In need of some advice

[swankyminnow, DNP]

Hello,

In need of a little advice...

I have been working in a Pediatric ICU that also houses overflow general pediatric patients on the same floor for 1 year now. Our census is constantly low, only having 2-4 ICU patients at a time, sometimes we have none. For days, I will have general pediatric patients only, and I did NOT sign up for that. I am put on call at least once a week having to use PTO to make up for the lost hours in my paycheck due to the low census. On top of that, we had quite a few nurses leave as well as the manager. I recently applied as a PRN at a different hospital that actually ended up offering me a full time job. This new hospital is a very high acuity pediatric icu and would be a great experience for me. I wanted to know if anyone thinks leaving after 1 year would be too soon or if it would "burn a bridge"?

[LeChien, BSN, RN]

I feel as long as you put in your proper resignation notice you wouldn't be "burning any bridges". If you aren't happy with the job, you aren't happy with the job. Are you bound to a one-year contract?

[RNKPCE]

You have legitimate reasons for wanting to leave. If you signed a contract such as a new grad might then you may have some ramifications. Otherwise you have a full time job offer, I'd do it. Any reason to believe the new job would not be to your liking?

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

I had a similar issue at a job. If they can't provide the hours agreed to, you are under no obligation to stay there. And you can put "unable to maintain hours of employment per contract" as reason you left.

[nutella, MSN, RN]

Hello,

In need of a little advice...

I have been working in a Pediatric ICU that also houses overflow general pediatric patients on the same floor for 1 year now. Our census is constantly low, only having 2-4 ICU patients at a time, sometimes we have none. For days, I will have general pediatric patients only, and I did NOT sign up for that. I am put on call at least once a week having to use PTO to make up for the lost hours in my paycheck due to the low census. On top of that, we had quite a few nurses leave as well as the manager. I recently applied as a PRN at a different hospital that actually ended up offering me a full time job. This new hospital is a very high acuity pediatric icu and would be a great experience for me. I wanted to know if anyone thinks leaving after 1 year would be too soon or if it would "burn a bridge"?

No, one year is fine. Also, they can not give you enough hours, what they do is keep you "sort of" in case their census picks up but there is no guarantee. In fact - it is smart to get out because with a census that low and people "on call" there may be something else going on.

I worked on one floor that closed due to low census and I had one job in acute LTC with dwindling census. I saw the writing on the wall and got out after 4 months. Of course they were not happy and apparently continued to tell staff that there were no plans of closing the facility. But - I think 2 months after I left I got a phone call that they had closed and staff was left to transfer to another facility or without job...

It is a great opportunity for you - resign with a proper letter and you should be just fine...