Getting Fired or Resign?

meadow85 · Oct 18, 2008

I think it is in your best interest to resign, if you have that option. I was terminated rather abruptly and then reported to the regulatory board, because it is mandatory in my province, and now I have an awfully long road ahead of me.

loricatus · Oct 18, 2008

It is always better to offer a resignation rather than allow oneself to get fired. But, I think you already know that. Best to give a written resignation for a date that meets the policy of adequate notice (anywhere from 2 weeks to one month, depending on the policy for your place). This way, you will be able to get a good reference from HR and not be made a 'do not rehire,' which could hurt chances for obtaining another job.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2008

Just out of curiosity what kind of errors? Med errors?

I would resign short of being fired, so I would continue to do what your doing, activily searching out another job, it sucks to work where you dont feel welcome/. If you have any PTO or vacation/sick days, take them now while you search for work,. try and work as little as possible at your current job yet still be on the payroll, the less your there the less chances they have to write you up!!

While you are there keep your nose clean and document document document!!!! CYA more than usual. \

\Best of luck!!

bagladyrn, RN · Oct 18, 2008

I'm in the process of getting fired. My question is, do I stay and make them fire me, or do I resign and move on? I'm starting my second year as a RN. Financially I'm fine, and I'm not interested in fighting anything, I just want to minimize the damage to my future job possibilities.
Ideally, I'd like to hang on until I have another job, but I don't want to wait so long that I lose the option to resign. When do you know it's time to resign? Also, how do I present this situation going forward to future prospective employers?
I've already applied at one hospital, and from the feedback I've received I think I'm very close to being hired. I also have an application in at a temp agency.
I say I'm in the process of getting fired because my manager is building a case against me using errors and problems that others don't seem to be getting in trouble for, and there is little recognition of the efforts I've made to improve. I feel the die has already been cast. My biggest fear is how this whole thing will look to future employers.
I'm especially interested in feedback from nurses who have been through similar situations. Thanks in advance!

If you are not concerned with being able to collect unemployment (hard to do if you resign) then I'd advise resigning. Do it very professionally, putting in proper notice. Do not "badmouth" your current employer either to your current coworkers or to prospective employers. Before turning in a notice, it is a good idea to seek out those supervisors (charge nurse, etc.) with whom you have a good relationship and ask if they would be willing to give you a letter of reference. (Be careful of whom you ask this though as this may well get back to management - time it very close to turning in your letter of resignation). If you have any good evaluations or commendations from any time in your employment try to get copies of them.

Reasons you may want to give for seeking other positions: Wish to explore other areas of nursing, desire to gain experience in a different setting, for the temp agency only: need for flexibility in scheduling to pursue further education, and finally seeking a "better fit" (everyone knows what this one means, but it's a polite way of saying it).

When you get your new position concentrate on being "supernurse" for a while and especially vigilent in those areas of "concern" from your previous employer particularly during your probationary period to conterbalance any negative feedback from your past year.

Good luck!

Trauma Columnist · Oct 18, 2008

I too think resigning is the way to go. At that point, hopefully you would be a rehire and could then just state that the job "wasnt' a good fit." Then...you can go on. If fired, there is a little more explaining to do.

I think too it is important to look within oneself when these things happen to ensure that if you need to make changes in the way you handle things at work, you do so, so that you don't repeat the same things.

debi49 · Oct 18, 2008

Resign! The next time you go in! Give written notice for 2 weeks or 4 weeks or whatever is required, work them out quietly and hope the supervisor will go on to new prey. You've already had one good interview. If they call for references, at least when I live, they can only give dates of employ, and if they would rehire you. Get out ahead of this . and Good Luck!:wink2:

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Oct 18, 2008

i would resign... i would write an exit letter and resign.... forget that dead end job and move on.. you sound like a nice person who dosen't need that trouble in your life.... forget them...

please keep me posted on what happens .... give yourself a hug for me

CseMgr1, ASN, RN · Oct 18, 2008

Agree with the above posters. I was faced with the same situation a long time ago when I was a fairly new LPN and went from working in a very supportive environment to another in which I was basically "thrown to the wolves". I began making med errors. I received a written warning stating that if I made one more error, I'd be fired. So, rather than risk being fired, I resigned. In my letter I admitted full responsibility for the errors and was resigning "In my best professional interest as well as the hospital's".

The next day, I received a call from the DON requesting to see me. She thanked me for the letter and said she was "impressed" with my "professionalism" and "for the way I had handled the situation". That made me feel a LOT better, though it was months before I could summon the courage to work in a hospital again.

ForMYdaughter · Oct 18, 2008

resigN, resiGN, resIGN, reSIGN, rESIGN, RESIGN!! Why would you stay and you know what the effects are going to be when other employers look at your record?? Hey, don't give your SCUMBAG MANAGER that much power...ITS NOT WORTH IT!!!! GOOD LUCK :nono:

uscstu4lfe · Oct 18, 2008

type your resignation letter right now! resign. you have a ton of different options - you don't need to work in a hostile environment like that anyway. just on a personal note, i'm still very new, and have gotten a write up. i'm constantly being told of what i did wrong. i hardly ever hear anything positive. well, i just got my evaluation, and it was 95% positive, so i have no idea what that is about. maybe your manager is the same way?

Batman24 · Oct 18, 2008

I would resign before getting fired. Put in notice next time you work. I wouldn't address errors, etc. and would just keep it short and sweet.

Please accept my resignation effective x/x/08. Thank you so much for the opportunity to work at your fine institution. I truly appreciate the experience this position has afforded me. Best to you in the future.

Sincerely,

x

Always best to never burn bridges. Get out and move on to greener pastures.