How to resign while still on orientation?

rngolfer53 · Dec 12, 2008

Hello everyone!
I excepted a nurse manager position in a LTC facility about 5 weeks ago and have another 3 weeks to go on orientation. I am doing fine in this position and feel more than capable of performing my duties, but there are some problems with the budget and the unit I am managing is the "dump" unit- the patients nobody wants, the staff nobody wants, the work nobody wants, the equipment nobody wants. I know I can do it, but the problem is this- I was called by an administrator (who is a family friend) of another competing facility for an offer of basically the same position with a little less paperwork, better benefits, flexible hours, about the same pay, and a lush, private pay facility with low turnover rate. It is a great opportunity for me and the administrator that has offered me this new job has worked where I am now, along with the person who previously held my position, with not the best views of my current facility. I am worried about how to go about resigning from my current position since I am still on orientation re:notice. I don't think that my DON will require a notice since I am still on orientation, and the admin. for the new facility has said that orientation doesn't start until January, but they would figure out a way for me to go ahead and start working there. (I am also PRN at my old critical care job and applying for agency work, so I won't have a problem making money until my official start date at the new position.) I just feel really bad that I haven't given my current facility a real chance and I don't want my DON to doubt me, but I think I will be throwing a great opportunity out the window if I don't go. Any suggestions? Also- the administrator with the new job told me to not tell my DON where I am going-they know each other and the admin. has offered a few of the DON's employees jobs which some have accepted-aka the previous nurse manager before me). Thoughts?

Anytime you quit a job, give written notice according to agency policy, or custom. Since you are orienting, they will likely tell you to leave right away.

BTW, what do you know about the employee turnover rate in the new facility?

As to not telling your current DON where you're going, you don't have to put it in a letter, but it will be hard to avoid in conversation. And, do you or your prospective new administrator really expect it to remain a secret?

Ilovelucy2 · Dec 12, 2008

Anytime you quit a job, give written notice according to agency policy, or custom. Since you are orienting, they will likely tell you to leave right away.
BTW, what do you know about the employee turnover rate in the new facility?
As to not telling your current DON where you're going, you don't have to put it in a letter, but it will be hard to avoid in conversation. And, do you or your prospective new administrator really expect it to remain a secret?

The policy where I am now requires 4 weeks notice- I just don't know what they'll do since I am on orientation and I don't want to burn any bridges.

I have a family member that is the activities director at the new place. She's the one that told me about the low turnover rate.

I'm not planning on putting where I'm going in the resignation letter, and I know it will be hard to avoid. I was just going to say that after alot of thought, in my heart this is not the place for me at this time. That I appreciate the opportunity I was given and everyone was wonderful and supportive. If asked where I'm going, I was just going to say agency work in critical care.

No, I know it won't be a secret, neither will the administrator, but I don't want to be shunned like the previous nurse manager was (heard from coworkers)

Amy2005 · Dec 12, 2008

Sounds like you already have a suitable answer - that you are going to

work for agency. That should be sufficient, if you even need to say

where you are going.

If you consider that you must give 4 weeks notice for the current

employer, then let the new employer know this requirement, and make

plans from there.

Maybe get something in writing from the new employer to say that they are going to hire you, before you resign from your current job.

Dirkje45 · Dec 12, 2008

i am worried about how to go about resigning from my current position since i am still on orientation. i don't think that my don will require a notice since i am still on orientation. i just feel really bad that i haven't given my current facility a real chance and i don't want my don to doubt me, but i think i will be throwing a great opportunity out the window if i don't go. any suggestions? also- the administrator with the new job told me to not tell my don where i am going-they know each other and the admin. has offered a few of the don's employees jobs which some have accepted-aka the previous nurse manager before me

why would you think you don't owe your employer a notice? i don't see anything wrong with changing jobs but certainly you should give them the professional courtesy of giving them at least one weeks notice.

why worry about the don doubting you? who cares?

i wouldn't hide anything from the don per the new employers request unless that's what you want to do. the don will obviously find out where you are working. it's a free country and you are free to change jobs at will. i'd hate to start a new job with secrets. good luck with your new job.

AZO49008 · Dec 12, 2008

Take the new job and give this place your notice.

If the shoe were on the other foot and it was advantageous to the company that owns your facility to eliminate your position, they wouldn't hesitate to do so, and probably with little to no notice.

You owe these people nothing other than proper notice. You owe yourself a good job at a decent facility.

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2008

Give them notice, although they may just say go ahead because you're still on orientation.