being young, I quit without notice and that placed me on the do not rehire list. Then, about 4 years later, I tried applying for a position in that company. Guess what... Didn't even get an interview because of what I did four YEARS earlier when I was 16!
If you leave orientation, chances are you will never be hired in that hospital. What if you start the new job and absolutely loathe it? I'd stay where you are for a year then start looking if you still don't like it.

I know what you mean. Believe it or not, no one EVER told me anything about giving a notice when you leave a job. NO ONE. I even took courses in high school that dealt with employment, etc. I did the same thing, I quit a CNA job right after high school, having no idea that I should give them a notice. I know it sounds stupid, but really, I had no idea.

Now, it is nearly 20 years later and I still can't get hired at that company.

BluegrassRN · Aug 12, 2012

I don't think it's certain that you would be marked "do not rehire" if you quit during orientation. I'm sure they'd rather you quit now than if you quit after orientation.

Is it possible you could remain prn at this current job, and take the other job? You may be able to have your cake and eat it, too. If you have a good relationship with your manager, go in and talk to her. Tell her you like this organization and the unit, but you're bored in PP, and you've had a job offer closer to home for more money. Let her know you're conflicted about what to do, that you don't want to cause any distress to the unit by quitting, but you are very tempted by a new challenge closer to home. Put the ball in her court; perhaps she'll offer you a raise, a chance to immediately orient to L&D, or be agreeable to the option of staying at this job prn while taking the other full time position. Or perhaps she'll tell you to not let the door hit your a$$ on the way out. Either way, you won't be any worse off than if you just give leave now.

Fearless_leader · Aug 12, 2012

I say go to Med/Surg period. If your not happy why stay and torture yourself. If your optimistic like me then do what it best for you. It's closer to home, & you will get the experience that you want & need. Your not the first nurse to quit during orientation. and you sure won't be the last. forget about the what ifs. In life we have to take chances. Nothing is going to happen to your new job, & nothing is going to happen to your hubby. You have to speak life over your situation. No offense to anyone but this is my opinion. Now the part about burning bridges sometimes it's not what you know it's who you know. If you have always been a good employee it won't be forgotten. Make sure you resign & speak to HR or your HR generalist about your issues & concerns & find out if you would be eligible for rehire. There are many hospitals you can go work for. Go for it and let us know what happened! Congrats....

ArrowRN, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2012

You worked at ABC facility for 4 1/2 years as a CNA plus 2 weeks as a new grad RN. Left (or plan to leave) abruptly during orientation to work at med-surg at XYZ hospital.
When you apply for a new job next year, are you not going to list your 4+ year employment history at ABC hospital? (most applications state they want your entire employment history and failure to do so will result in disqualification or resciding of an offer made).
So when you list your 4+ years at ABC hospital and new potential employer goes to verify employment history, if ABC hospital marksyou as "ineligible for rehire" (due to leaving 2 weeks into orientation as an RN) it won't look good to your new potential employer. They can legally state truthful information, even if it is negative, and thus can inform potential employers that you are ineligible for rehire since you abruptly left 2 weeks into your new-grad RN orientation. It can have a negative impact, even if you have a good track record at XYZ hospital working in med-surg for the next year.

I agree with the above post. I know I'm not even a nurse yet, but won't 5-6 years at the same hospital with 1 full year as an RN look better on the resume when you move you that new state??? Knowing the staff there you would be able to get some awesome recommendations to take with you to the new state.

Looking at current hiring trends I almost always see like 90% postings are for RN med/surg...so I do not think you'll be missing out on anything. I've been in the position with my electrical diploma, being out of work as a new grad, to taking up odd jobs to having 2 or 3 job offers at the same time...its the same with any job. I'd be more incline to hire someone with a bit of consistency. As for risk taking. If I were single with no kids and knew I'd be moving, I would probably jump on any offer that benefits me, but having a family I'd go the safe route and stick out the orientation. Later, why not just ask them how long would it take to get a rotation to med/surg because you are also interested in that area.

MJB2010 · Aug 13, 2012

Never say never! People move, and believe it or not, sometimes people move back. Job loss, death, illness, divorce, or simply missing home could lead to another move. Not only could you want to work there in the future, but nowadays hospitals are being bought up by parent companies and health systems. So this burned bridge could haunt you later on in another state if it ends up owned by a conglomerate. Would the unit manager on this floor be the one you will need as a good reference for your time as a tech? It would be a bad decision to make her upset with you since you will need her reference for future positions. You obviously have made your decision, not sure why you were asking advice if you don't want to hear it. We are simply answering the question you asked, just offering a little advice based on experience. It is your life and your decision, so do what you want. You don't have to answer to anyone, and sometimes you need to learn things the hard way. We all have done that at least once.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2012

I don't think it's certain that you would be marked "do not rehire" if you quit during orientation. I'm sure they'd rather you quit now than if you quit after orientation.

Of course not. They might understand and not want to put more money in to training the OP if it's not going to work out in the end. I was told during my orientation that if I felt it wasn't working out for me, to just let them know and they'd transfer me to another unit. But it IS a possibility, and one the OP needs to weigh and think through before making a decision.

beeker · Aug 13, 2012

They will probably ask you to leave right away. I say follow your heart, you seem to be more interested in med surg. I do, however, suggest that you ask to shadow a half day or so on the med surg floor BEFORE giving your notice at your current position. Because if you leave your current job, then discover you don't care for med surg, you will be looking at your 3rd RN job in less than a year and that will not look good. If you do change, you need to stay at your new gig for at least a year. When are you moving? If it is not that far away it might be more worthwhile to stay put until then. Can you try to get a med surg position at your current hospital? Some places make you wait 6 months to do an internal transfer, but since they don't want to waste money training you they might be willing to do an internal transfer. It is easier to get a med surg job than a post partum job, but if you know for sure you NEVER want to do PP than I guess you should change. Also, considering that you are moving, it would look a lot better to a potential employer to have been at the same hospital for 5+ years, than to have only been at one for less than a year before moving and finding a new one. Just some things to consider.

ilovebo · Jul 22, 2016

It's your life. You're the one working the job so do what you want. If I get this one job I plan on doing the same thing