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Discussion

Just not for me, how to resign

So I recently started a position as a middle school nurse and it is just not for me. A little background . . . I am a recent ADN grad, had been an LPN for 15 years, worked in an ER and as a substitute school nurse while in my RN bridge program. After I graduated I faced the choice of signing a contract with the hospital or trying out school nursing full-time. My kids are in the same district and I was excited for the schedule, so I chose to try school nursing.

Well I am bored out of my mind. When I subbed in another district I had kids with catheters and peg tubes and diabetics. At this new school I treat the same 20 kids with headaches and stomach aches every single day. I am so unhappy with my choice.

My former employer has offered to let me come back and work on a tele unit and I really want to do it. My concern is how to best cut ties with the school. It hasn't been 90 days yet and I don't want leaving to have any effect on my kids. It's a small town I want to leave this position in good graces. Does anyone have any advice?

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    • Experts

    Unless there is a compelling financial reason for you to change jobs my recommendation to you is to finish the school year and then examine what your priorities are. You haven't been there long enough to appreciate everything the job has to offer, especially when it come to being on the same schedule as your kids. You have them, at this age, only one time so you might want to think about the value of seeing them in the school hallways, waving to them at lunch, knowing they are safe and sound within your grasp every day; opportunities many parents don't get. All 5 of my children have gone through my school and I would not have traded those memories for anything - in fact I got choked up just typing this.

    So, probably not the advice you were looking for but that's what I'm saying.

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    Our be there for when they have a bad day or when they need lunch money ;)

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    • Author

    OldDude, RN I get what you are saying. But I guess I'm not sure at this point what it offers besides extra time off. My kids are older too. My daughter is in high school and my son is in 6th grade. He is at the same school as I am, but I never see him. In fact, I never see anyone. I don't get to leave the health room for more than a minute or 2 to use the restroom or make copies. Even at that I have a line of students when I return. And forget about lunch. Lunch is bites of whatever has gotten cold in-between students. And I wouldn't mind any of that so much if there was just something interesting going on. I literally see the same students repeatedly and they always cycle through the same complaints. I am all for routine, but some days it's mind numbing. I actually worry that if I wanted to do something else later, after my kids graduated, that no one would hire me with this type of experience.

    And unfortunately there are some financial considerations. I took a very large pay cut to do this and thought it would be worth it. But we are struggling a bit. The pay difference if I went back to the hospital as an RN, even with summer school, is right at $30,000 a year. That would go along way towards easing some of our stress.

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    • Experts

    If you don't stick out the academic year, at least make it until the mid-year break. Not that far away.

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    • Author

    yes that was the plan.

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    • Experts
    OldDude, RN I get what you are saying. But I guess I'm not sure at this point what it offers besides extra time off. My kids are older too. My daughter is in high school and my son is in 6th grade. He is at the same school as I am, but I never see him. In fact, I never see anyone. I don't get to leave the health room for more than a minute or 2 to use the restroom or make copies. Even at that I have a line of students when I return. And forget about lunch. Lunch is bites of whatever has gotten cold in-between students. And I wouldn't mind any of that so much if there was just something interesting going on. I literally see the same students repeatedly and they always cycle through the same complaints. I am all for routine, but some days it's mind numbing. I actually worry that if I wanted to do something else later, after my kids graduated, that no one would hire me with this type of experience.

    And unfortunately there are some financial considerations. I took a very large pay cut to do this and thought it would be worth it. But we are struggling a bit. The pay difference if I went back to the hospital as an RN, even with summer school, is right at $30,000 a year. That would go along way towards easing some of our stress.

    I'll tell ya, your posts are in complete contradiction with each other. Your mind is already made up. Go ahead and give your two week notice and walk away. Your kids will not be punished by the district for that.

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    • Author
    I'll tell ya, your posts are in complete contradiction with each other. Your mind is already made up. Go ahead and give your two week notice and walk away. Your kids will not be punished by the district for that.

    Hmm, ok. Clearly this is not the forum I should have posted in. I was hoping to get advice on how to resign graciously, not get blasted for realizing early on that this is not the specialty for me. Thanks for the replies though.

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    • Experts
    Hmm, ok. Clearly this is not the forum I should have posted in. I was hoping to get advice on how to resign graciously, not get blasted for realizing early on that this is not the specialty for me. Thanks for the replies though.

    Please don't get your back up. I'm telling you from experience and working in public school for a long time. If you wanna quit, then quit, move on and let the school move on.

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    Hmm, ok. Clearly this is not the forum I should have posted in. I was hoping to get advice on how to resign graciously, not get blasted for realizing early on that this is not the specialty for me. Thanks for the replies though.

    The school isn't like the hospital, OP. If you are not planning on returning to it, you don't have to worry about do not hire status. And your children will be able to stay in the district without any issues.

    You mention you live in a small town, so people will likely notice. Whatever. Just brush it off and do what you you need to do for you.

    But leaving does have an effect on the your "other" kids: the students. If I ever were to resign (I love my job and my school), I'd try and give enough notice if I could to let my school get another nurse or plan (i.e. agency) in place. If I couldn't, I couldn't, but I'd try.

    You're early in the job and may not have experienced that moment where you realize how important your role is and why having a nurse at school is important. I understand your feelings - I was wondering those same things until almost Christmas break at my school the first year. Then I gave an Epi-pen to a student in full blown anaphylaxis from accidentally eating peanuts and whoah! The rush. I sat down that night and realized some things. I also decided after that to actively ask to be a part of other parts of my school, including health teaching.

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    • Experts

    The reason you're not getting the advice you say you're looking for is that there isn't any way to leave a position "in good graces" after 90 days on the job, outside of some kind of drastic personal emergency/crisis situation. You're screwing over the employer. If leaving is important enough to you that that doesn't matter, go for it. But there isn't any graceful way to do it, and there isn't any way that the employer is going to be happy about it (unless they are eager to get rid of you, that is). Best wishes.

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    Hmm, ok. Clearly this is not the forum I should have posted in. I was hoping to get advice on how to resign graciously, not get blasted for realizing early on that this is not the specialty for me. Thanks for the replies though.

    You can't have it perfect. When you are part of the community, there is a certain obligation as a school nurse. It is a different kind of job, and no, it is not for everyone. Financially, it sucks. I get it. we alllll get it.

    You asked for advice, and we are telling you, many of us in as nurses in the community in which we live, what our advice is.

    You don't like it, so do what you want.

    Best of luck to you.

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    Your plan to leave mid-year is better than leaving immediately. Let your supervisor and your team know that you have been given a position you just can't turn down and you are grateful for this opportunity. Bear in mind that if you're in a contract situation you're breaking the contract (nothing wrong with that- teachers do it all the time). However, you might put in a call to HR to see if leaving mid-contract year renders you unhireable. Because that's sometimes a question on future applications; you've been here long enough that this job will "count" on your resume. In the future, you'll just say you realized this wasn't what you were looking for and you were concerned as a relatively new RN that you wouldn't have a full practice base if you stayed in school nursing. Also - don't discount returning to school nursing after a few years. Every year is different.

    Best of luck!

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