Bad business? Quitting without notice?

[chaseloveRN]

Hello everyone. I'm an RN working full time in the PACU, but 2 months ago I picked up a part time job working for a family friend's home health agency. They needed an RN to complete upcoming assessments as the other one had left the company. She told me (the owner) that someone would be there to help me out and guide me through everything that I was supposed to do until I was comfortable on my own being that I have no background in home health.

It turned out not to be that way at all. In fact, when I had questions she couldn't even answer them majority of the time. She once told me 'I really don't know what the nurse does you need to go on the state website and read the rules and regulations because I think that's better than someone telling you'. Also, she called about me not filling out Medicaid assessment forms, which I know nothing about, I had questions about it so she'd refer me to the Medicaid website for information and say 'The RN is responsible for that, that is the RN's job'. Now, I don't know how home health is ran and I could be completely wrong, but this seems like bad business.

I feel I should've never accepted this position and now I would like to quit before signing my name on anything else. How can I do this in a professional manner, I've never quit without notice and part of me feels some guilt because this is a family friend. I know in my head what to say, but not how to put it into words.

[OldDude]

Considering the complexion of your relationship with the owner I don't think there's anything that you could say that will make her happy, pleased, or understand you leaving the company. So, my advice is to present her with a letter of resignation, "effective immediately," and move on with whatever fallout arises between you two. It's unlikely she'll understand you were being taken advantage of because of your "friendship" and trying to talk to her about it will just pour gasoline on the fire.

Home Health nursing is quite complex and something you can't learn from a web site. Best of luck!

[Crush]

I might do as OldDude said but consider giving 2 weeks notice versus effective immediately depending on your friendship, etc. Weight the pros and cons and what you are comfortable with, but either way, this is a job I would leave. I have done home health and loved it, but I did have an orientation and someone was always available when it came to regulations, documentation, etc.

[caliotter3]

I agree that two weeks notice is called for. Letter of resignation presented the same way you would do so if the personal ties did not exist.

[elkpark]

I would resign officially with the usual two week notice, but also make clear in the letter that the reason for the resignation is that you have not received the support or training you had been told you would get, and that's why you're unable to continue in the position. (I would also make clear that I'm not going to be doing anything during the two weeks that I haven't been trained for and feel unprepared to do.) Put the onus where it belongs. Expect this to end the friendship -- not a big loss, IMO, since the "friend" screwed you over big time by asking you to put yourself in this position.

I realize it's a little late to be nitpicking, and doesn't make any difference now, but, just for future reference :), didn't the request for help seem like a big red flag to you in the first place? If this individual needed help desperately because the previous RN had left, who did you think was going to "be there to help me out and guide me through everything that I was supposed to do until I was comfortable on my own"? If there was a person there who could do that, why would the owner need you? Maybe you need to hone your "BS detection" skills going forward. :)

Best wishes!

[chaseloveRN]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I will give my notice today. I wasn't aware that the previous RN was already gone when I accepted the position, I thought she'd put in notice so she would be the one orienting me. I've certainly learned my lesson with all of this.

[ponymom]

She's no friend and played you for your weakness in thinking she is. Just another one of these pigs. Of course, you accepted of your own free will, but she led you to that acceptance under false pretenses that she would provide help, and no doubt relying on your sense of 'family friendness'. She lied...yep, a true family friend right there.

.You can sure bet if something were to happen, she'd throw you under the bus. You don't owe her a thing....bail and don't look back.