Intern, graduate, now having baby...

[majcr6912]

I am a 2nd degree BSN (graduated in Dec 2013), worked at a local hospital for a year as a nurse intern. 6 months in, my manager told me they'd like to hire me when I graduate, which was amazing, and I was very excited to have a job promised to me. 2 months later, she went on maternity leave until Dec. in the meantime, the hospital went under a hiring freeze. Everyone including myself was still under the impression I had a job waiting for me. Then 1 month before graduation, my manager came back from leave to tell me there is no job, my offer is no longer valid and no positions are open. Also, I am now 9 months pregnant, due next week. I have been studying like crazy for the NCLEX and trying to prepare for baby now that I don't has work or school every day. My manager asked me if I wanted to continue working as an intern there and I said until I find a job I could, but now that the time is here I feel I need to focus on my studying, my baby, and finding a job and less on my internship as it was more of a glorified CNA position and the RNs didn't always treat us interns as nursing students but more like little minions (i.e. "Could you grab me a cup of Water?" "Could you go get room 6 to the bathroom?" "Can you go clean the back room?" Instead of letting us follow them and learn). My husband and I are financially stable that I do not need to work as an intern, it was more to avoid conflict and to keep my name in the hospital system for internal transfer or openings if I were to stay at this point. At this point, however, my husband and I both feel it would be better for me to take a few months to study and take my NCLEX, to raise our child, and find a good fit for a job. My dilemma now is- what is the best way to quit? As I was only OPT, I was not considered essential and often got flexed off to begin with. Additionally, I am somewhat disappointed in my units failure to tell me that my offer was no longer available but rather I had to ask once my manager got back from leave. Third, as I am giving birth now to my own baby within the week, when do I tell her? And how? Is a letter good enough? A phone call? An email? Her hours are spurratic so it is hard to always catch her. Any advice is much appreciated.

[llg, PhD, RN]

No need to make a big drama out of it. Simply resign, saying that you need to resign due to the combination of NCLEX review and new baby. If you still want to work for them after NCLEX, express that in your letter of resignation. Say that you hope they will keep you in mind for any upcoming RN jobs as you will be seeking a nursing position shortly after passing the NCLEX. Thank them for the wonderful opportuities they have provided you during the internship and end the letter on an up note.

You can resign today if that is what you want to do ... or you can wait until after the baby is born. Whichever you prefer. If there is a benefit to waiting until after the baby is born and you "decide not to come back," then that is what I would do. If there are no benefits to waiting, then I would do it ASAP and get it settled to reduce your stress level. If you are currently scheduled for upcoming shifts, remember to give appropriate notice about them. (The "appropriate notice" rule is one you should never break if you can avoid it.)

Always write a formal letter -- and send a copy to Human Resources. You can leave it at her office if she is not there and follow up with phone calls and/or e-mails until you can confirm she received it. I would use e-mail at some point to guarantee yourself a written record that she was informed of your resignation.

[generalRN2008]

Type a simple letter to her and HR. But you could talk with HR about transfer to other units as a new grad

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Why resign? Aren't you about to go on maternity leave? Go on maternity leave and see what's available when you're due to come back.