Why can't I let go?

Nurses General Nursing

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I recently graduated with a BSN, passed NCLEX and got hired for my first nursing job. I'm absolutely thrilled to be beginning my career, after a long college career. However, I'm having trouble quitting my grocery store job. It must sound so silly! I've learned that I'm very loyal and it seems that almost anytime quitting is involved, it had a negative undertones to me. I've held this job, at 4 different locations, for nine years--during high school, my first college degree and my nursing degree. The company, in general, has been very good to me. I said to myself, "When I get my hospital schedule, I'll quit." There's no need to put in a two weeks notice since they've known I would be getting a job and since there was an entire month between the day I was hired and went to orientation (this week). So, I got my schedule on Wednesday and still haven't given them a "last day." The scheduler texted me a while ago and I called her back, intending on telling her that July 4th would be my last day. Didn't happen. For a while, I considered staying and then I remembered that I'm charged $14 weekly for insurance. I wouldn't be able to cancel it and would be paying for it until January, if I stayed. I KNOW I need to quit, I'm just having a hard time saying goodbye. Comments/suggestions? I pride myself on my loyalty but even I know this is extreme...

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Part of your feelings could be loyalty and part could be fear to get started with nursing, where you'll be "new kid on the block." Or maybe that's how I feel and I'm just projecting...hehe! Perhaps you could throw a little party for your co-workers or bring in cake or whatever to say goodbye. Maybe that will make it feel a little more special for you.

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awww. Your loyalty is admirable, and I'm sure this job has been a big part of your life for a long time now. However, it's time for you to change course in life. You just spent soo many years getting your nursing degree, now everything you have worked for is finally here! Scary, huh?

My 2 cents, just cut the cord. It's not a bad thing, just time to change, and hope you will be making more of the jingly change as a nurse :)

Good luck!

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.

Put your big girl undies on and write them a friendly, glowing resignation letter with at least two weeks notice.

"Step out the back, Jack, make a new plan, Stan...."

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I stayed on for three months after I had gotten my nursing job and I worked at a grocery store too! One day, I had a bad day and just told the store manager that that day would officially start my two weeks notice. It was hard, but I still have stock in them and shop there weekly, so I still feel like I have some loyalty. I was there for five years. I don't think they can charge you for your insurance if you are no longer working there? Because the company pays for part of it, as part of you working there part time-full time hours.

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lol, that's all I can say.

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I stayed on for three months after I had gotten my nursing job and I worked at a grocery store too! One day, I had a bad day and just told the store manager that that day would officially start my two weeks notice. It was hard, but I still have stock in them and shop there weekly, so I still feel like I have some loyalty. I was there for five years. I don't think they can charge you for your insurance if you are no longer working there? Because the company pays for part of it, as part of you working there part time-full time hours.

No, they definitely can't charge me if I quit. If I didn't quit, I'd be charged as we're only allowed to make changes in October, which take affect in January. For example: If I decided to stay on the payroll and work as needed, I would be charged $14 each week. Because I wouldn't be getting a check every week, they'd take it all out of the next check I did get. If I didn't work for three weeks and then worked, they'd take $56 out of the check ($14 times 4 weeks).

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Can you work a couple days a month at the grocery store? Maybe you need to cut your ties slowly.

Change is difficult and going from a grocery store job to a nursing job is like night and day. Well...unless you take in acount working with the public.

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Part of your feelings could be loyalty and part could be fear to get started with nursing, where you'll be "new kid on the block." Or maybe that's how I feel and I'm just projecting...hehe! Perhaps you could throw a little party for your co-workers or bring in cake or whatever to say goodbye. Maybe that will make it feel a little more special for you.

lol, I'm not fearful of starting nursing. While I know it will be a challenge, I'm very excited to embark upon this journey. I have thought about it as me being "new kid on the block" but that thought hasn't bothered or frightened me. :) I really like the idea of the party! However, I think I'm sad that they won't be throwing ME a party. I think it would be a good event for closure, even if it was done by me! Thanks. :redbeathe

awww. Your loyalty is admirable, and I'm sure this job has been a big part of your life for a long time now. However, it's time for you to change course in life. You just spent soo many years getting your nursing degree, now everything you have worked for is finally here! Scary, huh?

My 2 cents, just cut the cord. It's not a bad thing, just time to change, and hope you will be making more of the jingly change as a nurse :)

Good luck!

I appreciate your post. Yes, it has been a major part of my life for so long. Everyone has been waiting for me to quit now that I'm a nurse but no one understands the struggle I'm facing... On top of that, some of the managers are trying to convince me to stay. I told them to take up a collection and pay me $14 each week (to cover the insurance) and I'll stay. ;)

Put your big girl undies on and write them a friendly, glowing resignation letter with at least two weeks notice.

"Step out the back, Jack, make a new plan, Stan...."

Thank you. I think I will write a letter but as more of a cathartic exercise than anything else. Gosh, I feel silly.. :uhoh3:

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Can you work a couple days a month at the grocery store? Maybe you need to cut your ties slowly.

Change is difficult and going from a grocery store job to a nursing job is like night and day. Well...unless you take in acount working with the public.

I could do that but you'll notice from the last post, I'll be charged for insurance. I think I need to come up with some type of event for "closure."

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lol, that's all I can say.

aww, don't laugh... :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Intermediate care.

its like this....

i just bought a BRAND new car, a 2011 never been used Subaru. The thing is awesome, i love it. I couldn't wait to drive it and pick it up. It was my first car i bought on my own after graduation (i graduated in '10). I had it all going for me, I had a college degree, my fiance had a college degree, we both got great jobs, i passed my boards, i got my license, i started my job, i got my CAR...everything was going perfect.

Prior to buying my car the ONE thing i had left of my childhood was my 11 year old car with 120,000 miles on it that i got when i was 15. i loved that car so much, i didn't want to let it go. Kind of like you don't want to let your job go. Its one thing you have that still is "your first." I ended up selling my car to a 17 year old whose father is a mechanic. So it worked out great, buuuuut i miss my old car SO much, but loving my new car, the one i worked so hard for.

Basically what im getting at is, your going to miss your old job, no doubt about it. But it's time for change. On your last day...take pictures of your job, take pictures with your coworkers, your manager, whatever means a lot to you (i took lots of my old car) You'll always have the memories of it. You can always do your grocery shopping there :) so its not completely gone. Its difficult to let things like that go...i understand. I felt like an idiot when i cried about my old car leaving. Then i thought about how happy that 17 year old girl was to get her first car.

So it will all work out, give it time...you'll like your new job and you will get used to the change.

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