I need 50 ways to get out of my med surg job.

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I felt like I should work in med surg to get hospital experience before becoming a NP, so I applied at this local hospital and was hired on the med surg floor. I like the job just fine, but it comes down to money. I couldn't afford to leave my old job (it was a 30% difference in pay between one job and the other) so I foolishly thought I could handle working both jobs. I'm so tired I can't give my new job the kind of dedication I am satisfied with. If I have to choose between one job or the other I will have to keep my old job. I feel awful, because I went through orientation and have worked about 4 shifts. They are even giving me a patient load now (is it normal to have a patient load after 3 days orientation?)

Anyway, I'm supposed to work there 12 hours tomorrow and I don't feel like I can do it. Will they be really mad at me for resigning? Do you think they will expect me to finish orientation? I'm supposed to be in orientation 4-6 weeks. What is the most gracious way to leave?

Should I show up tomorrow? Or send an email?

I need to get out the back, Jack, make a new plan, Stan...thanks for any advice.

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Specializes in Orthosurgery, Rehab, Homecare.

The most gracious way, in my mind, would be to suck it up, go in for your shift tomorrow, but tell management before you start that this will be your last shift. Tell them exactly the reasons you've written here and voice your regrets and apologies.

To quit right before your shift would be a terrible way to leave people hanging. A no-call/no-show would be even worse. If you could even possibly want a position at this facility in the future as a staff RN or NP (any time in the next 5 or so years anyway) I'd give 2 weeks notice.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

To me the professional thing to do would be to offer to give them notice although they probably won't accept it. Good luck.

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I felt like I should work in med surg to get hospital experience before becoming a NP, so I applied at this local hospital and was hired on the med surg floor. I like the job just fine, but it comes down to money. I couldn't afford to leave my old job (it was a 30% difference in pay between one job and the other) so I foolishly thought I could handle working both jobs. I'm so tired I can't give my new job the kind of dedication I am satisfied with. If I have to choose between one job or the other I will have to keep my old job. I feel awful, because I went through orientation and have worked about 4 shifts. They are even giving me a patient load now (is it normal to have a patient load after 3 days orientation?)

Anyway, I'm supposed to work there 12 hours tomorrow and I don't feel like I can do it. Will they be really mad at me for resigning? Do you think they will expect me to finish orientation? I'm supposed to be in orientation 4-6 weeks. What is the most gracious way to leave?

Should I show up tomorrow? Or send an email?

I need to get out the back, Jack, make a new plan, Stan...thanks for any advice.

Well, of course, they'll be upset if you resign. But, did you really think you could work two jobs? I'm exhausted enough from one. Is your other job also in nursing? If this is your first nursing job, leaving would not look good on your resume. I don't think that there is a gracious way to leave.

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Didnt you think you would be tired working two jobs before taking the second? My thoughts are you should have a 2 week notice with you, they may or may not want to accept it but its the professional thing to do. never close a door but in this case, the door will probably be not just closed but burnt down. Make sure you will not need to apply with them again.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

If you are still on orientation, they will probably not accept a 2 week notice-they will just want you to leave. They won't want to invest any more money in orienting you. Is your other job in nursing?

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Specializes in ER.

depends if you don't ever put it on your resume (don't put it on your resume), and no one there knows you so that it would get back to your other job. If it's in another area that you're likely never to return to, or not affiliated with any other facility you might need in the future, I'd just send an email and/or call my supervisor and say, "sorry, this isn't working out. I am quitting." You're not counted into staff while on orientation, so it's no loss, really. Good luck - tough situation, but you have to do what is best for you.

If that job IS where you also live and work at your other job, give notice.

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I figure this works both ways. They hire you and you are probably on probation and they could give you notice any day. That works both ways. You should be able to give them notice any day during the probation. There is no obligation on either side to stay or keep you. Your health is more important than a job.

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I was not being realistic when I assessed my ability to work two jobs. I was being very stupid. What actually happened is that I got mad at my old job (nursing home administration and RN supervisor every other weekend, work the floor once in awhile when they are short) where I pretty much do as I please, in fact, I'm at work now) Anyway, I started feeling resentful because of positions some of the nurses here hold that I do not feel they are worthy of and so I felt like getting "back" at the facility (I wanted to get back at my DON, mostly, because I know he thinks highly of me, I heard him telling someone I was one of the top three nurses at this nursing home) so I went and got another job. In other words, I was acting like a spoiled brat, I accept full responsibility (please don't think lowly of me for admitting it.) When they told me what the hospital job paid, at the time I thought I could swing it but it didn't take long for me to realize what a dummy I was.

Anyway, I already left a letter to the CNO saying I would not be able to work full time and asked if they would consider me to work every other weekend. This would mean I would never have a weekend off but I feel guilty for coming this far and then splitting. The CNO actually came in to help cover the shift the next day and never mentioned the letter I had written her, though I know she got it because my preceptor told me she was wanting me to come talk to her to see what I was going to do. The CNO was very nice and friendly to me. Most of the staff there seem to like me, a couple of the doctors came and introduced themselves and welcomed me to the hospital, which made me feel two inches tall because in the back of my mind I was planning how I was going to get out of the job. I've been told I'm doing an excellent job for having never worked in a hospital. This is a rural hospital in a small town so everyone knows my business. I also have an unusual name so it sticks in peoples' minds. I've burned bridges at two other hospitals because I was hired then ended up not taking the job. I've even got a reputation here at the nursing home as being flighty, but I can't help it. There is so much to do and learn and I want to be a part of as much as I can. I'm conflicted because I have a family depending on my income, too. So, I know I will have to take the more boring job because of the money.

I'm so tired.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

First and foremost, as someone who works two jobs, I understand. It is a drain on your health, your time, and you have to be EXTREMELY well organized and plan your days off well to maximize your sleep and work/errand time.

Are you a new grad or a expierenced nurse? If you are a prior expirence nurse, then it's not so bad...I would expect you to take some patients after a few days(say 1-3, depending on how bad they are.). Not professional to quit suddenly, rather give notice and try to tough it out....but a tired nurse is unsafe. It's your license, but at least maybe just call out a day, and go back in....turn in your notice that day and then work the rest of it. However, you will NOT be going back there, and expect those two weeks to be rough.

If you're a new grad, my opinion changes a bit.....regardless....before I'm flamed for being mean or "heartless", I do work 2 jobs also...so I know.

Did you seriously think working two jobs would be easy? I understand the money aspect, but it's seriously unprofessional to drag this out any farrther. Explain yourself honestly, and see if they have any prn/registry postions perhaps instead for a few extra shifts a month.

Whatever happens, try hard to make it through. GL!

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I think it's better to talk to the manager now while you are still early on in your orientation, rather than to string it out longer when you know you aren't going to last. Not every job is a good fit for everyone and people don't know what the job will be like until they actually experience it. Hopefully the manager will understand that. Your performance at both jobs will end up suffering if you are that exhausted.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I figure this works both ways. They hire you and you are probably on probation and they could give you notice any day. That works both ways. You should be able to give them notice any day during the probation. There is no obligation on either side to stay or keep you. Your health is more important than a job.

Wow, I'm not sure if I'm more surprised to read that you think this is fair or that you got so many kudos. :eek:

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