Best way to resign?

[luvapug]

Ok so I took a new job with better pay/benefits and to try something new. However, I've only made it three months into a six month orientation. All my new co-workers are excited to have me and can't wait until I'm off orientation (I'm sure to decrease their call load and work load) but I have been getting good reviews and seem to fit in well. The problem is it's not for me. It's much more stressful than I realized it would be and I realized the grass is not always greener. I prefer my old job and my former boss said I could come back anytime. I don't know how to go about resigning. It will take my husband a month of paying into his insurance to get me and our kids back on his plan. I'm supposed to give a four week notice since I've been there slightly longer than 90 days. I'm afraid to turn in a resignation just yet in case they tell me they don't want to hold me to the 4 week notice since I'm still in orientation. However, I really don't want to work an extra month either, in case they do want me to wait. What do you think the odds are of them holding me to the 4 week resignation? Also I'm not sure what reason to give. I can't just say I hate the politics here and the stress which is how I really feel. I'm sure they're going to try and talk me into staying because they need people so bad. I don't see me going back to work at that facility but you never know and I don't really want to burn any bridges. Do you think they would even consider re-hiring me if I left during orientation? I want to leave on good terms because I do appreciate the chance they gave me. Thanks for any advice!

[jesskidding, LPN]

Since you are still in orientation that should be in your favor. Just be honest with them and tell them how much you have appreciated everything. You are right though, they might ask you to go ahead and leave since you are in orientation. Don't be offended if they ask you to. It would be best for both of you I believe since you want to leave.

Remember, just be honest. It would be best for you to leave now while you are still in orientation.

Good luck. I wish you the best.

:)

[OCNRN63, RN]

You don't need to give a reason for resigning. Just say you're resigning effective (date). You can be nice and say something to the effect of "Thank you for the opportunity to work at 'Hospital Awesome.'"

They may decide to cut you loose early, or they may hold you to the 4 week resignation. If they hold you to the 4 weeks, do it. You never know what the future may bring, and you don't want to burn any bridges.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

I totally agree with OCNRN. Be honest with them. There is no harm in doing so, and your manager will appreciate your honesty. I know this will be difficult for you; resigning is always uncomfortable, no matter the circumstance.

When I was a manager, I kept a quiet pulse on the new hires. I knew pretty much after the 2nd month how they were fitting in, if they verbalized any enthusiasm the job, or if they engaged with other staff members and docs. The quiet ones were the hardest to read. I had to watch for telling signs that they were unhappy, such as taking lunch breaks in the locker room (as opposed to the staff lounge), calling in sick, requesting to go home early, not speaking up during 'think tank' unit meetings, and not talking to me personally about challenges but instead voicing complaints to other staff members.

If your manager has one intuitive bone in their body, they will likely have already noticed how unhappy you are. If not, then perhaps your manager was not a great manager to begin with, and you are better off going back to your old job. It's a shame that your manager did not talk with you about some of the challenges and concerns that you had. But it sounds like your co-workers were great.

Have you already spoken to your old boss? Do you already have a job there? I wish you the best of luck. Politics completely suck!

[luvapug]

Thanks for the good advice! Yes I have spoken to my old boss and I do have a job there so that's another reason I'm anxious to leave but I will follow hospital protocol. I did talk to the manager about some concerns I was having regarding the orientation and nothing changed. Other people have voiced concerns over problems as well but they say they get nowhere as well so I shouldn't be suprised I guess.