Job seeking before giving notice?

Nurses Job Hunt

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Hi, I'm hoping you guys can help me with a bit of a catch-22. I'm a new grad RN and I love my job, but unfortunately I'm moving in a few months. I'll be too far away to commute and will need to resign. I'm excited for the move but I'm running into problems trying to line up a job.

It's not that there's a shortage of offers, or anything like that. But I haven't given my notice yet, and no one at my job knows I'm considering leaving. I'm afraid to apply to anything because of the possibility that my hospital would find out that I was leaving before I planned on telling them (I plan on giving a month's notice). I know that's something that shouldn't happen; it's a nasty surprise for your superior and it's unprofessional as well.

On the other hand, I've always heard that you need to have a job lined up before turning in a letter of resignation. To follow one rule would require breaking the other, vice versa, and I feel stuck in the middle. I've never done any of this before, and could really use some advice. Thank you guys in advance for any help.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

I have had to move many times for my husband's job. I was never able to obtain a job before I moved. I always got a good job after we arrived in the new place.

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Specializes in Critical care, Trauma.

Is there a problem with giving more than 1 month of notice? I gave 5-6 months' notice to my prior employer when I found out my husband got into grad school (which would require moving). I knew it would help them have additional time to pick out my replacement and I was actually part of that process of hiring and training her for the last month that I worked there. It was a win/win for everyone involved. I know it's not like that everywhere but, as long as you're not concerned that they'd boot you out early, I don't see why a longer notice is bad...?

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It's not so much that I think it would be bad, as that I'm about halfway through working there (I started in late July and plan to leave in mid January). I can't really put it into words, but it feels weird to me to tell them this far in advance, not having worked there very long.

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