Letter of Resignation or just Two Weeks Notice

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Nov 9, 2005

Hi there. I would think it depends on your workplace. There have times they required something formal, and times where they didn't. Good luck with your decision and new job, by the way! Are you excited? Keep us updated!

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Nov 9, 2005

Def give a letter. It's about not burning bridges.

Always say something about how thankful you were for the opportunity to learn that the facility provided you.

That you hope that you were an asset while you were there.

That should the opportunity ever come up again where both you and the facility's interests aligned, it is your hope that you would be favorably reviewed for rehire.

Even if you don't believe it.

It doesn't hurt to be nice and might help someday.

One of my past resignation letter:

I am resigning my critical care RN position.

I have benefited greatly from my experiences with XXX, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunities to learn and contribute to this outstanding Health Care organization.

I would hope that, if in the future, should the opportunity again arise for XXX and myself to engage in a mutually benefiting relationship, that XXX would extend consideration to me.

XXX has been kind and considerate to me and I am in your debt.

Thank you,

(Incidentally, that was 5 yrs ago and I am currently working for that organization on a f/t basis again)

~faith,

Timothy.

llg, PhD, RN · Nov 9, 2005

Timothy is right. Write a letter. Be polite and complimentary. Don't make enemies. There is no need to tell them why you are leaving.

.... But ... as you will be leaving just before the holidays ... why not be nice and give them more than the required notice? What harm would there be to give them more time to arrange replacements to fill the holes in the schedule you will leave? They will appreciate it and give you better recommendations in the future ... PLUS ... the patients will be safer if they have time to arrange to cover the holes.

Good luck with your new job.

llg

grinnurse, RN · Nov 9, 2005

Thanks ZASHAGALKA and llg for the tips.

I had really thought that 3 weeks would be sufficient. I was going to offer to work PRN for them if they needed it through the holidays to not leave them in a total bind. I would never want to do that to the team of nurses that I have been working with. I absolutley love them all and would love to go back and work with them when things improve!!

Thanks Jen for the well wishes. I have mixed emotions about the new position. I am excited about the opportunity to get in with a larger :organization that has been around for 50 years or more but sad that I am leaving a hospital that I used to love and wanted to work at.

Again thanks everyone for the tips

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Nov 9, 2005

Good luck grinnurse in your new position, which will hopefully be safer & make you happier. :)

-Christine

Someday-C.R.N.A. · Nov 9, 2005

I definitely agree with the letter idea. ZASHAGALKA nailed it with the complimentary theme. Mentioning the camaraderie you've enjoyed at this facility may also be appropriate, if left simple.

Leaving a place you've been at for a while can be tough, especially when you get along well with your coworkers, but it sounds as though moving to a new facility may be in your best interest here.

Take your time and compose a respectful resignation letter. Keep a copy for yourself. Move on to your next life experience, and try to make the best of the time you spend there, as you have done in the past.

Try to stay objective.

GOOD LUCK!!:)

mistoff · Nov 9, 2005

Just address a letter stating that you are giving 3 weeks notice and your last date of employment.

Thank your boss and the facility for the opportunities they have provided you to enhance your skills, etc.

Don't burn bridges. Don't bring up issues of inappropriate patient safety etc. If you have not presented these issues before now, you are only opening yourself up to questions of your ability to cope & do your job.

Many times issues of staffing, patient safety are related to changes in administration, finances etc. You are going to a place you feel has better opportunities and care.

Leave on good terms and look forward to the changes in your life and new job. You never know when you might want to return to the current hospital

Jen

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2005

this is not a difficult task. make it short and sweet.

dear manager, i am resigning my position as staff nurse effective three weeks from today (put the actual calendar date there). you can also add:my reason for resigning is that i have found employment elsewhere. thank you for the opportunity to work at this facility.

thank you, grinnurse

the most important thing about this letter is (1) the date at the top of the letter, and (2) the date of resignation you put in the body of the letter. call personnel and ask them how many days notice they require. some places will want you to put a reason for terminating, but it is not required. the letter is merely a document that memorializes your last day of employment, nothing more. personnel needs to know it. unless you trash the place or the people you work with in the letter it is merely going to get placed in your personnel file and probably never looked at again. everything else is just extraneous, so feel free to express nice things you might want to say, but it is not necessary. if you want someone to listen to your concerns about patient safety issues or lack of supplies, the appropriate way is to ask for an exit interview. at the exit interview, let it rip! if you want to express warm feelies for your manager do it privately in her office or write a separate letter to the don singing her praises. the accolades or criticisms people put into these resignation letters are usually ignored and only end up serving the emotional need of the writer of the letter. anyway, the less you say, the less you have to make appologies or explanations for later. make sure you keep a copy for yourself, just in case. over the years i also started keeping track, in my address book, of the address and phone number of the hospital along with my actual dates of employment, hourly salary, and my supervisor's name as these are things that are commonly asked on employment applications and 7 years from now you won't remember all that stuff.

good luck in your new job!

HappyNurse2005, RN · Nov 12, 2005

i agree with the above poster.

BUT, first of all-look up company policy on resigning. Our company has a 30 day notice for RN's to leave or transfer (well, actually, thats for anyone who makes over 11 dollars an hour has to do 30 days notice

MAKE SURE especially that you put the date you write the letter, and the date that will be your last day working

11.11.05

dear (nurse manager)-

i will be resigning my position as staff nurse. The last day I will be available to work is 12.2.05. I will be available to do a (day/evening/night) shift on (christmas/new years) if needed.

Thank you for the opportunity to work here.

sincerely,

grinnurse

i wouldn't tell them why you're leaving. but be cordial.

good luck

grinnurse, RN · Nov 12, 2005

Thanks to everyone who replied. I turned in a letter on Thursday to my nurse manager and I didn't feel as horrible as I had anticipated. She said that she totally understood and would be lying if she told me she hadn't been thinking the same thing too!!

Thanks again-I knew I could count on the good people here to give me suggestions,

Grin:rotfl:

Sandy46 · Nov 12, 2005

I am an HR director of many years turned nurse--yes letter--no to the reason (found an opportunity/ another opportunity/ good opportunity makes it sound like their's was not an opportunity and definitely a thanks.