Giving proper notice. What would you do?

[LadyMonteCarlo]

I have been a nurse for 27 years and have always given proper notice when I left a position. However, I signed on as a Resident Services Director for an assisted living facility about 3 months ago. Before I accepted the position I was told "what a contrast it was from long term care", "would be able to go home at night and actually have a life".

Nothing could be further from the truth! ALF is in fact much worse from a liablility standpoint for a nurse. I'm working 11 -12 hour days and usually get my first after hours calls within 3 blocks of the community when leaving. I have had 5 full days off in 3 months. I am dealing with a much less than professional or qualified staff than in LTC and I keep seeing my license flash before my eyes repeatedly. I was deceived into accepting this position. The wool was most definitely pulled over my eyes on this one.

I've decided to throw in the towel before I do in fact lose my license. The company I currently work for requires 3 weeks notice minimum for a person in my position. In my opinion I don't and won't need them as a reference with my extensive experience and long work history with former employers. I plan on returning to my previous employer. However, I do need to give some notice because ethically it is the right thing to do. Just can't justify the full 3 weeks. I was thinking more like days.

The question is: How much notice should I give? They advertised for literally months before I was suckered into accepting the position. I'm sure that they won't replace me in 3 weeks time. I'm ready to go NOW!

[catlover13]

It was a friday afternoon, when I decided to leave my last managment position. I called my husband on the way home, and said, I'm quitting my job, is this OK with you?

He said, yes, of couse (he'd been urging me to leave for years). When I got home, I typed a 2 sentence letter stating I was quitting, and giving 2 weeks notice. Got it ready to submit, this was on a friday.....

I spent the weekend ill with the thought of working 2 more weeks, and contemplated giving no notice, just a letter stating that I would not be returning.

My husband, also in managment, pointed out that giving ANY notice is a courtesy, and may impact your re-hire state, but you DO NOT HAVE TO WORK. If I didnt want to go back, I didnt have to go back, it was up to me!

Just the thought that, of course, no one can MAKE me work, eased my mind enough to give a 2 week notice, work thru it, and walk away clean. But if things would have gotten horrible during that time, I would not have hesitated to write up another notice, stating that I was no longer able to work.....

((((hugs)))))

[linzz]

I am so sorry this is happening to you. I truly believe that you were deceived and they don't deserve notice. I am only a new grad but I just left an ALF job right after orientation as I too felt that my licence was at substantial risk. Although I was not doing what you were doing, I really understand how you feel. I wouldn't blame you for just up and leaving. Best wishes and I am sure that you will find much better.