Leaving a job after just a couple months

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Specializes in ICU.

Hello,

There's no real reason to delve into my sob story here, but I recently found out my dad has lung cancer which he just hasn't talked about to any of my brothers or me, I guess that's just a dad thing to do...

Anyway when I got my license I left to go to a big city about eight hours from home, which was just silly dream-chasing in it's own right. I've been thinking about moving to St Louis which isn't even an hour from home, and now that dad is so sick it's been all I can think about.

The problem is that I just started my first nursing job maybe 6 or 7 weeks ago, if that. The company I work for wants you to have six months in, but I don't know if I can stand that long wait, especially with how long the drive is just to visit home. I haven't even given much thought on how to break this to my manager as I haven't done much job hunting or getting my license transferred, and obviously I need to have a new job lined up before I do anything.

I was just wondering if anyone has had something similar happen to them and would have advice. There's so much I need to think about even outside of the job like finding a sublet for my apartment and finding a new apartment, seeing exactly where I should live and how far from dad that'd put me, etc. But compared to how I think I'd feel if something happened while I was so far away, none of that feels like a big deal if I can just pull it off.

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I think they would understand given the circumstances, if you left. And if not, well, you only have one dad and will have lots of jobs in your life.

When you say they want six months, what do you mean? Is there a potential to transfer closer to home after six months? Not sure what the prognosis is for your dad, but if you work 12s, maybe you could schedule your days consecutively and then spend most of your week with family to hit that six month mark (would only be 4.5 months at this point). It would be worth discussing with your manager.

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Family first. You just started your career as a new nurse, so there will be ample time for work. As the poster above stated, you only have one dad. It's completely reasonable if you feel like you need to move closer to your family.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

I am sorry for your Dad's condition, awinttt94 and appreciate your situation.

Priorities are priorities and we need to do what's best for all concerned.

If you're from Illinois and know the St. Louis and metro east areas, you're probably aware that nursing jobs are not difficult to find.

The very very best to you, awintt94!

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Talk to your manager. explain the situation, if they are not willing to work with you, then the job isn't for you. Family comes first. When God closes a window He opens a door. Go home be where your heart and mind is. Practice safely, and to do that you need to be at work when you are at work, and Dad in the back of your mind is not safe. I walked away from my job when my mother needed care, I never regretted it. I was able to return to that job 6 months later.

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From my understanding its not good to leave a job within the first year in less dire circumstances. Your case counts as that. Do not feel guilty. This is the te time you need to be near your family. Go speak to your manager about your circumstances. They should understand and honestly probably won't want to keep investing in you financially as a new grad if you need to leave. Its better to be honest and just get home. See what your manager says and if they keep you two weeks stay but they may say just get home. Go home and take a job at a nursing home till you get a hospital job.

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First, take a deep breath, take a long walk and think a few things over.

Have you spoken with your family about your plans, and what do they think? How far away is your job from your Dad? If you moved back to your hometown, where would you work?

How much assistance and support does you Dad have now? When my father was diagonsed with lung cancer, his many siblings took turns visiting him, the neighbors did all of my parents yard work for the couple of years, and when the end came close the amazing hospice team aided my mom with a lot of personal care.

Finally, what do you want?

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Specializes in Pedi.

An 8 hr drive is usually only an hour flight and flights can be pretty cheap if you fly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Saturdays. Are you able to work 3 days in a row so you can spend the other 4 days/week with your family? Given the situation, you may find coworkers willing to switch with you if you aren't scheduled 3 days in a row when the schedule comes out. Maybe you could try to work Sun, Mon, Tues and if you work every Sunday, that would meet your weekend requirement and then you could fly back and forth late Tuesday or early Wednesday and on Saturdays, when flights are usually cheapest.

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