I Quit Without Giving Notice

[hbiawos]

For the past two years I've

been working in an LTC/Rehab facility as an R.N. on the dementia unit, primarily with Alzheimer's patients ALL (or almost all) of whom

I absolutely adored. I was the charge nurse on the

evening shift which is just another way of saying I

was the only nurse--40 patients, 4 CNAs, two med

passes, g-tubes, diabetics, wound treatments, charting, locked doors so 700

degrees at all times--in other words, to the casual observer, absolute HELL. But I loved my patients, Oh how I loved my patients and the CNAs I

worked with. We all had very hard jobs (3 nurses and 6 CNAs on the day shift on this unit, btw) and we'd become like a family. But when I came

back from vacation, and with no warning of any kind, I

was informed that they'd moved me to another unit. I

can't tell you how stunned I was. I felt like someone

had just ripped my heart out. I remember finishing the shift on my new unit, and I remember being told that the acuity is higher on this other unit and

they therefore needed R.N.s there, that an LPN could

do my job on the Dementia unit, that this was a

"promotion-why-was-I-so-upset" etc, etc....Who knows

why people are affected the way they are? I was

just heartbroken. At one point in the shift I thought that maybe I was overreacting, that I'd been gone for two weeks on vacation, that maybe my guys on the Dementia unit wouldn't even remember me anyway, so I popped over for a quick visit. No sooner had I walked through the doors than I saw several of the residents in the hallway and they all instantly recognized me, huge smiles, arms reaching out for a hug, etc., etc. Well, that did it. I finsihed my shift on my new unit and quit when I got home that evening. I called the Nursing Supervisor in sobs and told her that it was just too painful for me to come back. She said that I couldn't quit without giving two weeks'

notice if I wanted to find another job, and I said why

not? How much notice did you give me? I explained how

devoted I was to my patients, how they'd become like

my family, and that I wasn't a cog in a machine that

you can just rip out and put somewhere else without

some kind of notice or time to get used to the

idea... and she still emphasized, rightly so I'm sure, that it was important that I give notice, that it would be unprofessional not to. After speaking with another Nursing Supervisor the following day, I came in to see one of the Directors of Nursing. She was very kind and apologized for the way I was tranferred, but said that theirs was a business, that I'm to go where I'm needed, that nurses are moved all the time. She said that the acuity is higher on the new unit I was assigned to, and that they therefore needed R.N.s there, that an LPN could do my job on the Dementia unit. (While that sounded reasonable, I have to say I've never seen an R.N. on this other unit unless they were floated there, so I didn't quite know what to think of that.) At any rate, I said that I was sorry for the way I left, and that I'd like to come back and continue to work on my newly assigned unit (which I wasn't even sure was true). Several times during this interview she looked at me and said, "I don't know....I'm not sure you didn't make the right decision (by leaving)." But I insisted that no, I wanted to come back, but that of course I would understand if they didn't want to take me back, etc., etc. When I got home I realized that she was right, I had made the right decision, that it's just not in me to work essentially as a float wherever I go knowing that at any moment I could be transferred someplace else, so I called and spoke to the evening Nursing Supervisor and told her what I was thinking, that I thought Mrs. "X" was right and very perceptive in her observation. I've never heard from them again. I still have paychecks there that I haven't received, so I guess I'll have to go in and pick those up, but now it all seems so bizarre, and I miss everyone there. Sad and blue and a story fwiw....Now I don't know what to do.

[muffie, RN]

good luck in all that u do

[BebeRN2]

Wow. That's so sad. It sounds to me like they had a great employee in you and really blew it. There aren't many nurses who have a 40/1 patient ratio and still love their jobs and their patients... more importantly, it sounds like the patients loved you. These LTCs always claim to put their patients first, but they don't do it by staffing changes like the one you describe. I feel badly for you and your "guys". These days it's the almightly $$ that comes first, and it's become a heartless business in many cases. May they rot in hell.

I won't wish you good luck because you don't need it. Anyone with a heart as big as yours will be welcomed anywhere whether you "gave notice" or not. And they'll be lucky to have you.

:balloons:

[NurseCherlove]

They must be complete morons! And as hard as it is to keep nurses in LTC?? I love the elderly and would love to work in a LTC setting, but I know I never will just because of the crazy workloads you guys have to endure.

Maybe you could work out your notice and then stay on PRN, requesting to be called only to work on the unit you love? You could give it a shot and then at least be able to keep them as a reference.

Good luck in finding something better!

[coolvibesRN]

They should've atleast let you know that they'll transfer you, and see how you feel about it. That shows how much they really don't care about the employees they have.

[CritterLover, BSN, RN]

they should've atleast let you know that they'll transfer you, and see how you feel about it. that shows how much they really don't care about the employees they have.

i have to agree with this.

while i do agree with your facility in that you should be prepared to work in any of the units (as a float) when you come to work (unless you have a no-float clause in you contract).

however, floating to a unit for a shift and being transferred to a different unit are two totally different things.

shows very little regard for both you and the residents.

also, is very unprofessional on their part.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Unfortunately, your situation is not unique. This has happened at 2 facililties I worked at. In one, the RN was working (and doing a great job) on the subacute unit. The admin. needed a nurse manager for the not so great dementia unit, so they told her she had to go. Did they ask her, no....did they inform the nurse manager of the subacute unit (me) that this was their plan? no..they do what they want.

At another place, we had an RN who worked on the dementia unit. She was wonderful with the patients and really enjoyed her job. One day they told her she had to float to the subacute unit. She went ...then they told her that was her permanent assignment because they needed her there. Sorry....most nurses can learn how to use an IV pump or a wound vac or whatever but not all nurses can learn how to deal with demented residents.

It's rotten how rottenly some people get treated.

PS. As bad as it was, unless you felt threatened, I would never quit with out notice...it's not professional.

[hbiawos]

I just wanted to thank everyone for taking time out of your day to reply to my post. Cape Cod, I know you're right about giving notice and I guess that's something I'll have to deal with when applying for a new job...the truth is I just couldn't do it. Right or wrong, it was too painful for me to go back there.

Thanks again, everybody.

[fultzymom]

It is sad to say but they do this where I work also. To me, it is worse for the residents who knew et trusted you. They are the ones who will suffer the most. You should not change things like that in a dementia unit. Not good for the patients. Hope you find a good job that you will come to love as much as this one.

[hbiawos]

"To me, it is worse for the residents who knew and trusted you. They are the ones who will suffer the most."

That's it, right on the nose. Against my will I've completely abandoned them, I'm helpless to do anything about it, and the thought of that literally breaks my heart. I don't think I've ever experienced a feeling of sorrow as profound as this one..it's not unlike grieving the loss of loved ones in your own family.

I can't imagine why they made this decision except that the state was due any day and I'm sure it would have looked better to have an RN on the other unit. Window-dressing for the state is all fine and well and I would have happily done that until we passed inspection. But the way they chose to make this transition instead was brutal, thoughtless, and in direct contradiction to the flag they like to wave most: "We always put our residents first." Well, what a load of crap that turned out to be.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I know the hertbreak of having your residents wrested from you.

Hang in there.

[hbiawos]

p.s. Thanks again to everyone.