I'm so scared to put in my 2 week notice

bigsyis · Sep 4, 2007

Congratulations on your new job. Get that resignation letter written and over to your Manager today. If you procrastinate, the two weeks drops to 13 days, etc., and then your Manager really will be peeved. Your leaving is unfortunate for the rest of your coworkers, but that is what agency staffing is for. You are entitled to better yourself, whether it is for $$ or quality of life. In your case, it is both.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2007

Honey, she'd drop you like you were on fire should it benefit her.

Don't worry. Put it in writing. "Please accept my resignation effective {two week's date). I have enjoyed my time here but have accepted a position that is more in line with my current needs. Thank you very much."

And if she gives you any grief you can simply tell her that you have the right to quit.

WakeUpRN · Sep 4, 2007

Hey there! Don't feel bad or scared to quit. Most short-staffed employers are in thier situation because they are not doing enough to keep thier employees.

You should do what's best for you in your life. These days no one expects nurses to stay at thier jobs for years and years. It is a field where people move around and move up- that's one of the reasons most nurses became nurses (or want to become, like me!) in the first place - boundless opportunities! And believe me, your employers probably didn't give much thought to your situation when they changed your hours. They most likely didn't feel bad at all. It IS all about the bottom line with them, and you only have one life. Don't feel indebted to them.

Ms Kylee · Sep 4, 2007

Gee, all of the jobs I've quit, I've never been afraid to put in my notice... I've always been happy to move on to another position, not scared in the least.

allnurses Guide · Sep 4, 2007

Remember that when a perspective employer calls your past jobs, they generally are only supposed to confirm the dates that you were employed and I believe they can say whether or not you can be rehired. Is your facility policy that you only have to give two weeks? If so, and you are generally in good standing with the facility, then you probably don't have much to worry about.

See, the last hospital that I worked at, you had to give FOUR weeks notice if you were licensed staff. That was the policy; if you didn't give that notice than you could not be rehired.

Anyway, I think you are fine. Best thing to do is never give your boss as a reference. I mean, on a job app you do have to put who your manager/immediate supervisor was at every job, but that usually doesn't mean that they will call that person directly and ask a bunch of questions. I think they usually call HR and get the info that they need. The only way an employer can really ask a bunch of more incriminating questions is if they are asking someone that you specified as a professional/character reference.

That's USUALLY how it goes... in my own experience.

gizelda196 · Sep 4, 2007

Leaving is always a scary thing! I left a job I worked at for over 10 years in a community I grew up in. A job where I loved my coworkers, my patients ,my families .Where I knew every one on every unit because I had worked on all those units and grew up with half the people I worked with. The problem was the constant short staffing and the management that constantly turned over and had no idea about the "community" aspect of our hospital.Some managers where just so brutal. Bottom lined ,I burned out. I am now in a job that is in a major city in one of best trauma units in the state. The staffing is great, the union is strong , the pay is fantastic. I am never late leaving. and I don't come home completely and utterly devastated! (which is what happened at my other job) I just felt that no matter what I did The constant fight for my patients, their families, our safety was going to kill me. I miss my old job. I miss that connection with my patients and the families. I don't have that where I am but what I do have is my sanity back. I keep saying someday I will go "home".

I left my first nursing job Because I was afraid I would lose my license. It was in a nursing home . jobs where scarce no one was hiring so I took what I could get. well if any one knows nursing homes, I was a new grad ,put in charge of a unit of 50 patients one LPN and 3 aides. restraints were taking away 2 months after I started, with no increase in staff and no plan for the confused demented patients. One day they were all just "let free". we had fatal falls ! I lasted 6 months. the abuse from management was awful I used coworkers as a reference and had the company human resources dept type me a letter of my employment status.

I have left several jobs over the years. I always gave notice and remained professional. Head up high and said my good byes.

we all know managers are supposed to be professional and not take things personnel. some cant. get a copy of your evaluations . Get written references from co workers and refer the prospective employer to human resources versus your manager.

SLICKRN78 · Sep 4, 2007

Hey...don't give it a second thot!!....in 20 yrs of nursing I have held more than 23 positions... forget the people who say "don't job hop" ...your committment is to your patients...giving a fourteen day notice is what's appropriate and then it falls in the lap of managers...I agree with the other writers who state that recruitment incentives just aren't enough to hold good employees...walking off a job is irresponsible and just plain evil...but a nurse who walks off a job has usually become so overwhelmed and fed up that they crack... and your next interview will not go well when you try to explain...you can' take care of people if your own stress level is too high to function... I too have driven more than 70 miles one way to take care of a patient... I stayed with it for 2 yrs...but that's because I loved the work ... and PS... the reason I had 23 in 20 yrs... is that most of them were travel assignments!!!...do it!...it's the best, and your Nursing will become the ultimate treasure...Slick

GeauxNursing · Sep 4, 2007

go for it! quit! you have something so much better waiting for you. this is a wonderful thing, and it should bring you comfort. do not worry about upsetting your current boss, or getting a good reference. i understand why you feel bad leaving them so short-staffed, but you gotta do what you gotta do. put yourself first! good luck!

rnmomtobe2010 · Sep 4, 2007

Honey, she'd drop you like you were on fire should it benefit her.
I could not have said it better. Good luck and congratulations!!

dorselm · Sep 4, 2007

Hey, if you already have the job and they have accepted you then what are you afraid of? I say politely give your two weeks and then go on to better. Congratulations. I can't wait until school is finished. I wonder what's in store for me?!?!

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2007

I have been at my current job for 10 months. It is an hour away one way. Whne I accepted this position I was going to move to the area, but life lead me in a different direction and I haven't. It has been killing me because they took 12 hour shifts away 2 months ago, and driving 5 days a week is just too much.
We are REALLY short staffed on my shift at the moment. I mean, it's outrageous. This is why I am scared to give my 2 week notice. My boss is rather &^*(^(* to beging with and I"m scared she is going to hod a grudge and not give me a good reference in the future. She is not a nice person. How do I tell her that I am quitting? She believes 2 weeks is not enough time to give, and ideally I would have given a month, but new job wants me in 2 weeks.
The new job is a travel assignment. I will live 5 minutes away from my assignment and it pays $12 more an hour. How cool!

ask for a copy of any and all evaluations and stuff in your personel folder