Have you ever disliked a nursing job so much that you quit without notice?

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Mar 15, 2015

Don't do it. It will look unprofessional and possibly torpedo your reputation. In the meantime, keep looking for a new job while you're still employed. Wishing you the best of luck.

Palliative Care, DNP · Mar 15, 2015

I did one time when I truly felt like the work environment may cause someone to lose their license. I found another position and as soon I had a start date I walked out of the bad job. They wanted 30 days notice and it was a hell hole. I left my badge in the nurse manager's box the morning after I finished my last shift. Never looked back. I'm not eligible for rehire there but would never go back any way. No gaps in employment and it simply appears like I took a better opportunity.

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2015

Yes. I also handed my badge to a manager at the end of my shift and said I'm not coming back. The acuity and workload were ridiculous and the doctors were shmucks. It was unsafe. This was at a very prestigious medical system and it has not affected my career at all.

proud nurse, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2015

I've never quit without notice, but one job I didn't work out my full two week notice. I handed In my badge around day 4 because I just couldn't stand it any longer. It was in an assisted living facility and I wasn't even there for 90 days. It didn't take long for me to know that wasn't the place for me. My supervisor ended up being a co-worker at a LTC years later. We worked together for 4 years and never spoke a word about it.

caliotter3 · Mar 15, 2015

In an employment at will state you need not give notice, and as long as you are already situated with a new job, you should encounter no problems. It is when prospective employers contact the bad employer that one might expect problems. As long as you preempt that possibility by having a new job lined up, you are good to go. Good luck finding a new position.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Mar 15, 2015

I "technically" quit without notice at one job I was working...I went down to PRN and ended up working a few shifts and got another position and didn't look back; at this place I'm ineligible for rehire. I have no plans to go back there, and where my career is headed, it may not make a difference one way or another.

Personally, I didn't want to have that situation happen, but as of right now, it's not affecting my career, however, I am cognizant that my situation could have affected me if I was in an area where there isn't a lot of options in the job market.

Personally, I wouldn't quit without notice; I would give proper notice as soon as there was a job offer that I accepted.

ponymom · Mar 15, 2015

I did, and it didn't affect me at all. Another family member also quit (different facility) at end-of-shift, and got another job with no problems at all.

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Mar 15, 2015

No, because that leads to issues for your future!

I hated my last job so much I couldn't even put it into words, but I had to suck it up, and gave them three weeks notice, even though I was a per diem. I had already picked up shifts that far in advanced...

If you just quit you WILL burn bridges, and that isn't just with management, it can be with co-workers as well who may warn potential employers about you. Nursing can be a small world.

Give at least two weeks notice.

Annnie

mclennan, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2015

Yep. I was assaulted by a patient on the job. He kicked me in the chest and sprained my wrist. Security was called and never showed up. The patient continued to assault other staff, and I called the cops. My supervisor came back from a meeting to see the patient being dragged screaming from the unit. She wanted to *write me up* for calling the cops because it wasn't "protocol." She showed zero concern for or even asked us 3 injured nurses anything. A huge argument in her office ensued - the manager agreed and wanted to write all of us up for calling the police.

A resident doctor, another RN and I handed over our badges and keys and walked out of that place right then and there. The resident had tried to restrain the patient as well and gotten his head bashed against a wall. The other nurse had a door opened forcefully over her shoes that broke 6 bones in one foot.

I had no problem finding 2 jobs after that. I just say the job wasn't a good fit and I left to pursue other opportunities. The HR office there only provides my dates of service. I think lots of nurses have walked off at least one bad job in their career.

Anna S, RN · Mar 15, 2015

I did, just recently.

I was hired, worked just 3.5 weeks. Then we were all called in to a meeting- unit closing, we were all being laid-off.

I had just started, and had quit a much higher paying job to take that one.

A couple days later, the company called, and offered me another position, in the home care dept. I took it just because it was a job. I do not like home care, and hated the job. The nurses all had double the caseload they were told they would have. Then, the dept manager quit.

I was on orientation for the home care job, and got the flu.

I sent an email quitting without notice, as I was still orienting with another nurse, so my leaving would not affect the daily staffing. Also, I was so sick, I would not have been able to work out a two weeks' notice- plus, I'm sure I was contagious.

So, I just quit.

I'd already had an interview at another place, that went pretty well, so I was really hoping I would get that job.

I did.

anon456, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2015

I have not, but I would if I felt it was very unsafe and would be again.