I signed on for a 5K bonus at a hospital in PA, committing to a year. I was a NG and now have a year of experience. It was a bad experience and I wouldn't recommend a contract to any new nurse. I've almost made it to a whole year when I can finally leave without having to owe the hospital any money.
My contract ends on July 14th. It's a Tuesday. I work Thursday, Friday, Saturday night that week, the 16th, 17th, 18th. So, if I put in my notice exactly two weeks before my contract ends, the 14th, I won't actually work the second week because it's at the end of the week.
My question is if I should expect them to ask me to finish off that week? Would that be reasonable? Can I say no? Would HR give me a hard time for having not worked that full week? Is this a *** thing to do? I guess I'm wondering the meaning/extend of "two week's notice," with our irregular rotating nurse schedules. I honestly forget if I did this on purpose. I might have.
All I care about is avoiding being accused of breaking contract in any way whatsoever. I don't want to directly screw over my floor, and my managers already know that I am leaving. I just can't wait to get away from this environment, which I feel is very toxic.
Does anyone have any perspective on this; what I can expect to happen, so I can plan my big cross-country move the week after?
Maybe this is a non-issue. They will have already given their recommendations by then.
Definitely wait until after your work anniversary before giving notice. That will fulfill the obligation of your contract. Work the full two weeks if they ask. Prospective employers are not allowed to ask for a "rating", but are allowed to ask "would you rehire?". Don't give them any reason to say "no".
You’ve received a lot of great advice here. I once took a job in part for the sign on bonus. I learned shortly after I took the job that there is generally a very good reason that hospitals give bonuses. Sometimes it’s for a specialty that is hard to fill but oftentimes it may be due to a toxic work environment issue. Wishing you all the best on your next job!
... Prospective employers are not allowed to ask for a "rating", but are allowed to ask "would you rehire?". Don't give them any reason to say "no".
A prospective employer can ask most anything they want. And while some employers choose to limit information they provide to dates of employment and eligibility for rehire, they can provide any information they want, so long as it's factual.
actual boots on the ground, real-life experience that’s recent?
I quit my job recently without notice, due to a covid policy change that was enacted without notice.. (that I felt endangered my patients and myself)..
emailed a stack of resumes, got a new job - the new job never asked for references... a few weeks later, got another “hit” from my initial batch of resumes and got another job paying a couple bucks more than the first.. had to pee in a cup & get background checks for both, but never provided any “references”.. wasn’t even asked specifically for any reason I left the initial job either, beyond the health insurance being awful and wanting to try something new.
I don’t have much nursing experience, no “prestigious” previous employers, no ivy-league nursing degree, no BSN even..
I’m not at all advocating leaving without notice, but if you don’t want to work even one shift beyond your contract requirement, I’d specify that I was working right up until that last day and leave without a care in the world.
$5k is basically $2.50 an hour, and you’re hourly.. if the incentive is over, it’s only rational to leave. They can buy continued loyalty with more cash payments, just like they bought your loyalty initially. Otherwise it’s just business and the meter expires when it expires..
Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.
Make sure you read your healthcare organization's policy regarding resignation. Most places in healthcare actually require a 4-week notice instead of the standard 2-week notice in the general corporate world.
I'm going to contact HR to ask about our resignation policy. I really need to get out of this job asap, so I think I am going to write a finely worded letter/email and include the end date of my contract per HR, and state my availability until the last day. If they want me to work those last three days, that's fine.
For those who commented about my next job, I have a living arrangement back home with my family that will be very forgiving on my finances, as I don't wish to start up another floor job immediately after this bad experience. I don't want to carry resentment over to my next job, I actually think I need a little time to reconsider what I want to do next.
... I really need to get out of this job asap, so I think I am going to write a finely worded letter/email and include the end date of my contract per HR, and state my availability until the last day. If they want me to work those last three days, that's fine.
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You don't need a "finely worded" letter or email. Rather, keep it short and simple. Something along the line of: I am submitting my resignation effective {date}. Thank you for the opportunities that you have provided me. You don't need to provide availability, if you feel the need to do so state that you will work all currently scheduled shifts onto, and including your last shift. And if you do this, make sure that you have a copy of the schedule.
ADVICE - DO NOT 'finely word' any negative reasons for your departure. Keep the letter neutral, sweet & short. Anything you say, even if meant in the best gentlest interests, can come back to haunt you. Besides, nothing would every come of it - mgt really doesn't care too much.
Also, as soon as you contact HR, you will have let the cat out of the bag re your departure. So be ready for it.
By finely worded I just meant "Thank you for the opportunities... I will be honoring my contract by maintaining availability for work until July 14th, the last day of my year contract" (of course, I'm already scheduled for the preceding days). Just clarifying that I am able to work until the completion of my contract.
There is no point in mentioning negativities since I'm high-tailing it.
Maybe I'll try another way of checking the resignation policy.
Katie82, RN
642 Posts
Definitely wait until after your work anniversary before giving notice. That will fulfill the obligation of your contract. Work the full two weeks if they ask. Prospective employers are not allowed to ask for a "rating", but are allowed to ask "would you rehire?". Don't give them any reason to say "no".