Is it wrong to leave a job during orientation?

[Lovethenurse2b25, ASN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

This question is solely based a dicussion at work.

A recent hired decided to part ways after about 8 days of training orientation usually last about 30 days or more depending on how long the person needs. Many of the staff members were upset and began to ridicule this nurse because of it.

In my opinion I think the orientation phase of the job is for either party (the job or the worker) to see if the job is a good fit. After all you won't know what kind of job it is unless you try. A co-worker of mine mentioned that every time he trains someone they run out the door and never come back LOL

Do you think it is wrong for a person to leave during orientation ? Share your opinion down below?

My current job is a LTC facility many of our patients take psychiatric medications and have behaviors (fighting, biting, scratching etc).

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

If a person knows it's not for them I think it's better to leave early than before being part of the staffing grid...

[PediatricMA]

I feel like yeah it sucks for the company and all of the workers because the hiring and training process can take forever. But i agree with Jedrnurse, I would rather have someone leave during orientation or as soon as they figure out that job isn't for them.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I agree with the previous posters. It's a lot better that the person leave ASAP rather than complete all the training (using the employer's resources) and then leaving soon after orientation is complete.

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

It definitely is best for both the employee or employer to cut ties as soon as possible so nobody's time or resources are wasted. I only think it is "wrong" when someone goes into a job knowing they could quit very soon because of a known reason. For instance, I see a lot of posts from new grads where they accept job offer #1 and start orientation, and then weeks into orientation they get job offer #2 which of course is their "dream job" (?) and then quit job 1 for job 2.

This is not to say that I think someone should stay miserable at a job they hate or not take another opportunity that comes along unexpectedly, but rather that some planning and patience could prevent some of this situations from arising. You will burn your bridges otherwise, but sometimes things happen and it's not the end of the world.

[umbdude, MSN, APRN]

Not wrong at all. Employees have no obligations other than giving 2 weeks and none if you're still on orientation.

[guest317]

While in orientation, if you know that it is not the place for you, by all means, leave. If you see that the facility or policies are not something you can work with, then there is no sense wasting your time, staff time, and facility time going through orientation and dreading every day. I've done it myself and I have no regrets or heartburn for having done it.

[yonty]

Definitely best to leave done it myself after a month or so because some work places are not safe to practice in and if the management team are lacking you have little chance of changing things as a odd bod nurse

[Pinson, RN]

Some people are known to use orientation as easy money and have planned to leave during or after it is complete. To alleviate this problem, we had to start paying for the orientation after 90 days of employment. Also, we started paying a little extra to staff who assist in the floor training process so they don't feel like all that work was for nothing.

[Diploma'82]

Had 2 nurses quit at the same time right after their orientation was complete. One was because she applied for a certain job and then the manager would not let her do that job, don't blame her. The other was a new grad whose dream job came up. Was very frustrating for the staff who were pulling extra shifts already because above mentioned manager chased everyone off when she was hired, and costly for the hospital.

[Everline]

Orientation is the time to leave if you see it's not going to work.

[kp2016]

This site is full of horror stories about the terrible treatment nurses have received while on orientation so no, it’s not wrong for nurses to quit a job they don’t like. With so many states being work at will nurses can be fired at any time for any reason, why on earth should we feel bad for quitting at any time for any reason!