Leaving CNA Job- no notice.

[CNAmaybNurseoneday]

I am still in the orientation/probationary period at my first CNA job.

I work in a very hostile work environment.

For anonymity's sake I won't share all the details here, but I have hit my breaking point.

I have taken some of my issues to the DON. That fixed things for about two days. Now they are back to what they were before, if not worse.

I am worried about losing my certification. I feel like the longer I work for this facility, the more likely that is to happen, because the facility is just that horrible, and getting people to help me is impossible. There are things, that I know legally I should not be doing on my own. There are things that I was trained to do, just wrong, that could get me in trouble, but that is how I was trained to do them.

But I am also terrified to give two weeks notice, because I am afraid that if I give notice, I will be put on the hardest runs, with the hoyer lifts, which I am not comfortable using by myself, and I know I won't be able to find someone willing to spot me. Anyway, what I am trying to say is, I am afraid that if I give notice, I will be put in a position where I may hurt a resident, or in some other way put my certification in jeopardy. Also, I am sure if I give my notice, the harassment I have been experiencing will intensify even more.

I also know that if the company or my supervisors wanted to throw me under the bus and get me in trouble with state or anything, I am sure they would have plenty of ground to do so, because I am sure I make plenty of mistakes.

On my next set of days off (I am between shifts now), I want to call the DON and quit. I know that will make me ineligible for rehire at that facility, but from what I understand, they won't be able to get me for neglect unless I walk out in the middle of a shift. I sort of feel like it is the best way to protect my certification. But I am sure they could still report mistakes I have made in the past. (I don't think there are any major things I have done, I am sure they are mistakes everyone makes when starting out, but those things sure can look big when they are under a microscope)

Is there anything I am missing? Assuming the environment is as hostile as I am saying (and please believe me it is) Does this seem like the most reasonable thing to do? Is there another option I am not thinking of?

Think of the worse possible work environment you can think of (or have ever worked in) multiply that by about 1000. That is how bad it is. What would you do in this situation? (also, I don't need another job right away, so I don't really care about getting another one lined up first, and I think if I were to do that, when they call for a reference, that would make things harder for me at my current job as well)

[student forever]

Give two week's notice and then leave.

[Alliedhealth]

Have you tried calling the omnibudsman which is the state. You have legal grounds to do so. If the facility is putting pts in danger it is the caregiver legal duty to report it. I dont know how your facility is but the omnibudsman number should be posted somewhere. If I was in the same situation I would go back to the DON and explain that I can no longer work there and that I would like to resign. If you give A two week notice, that is a verbal as well as written contract that you are willing to stay for two more weeks. I'm sure you want to leave in a pieceful manner.

[CNAmaybNurseoneday]

Thanks for the responses so far. Just to clarify, AlliedHealth, are you suggesting I put in a two weeks notice? Or are you suggesting that I tell the DON effective immediately, I won't be able to work there anymore?

[Alliedhealth]

Effective immediately. You don't have to wait two weeks to quit any job especailly if it's not unionized. I think that if you could find another job first it would be even better. Then to other employer it would look as if you left for better pay or a better work environment. However, do what's best for you.

[nguyency77, CNA]

The employer is technically not allowed to retaliate against you in any way. Just look for another job and see where that leads you. Best wishes. :hug:

[CNAmaybNurseoneday]

Technically, true, but if this were a facility where people followed the rules, I wouldn't be in the situation I am now. :)

Do I give all the reasons I am quitting, for example the lack of team work, the safety concerns, the harassment, etc, or do I just say I can no longer work there?

[IEDave, ASN, CNA, LVN]

One possibility would be to get assigned as a per diem CNA, and then give 2 weeks. At that point you're not on a run, and have some control over which shifts you work. Whether they'd work with you on this or not - dunno. Doesn't sound like it, but at this point do you really have anything to lose by trying?

As far as the letter of resignation - typically I'll write it something like this: "While I appreciate the opportunities provided by (insert facility name here), I've come to the conclusion that my continued employment is no longer beneficial to either myself or the facility. Therefore, it is with sincerest regret that I will be tendering my resignation effective blahblahblah." Something fairly general - specific criticisms should be made verbally, and behind closed doors. The reason for doing so is to avoid possible litigation (i.e. lawsuit) problems later on. Putting criticisms down in writing can get you into a whole bunch of nasty scenarios - especially if you don't have substantive evidence that any of it ever occurred. With verbals - unless you're being recorded (and even then it has to be under specific circumstances or they can get into trouble) it's considered "hearsay evidence" and typically not admissible in court.

If at all possible - try and give 2 weeks notice. The big problem with not giving 2 weeks, or leaving under duress is that there's an informal "network" in most industries - if you get a rep as a "problem" employee that network is going to make it tough for you to get further employment. It works like this - say you apply for work at facility X. The hiring manager sees that you worked at facility Y, and knows some of the staff there informally. Hiring manager calls up a buddy over at Y to set up a lunch and asks about you - buddy at Y gives the hiring manager 5 seconds of stony silence when asked about you, and then says "I see...well, see you for lunch on Tuesday!". No words have been said, but the hiring manager now knows that their buddy had some sort of difficulty with you. Get enough of that going on, and you're going to find it nearly impossible to get your foot in the door anywhere locally.

In any case - sorry to hear about your situation, but it happens to most people somewhere along the line. Only recommendation I can give is that you should check up on your next facility (the Medicare website has tools to let you see what State found on the last survey - not perfect, but at least it's something) before signing on the dotted line. Best of luck to you, and please keep us appraised of how things work out for you.

----- Dave

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I think the decision as to whether to give 2 weeks notice or not is dependent on whether you want to use this place as a reference or as experience on your resume. If they are doing bad/inethical/illegal things, you might want to consider going "hard core" so to speak. Tell the DON/DSD that you were asked to do X by (give the name) and you are concerned because that is illegal. I didn't have the balls to do this in my first SNF job as a new CNA. My facility had no gloves and no soap on some nights. LVN's ignored contact precautions posted on doors. I contracted scabies. Patients were left to bleed and scream all night. CNA's and LVN's slept while at work in the middle of the hall while call lights went off. LVN's gave CNA's pain meds for themselves. I HATED IT! After they asked my to return to work 1 day after the scabies infection, I never came back. (Scabies is still infectious 1 day after treatment) I had only worked there about 3 weeks.

Sometimes, I regret that because the experience would have looked good on my resume. But my conscious wouldn't let me stay. I don't know if what I was learning was beneficial to me as a new CNA. But, experience does look good on paper.

Soemtimes I wish I'd held their balls to the fire and went to the DON and told them that the things thery were doing were dangerous and illegal. But, it was easier for me to never come back. I was out sick due to my Dr's orders so I never returned.

I know I am likely to face more stuff like this as I am currently looking for a job in a SNF to supplement my PRN position. I will need balls and nerves of steel. I hope you can find the path that's best for you.

[Kate Sutton]

Hi,

I have just been reading some posts and have found myself in a similar situation (although not half as hostile) I actually left during my training period mainly due to the other CNA' s not wanting to help me at all with transferring, leaving me on my own to try and help residents, generally being as hostile as possible to me. Anyway, it all got too much and I had to leave. My question is to the original poster (cnamaybenurseoneday) as to what actually happened? And when you went for another CNA position elsewhere (if you did) what did you say about your previous employment? I am concerned that if I don't mention the other place somehow they will find out, and that would look terrible. If I do mention it what do I say as to why I left?

Thanks for any advice anybody can give!

Kate