I have started a previous thread titled lowest of the low. I have finally gotten to the point where I am ready to quit. I have been meticulous in my documentation, I have been extremely careful to take care that my communication is professional at all times. I do not believe that anything I do matters at this point. I was hired as a charge nurse, and the nurse who is training me is a complete spaz! She cant handle her own job, she snaps at people constantly, I think she doctors residents documentation, and I know she never does vital signs, I have never once seen her with a blood pressure cuff or anything else needed for vital signs. I never said a word, first of all, maybe I was wrong, and second of all, as a new person, you dont come in and criticize a nurse who has been there for 3 years. I started having trouble a few weeks ago, 'complaints' that I wasnt nice to my cna's, (I used to be a cna, and I appreciate how hard their job is. when I got that complaint, I blamed myself, and the fact that I was stressed out and possible coming across as rushed.) I have made many good friends there already, and was informed last night that the nurse who is training me has accused me of never taking vital signs, making them up, and God knows what else. I am ready to quit. I cant fight the dysfunctional dynamics of this place, there is a core of persons there, RN's and CNA's, who 'run' the place. There is no fighting this. I am in an impossible situation, and the advice I am asking for is how to write a letter of resignation which addresses the accusation of me not taking vital signs. I am so very angry, :angryfire , I believe that this nurse is a danger to the residents, and she is now trying to accuse me of the actions she has done, in order to preserve her job. As the new nurse, I am not going to try to accuse her of anything, I have no proof. But I feel the need to defend myself, on paper, and professionally let them know why I am leaving. I am a new grad, hired as a charge nurse, given a 2 week training period, but then thrown on my own. I have none of the authority of a charge nurse, none of the cna's will report to me, or respect my requests, but I have been reprimanded more than once for the responsibilities of charge nurse which I didnt accomplish. I have made one med error, I gave an HS med at 1600 hours by mistake, (it was a calcium tablet), I actually saved a patients life, (the cnas stated that a patient was playing possum and didnt want to get up for the day, it struck me as funny, cuz he usually yells at people, when I went in to check on him, he was unresponsive, his blood sugar was 56, glucagon injection and IV glucose by the physician saved his life). The doctor told me that the patient would have died. The cnas didnt report this to me, I just happened to hear them talking to each other.
Sorry this is so long. It is just that I think I have good instincts, I want to be an excellent nurse, right now I believe I am a good one. I am a new grad, and the responsibilities thrust upon me are outrageous. Soooo.....
I need to write up my resignation. How do I do this, and defend myself without sounding unprofessional and accusatory?
PLEASE HELP!
On my previous thread, lowest of the low, everyone said
Run! Get out now! and they were right. At this point I just want to leave a resignation letter that addresses these things, defend myself to a point, but doesnt sound whiny.
I empathize with you, as I just left a bad situation. In writing my letter of resignation, I chose to keep it on a professional level, and to refrain from burning any bridges. I do understand the urge to defend yourself and to vent about the way things are at your employers. I am a new grad also, and really cannot afford to receive a bad reference from my former employer. I resigned in a way that left me eligible for rehire (like I would want to go back to that situation), but you never know what is going to happen down the road. If you mention names and incidents in your letter of resignation, it may or may not be taken seriously and investigated. If it is not taken seriously, it may backfire on you. At this point, do what is best for you and your future. Good luck!!!
Actually, I think you have TWO letters to write. One to address the accusations against you, along the lines of...
"I would like to address certain comments brought to my attention. I take my responsibility as a nurse very seriously and am very careful to in a consciencious (bah sp???) manner. I was shocked and concerned that I was percieved by as not accomplishing . Blah blah" Without getting defensive, standing by your professional nursing practice, no blaming, etc.
The second letter is your resignation which comes maybe 2-3 days after the first, depending on the response from the first (of which you should keep a copy - you CC your boss, the manager and anyone else who should see it and send those copies YOURSELF). The resignation is very professional as well, as stated by the poster above, and might go something like this..... "Dear , Please accept this letter as my formal written resignation from employment with . My last day of work will be on . I want to express my appreciate for the opportunity to work for . I gained valuable knowledge and experience and I know I will take these early lessons with me throughout my nursing career. I have been honored to work with some extremely knowledgable and professional co-workers (no names here, even if it is only the housekeeper!). I sincerely regret that I am unable to continue employment at . Sincerely, .
Yeah it's a bunch of mush and the resignation letter doesn't mention thing one about the problems there, but your goal is to leave on good terms, not vent. CC the resignation to the same folks you CC the other letter to, and they'll know why you left LOL.
This is just MHO, but maybe it'll help. Good luck!
I'm not sure I'd write the first letter. If you have talked things over with your boss and gotten nowhere, if you have spoken with anyone else in authority and all to no avail, why do it again now? They have let you down and do not deserve a good nurse like you.
Just say "I regret that I must ask you to accept my resignation, for personal reasons. My last day of work will be (minimum 2 weeks' notice or whatever you agreed to when you hired on).
I have learned many valuable lessons (and you really have, however negative) here at Droopy Drawers Nursing Facility and will apply these lessons to my future work as an RN.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Nancy Nurse
When queried as to what personal reasons, just say Oh, I need to spend more time at home with my family or we're moving to Alaska or I have a chance to travel or your husband/boyfriend/SO is being transferred or I need a little time to find myself or whatever baloney comes to mind. Heck, they might offer you a leave of absence and you can decide whether or not to accept it. Maybe some good can come of all of this. When and if they discover that you didn't move, just say the plans fell through.
I would want to be sure that Ms. Fake Nurse and cohorts aren't trying to tell your BON that you're doing anything wrong, unethical, or illegal. Accusing you of not doing VS is pretty serious. I had to laugh about the calcium tablet. Not that an error is funny but look how we stress about the smallest thing.
This all kind of makes you want to put taps on phones and secret recorders and cameras all over there, doesn't it?
I resigned today, and I did so with the short and sweet professional letter. I also wrote the long detailed one, but kept that for my own records. The DON was very nice, told me should wouldnt give out any details, and when I asked what she would say if asked if she would rehire me, she said she would say yes. She felt I needed a little more experience and a different floor, that the one I was on was not a good fit. So, no burnt bridges, left on a good note. The only sad part was I went to say goodbye to my patients, (the coherent ones, of course,) and my MS patient cried. I feel bad, but I think I would have felt worse if I just left and did not say goodbye.
Again, thanks for the advice everyone.
KristyBRN
Whoops, looks like I was too late with my advice. But how are you now, what is your plan at this point?
Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Rehabiliation Nursing.
I think I did the right thing. At this point I am just licking my wounds, and trying really hard not to wallow in self pity. Every exprerience is a learning one right? Still, my overall demaneanor at this point is just plain old:( :smackingf but mostly :cry:
I will pick myself up by my bootstraps tomorrow, sometimes we just need time to grieve, right? (At least I hope I am right and not wallowing.) Starting over yet again, .........sigh..............
Thanks again for the support guys. Nobody understands like you all do.
Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Rehabiliation Nursing.
I have to say, the pint of ben and jerrys, the comfy jammies and slippers, a good book and my kittty on my chest sound like the therapy I need right now. Course that will all have to come after getting the thwo adhd kids to bed, cleaning up after supper, stroking the ego, (and yup thas is ALL for tonight!!) of the hubbie and then retreat with a no enter sign. I need my recoup time. Anyone else have any good ideas when you are just burnt, bummed and feeling totally depresses? (good ones, ben and jerrys is about the worst I want to abuse my body, ya know?)
I'm very sorry your first nursing job experience has been so hard for you. The advice given on submitting your resignation is very sound advice indeed. I know making a decision regarding where to start your nursing carrer is a tough job. Your are at the most gung-ho period of your carreer. You're evaluating the wages being offered, shifts available , you may even feel that you are ready to be supernurse and ready to save I also would suggest you to consider what is best for you during your carreer. It is my experience that every new nurse needs to strenghten her basic nursing skills in an acute care setting, this gives you the foundation to broaden your assessment skills and allows you to better understand where you want to go. The tendency to get thrown to the wolves is less likely to happen because the setting is more enlightened and more vested in you succeeding and not setting you up to fail. When I graduated many moons ago my first employment was in a community hospital. I was hired as a 3-11 staff nurse on a med-surg unit.I was told as a new grad I would not be left alone. My first night on the job there was myself and 3 na's. I was forced into a sink or swim situation. That would never happen to me today, thank goodness for progress. Whatever you decide to do good luck and remember while interviewing it's a two way street. They not only have to like what you have to offer but YOU also have to like what they are selling so don't feel shy in asking the questions you need to get the best picture you can. Go for the gold.............Good Luck
Your post caught my eye. And first off let me say congratulations on resigning. I have worked in the health care field since the mid 70's and I am seeing things I have never seen before in my life . I am an RN -happen to have a doctorate and work in a consulting capacity in LTC. (Other roles included CCU,cancer care, psych, home care...) I am noting a real tendency of fabricated accusations. The latest where I work is that CNAs are (falsely) accusing the RN supervisors of some major things (i.e. sexual abuse). This is very very freaky. I have indeed tried to speak to people at the state level regarding issues .
To get to the point- this time try to work in a place with the best possible reputation. Can you go to a place that is a teaching hospital?
Your post caught my eye. And first off let me say congratulations on resigning. I have worked in the health care field since the mid 70's and I am seeing things I have never seen before in my life . I am an RN -happen to have a doctorate and work in a consulting capacity in LTC. (Other roles included CCU,cancer care, psych, home care...) I am noting a real tendency of fabricated accusations. The latest where I work is that CNAs are (falsely) accusing the RN supervisors of some major things (i.e. sexual abuse). This is very very freaky. I have indeed tried to speak to people at the state level regarding issues .
To get to the point- this time try to work in a place with the best possible reputation. Can you go to a place that is a teaching hospital?
My best friend (RN for 25 years) was working at a LTC, and
disciplined two CNAs for leaving the facility while on duty.
They took their revenge by concocting a story that she "abused" the corpse of a hospice pt. She was fired. She is a wonderful nurse and this devastated her. One of the CNAs even called her at home and said "ha ha, we got rid of you" then hung up.
I know of several other situations where dominant, agressive, CNAs who "run" a facility have made false accusations against nurses.
but mostly 
:cry: 
:uhoh3:
brendamyheart
304 Posts
Good point!