Leaving current job after only 5 months

NotAllWhoWandeRN, ASN, RN · Jul 2, 2016

I agree with everyone else, but the huge sign on bonus scares me. Why are they is such dire need of nurses if their pay and benefits are so competitive?

That was my first thought, as well.

Erythropoiesis · Jul 2, 2016

Um. I'd let all kinds of people down for that kind of a difference in pay/benefits. In a heartbeat. Over text message. Not really over text, but you should definitely go for it and not feel guilty. They'll replace you in a week.

Erythropoiesis · Jul 2, 2016

Want to add that I usually almost always feel guilty when I quit jobs to go somewhere better but when I thought about it from a business point of view, it got a lot easier to say "An opportunity came up and I am taking it!"

mlang, BSN, MSN · Jul 2, 2016

It's incentive to stay. It's allocated every 6 months

NotAllWhoWandeRN, ASN, RN · Jul 2, 2016

It's incentive to stay. It's allocated every 6 months

What everyone is saying is that it's not normally a good thing if a hospital has to bribe its nurses to stay. Sign-on bonuses aren't the norm. I've never seen one north of 10 grand, and that for rural areas that have trouble with a lack of local nurses.

DeeAngel · Jul 2, 2016

Be prepared to deal with short staffing. I have never known of a well paying hospital to offer an incentive bonus to nurses unless they can't retain them, hire enough of them for some reason or they are seeking someone for a highly specialized position that's hard to fill.

Libby1987 · Jul 2, 2016

I'm going to be the dissenter and say that while I would give heavy consideration to the new offer and may likely choose it, I wouldn't do unconscionably as if it were no biggie. Whoever felt confident in hiring you (general you) will now be responsible in replacing you.

You might be working with a huge conglomerate with tons of resources and deep pockets or you might be working for a smaller outfit that can't just pull replacements from their back pockets while sipping a latte.

There's a real person that you will impact if you leave after just filling a spot. You can make a good choice for yourself while also pausing and acknowledging your impact. They don't have to be mutually exclusive.

And I'd really have to need all of those incentives to take someone up on a huge sign on bonus. There are only a few reasons why they are offering it and most likely because it's hard to keep staff despite their pay and benefit package.

Sydryth, ASN, RN · Jul 2, 2016

The hospitals in my area are having a lot of staffing issues, and one is currently offering a 15k sign on bonus for ICU staff. That particular facility used to use a ton of agency nurses, as I was one of them. They maybe trying to phase out agency. Pretty much every facility I have been in has had staffing issues to a degree here in the south though, during my career. I'm sure the bonus is payed out in increments over a 2 year span, and only have to pay amount received back if quit early. I say go for it. If it doesn't work out there is always another job waiting on you elsewhere.

BonnieSc · Jul 2, 2016

If a nurse in this situation were a new grad I might think twice about it... if for some reason the new job doesn't work out, you don't want a history of two new grad positions that didn't work out. Doesn't sound like a new grad offer, though.

Agree with everyone who's questioning that huge sign on bonus. Though the short commute might make whatever the problem is worthwhile. Be sure you look carefully at the rest of the benefit package to make sure you're not losing out somewhere else. Also, that bonus is sure to look quite a bit smaller after taxes.

I've sometimes felt a little guilty about quitting jobs, although I've never quit quite that early... except for the scary SNF that I quit after two days. The decent employers have never given me a bit of grief about quitting--they've always been happy for me about whatever new opportunity has come my way. If your current employer is losing people to places that offer more money, maybe they need to increase salaries.

HeySis, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2016

I'd ask why the sign on bonus and talk to some people that are already working there, to make sure. For me, the people I work with can make or break my day... twelve hours is a long time to be stuck in a sucky work environment... it starts effecting (or is it affecting... I can never remember) other parts of my life.

If it is all that you want it to be, then yes, give notice. But make sure you give a proper notice.. 2 weeks if you are on the floor and a month if you are in management, with an offer to help train your replacement within the time that you are still there.

IF your new employer won't wait for t=you to give proper notice, That would be a huge red flag too.

NotAllWhoWandeRN, ASN, RN · Jul 2, 2016

I'd ask why the sign on bonus and talk to some people that are already working there, to make sure. For me, the people I work with can make or break my day... twelve hours is a long time to be stuck in a sucky work environment... it starts effecting (or is it affecting... I can never remember) other parts of my life.
If it is all that you want it to be, then yes, give notice. But make sure you give a proper notice.. 2 weeks if you are on the floor and a month if you are in management, with an offer to help train your replacement within the time that you are still there.
IF your new employer won't wait for t=you to give proper notice, That would be a huge red flag too.

Solid advice.

I remember affect = a = action. A work environment acts on other parts of your life, so it affects you at home. Effect = e = end result. If a sign-on bonus gets new employees to stay with the hospital for the duration of the contract, it has the desired effect.

HeySis, BSN, RN · Jul 3, 2016

I remember affect = a = action. A work environment acts on other parts of your life, so it affects you at home. Effect = e = end result. If a sign-on bonus gets new employees to stay with the hospital for the duration of the contract, it has the desired effect.

I like memory tools like that!!! Why doesn't everyone teach that way!! Thanks.