Need help! Best way to quit?

Nurses General Nursing

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I have been working in a specialty area as a new grad for 4 months. I know I'm lucky to just have a job but I had the most amazing job offer come my way. It is essentially 33% more pay with much better benefits in a major university system with major room for professional and academic advancement. I have already made the decision to pursue my dreams but want to be as kind about it as possible to my manager. I honestly love my unit and the opportunity I have been given. But the university job is my dream and I cannot pass up my dream.

I am now presented with a problem... how can I quit without offending my manager? This may seem like a silly topic, and burning bridges isn't a concern as I will be relocating and never plan on returning or using this manager as a reference. My problem lies in that I have developed a great relationship with my manager. I worked on the unit in my Capstone and was hired into a position not usually given new grads. This required extra training and and patients on the part of my unit and manager. I know my manager is going to feel personally hurt by this move.

I see two ways of approaching this. I can:

A) Tell the truth. The unit cannot offer what I need and thus can not retain me. The job offer I have been made is just too great to pass up. I have to pursue my dream.

or

B) I can lie and say that the fit is just not right for me on the unit. This seems to put the blame of the situation not on my managers inability to retain me but in my inability to fit in on the unit.

Which way saves her feelings the most? Do you see another way to approach the situation to save her feelings?

Thanks for the help!

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I would simply be honest. Of course you should not lie.

Managers are used to having their staff take other jobs. If she takes it personally and gets hurt by you quitting, then she's in the wrong line of work.

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Specializes in multispecialty ICU, SICU including CV.

Just tell her the truth. And don't worry about "saving her feelings" -- it's a business decision. You are assuming she is going to take it personally --which she/he might, or might not. She/he is a manager. People quit, retire, get hired, get disciplined, transfer in, transfer out, all on her watch. I'm sure this isn't the first or the worst time she's had to deal with this situation. Just express that you got a better opportunity that you are thrilled with and will be relocating. Give her as much notice as she can to replace you.

From her and your co-workers perspective I am sure this sucks though. It is probably unlikely that you have even been off orientation for very long if you are a new grad. You probably sucked 50K or more out of that hospital in salary, benefits, non-productive orientation/precepting time, and education. Generally doing things like this are in pretty poor taste. I understand your rationale, but you need to understand that during your last few weeks, people might not look on you so kindly.

I did this once with a job I hated that I had been at for 6 months and claimed better opportunity. The better opportunity part happened to be true, but it wasn't like I wasn't looking because the job sucked. I left on reasonably good terms for a job in the same health system.

It can be done. 10 years from now looking back on your career, you are hardly going to remember having to deal with this. Just a bump in the road ...

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
From her and your co-workers perspective I am sure this sucks though. It is probably unlikely that you have even been off orientation for very long if you are a new grad. You probably sucked 50K or more out of that hospital in salary, benefits, non-productive orientation/precepting time, and education. Generally doing things like this are in pretty poor taste. I understand your rationale, but you need to understand that during your last few weeks, people might not look on you so kindly.

Yes, I just started working for a large university hospital that has a very nice nurse externship and new grad training program. Nurses I've talked to that have been there many years have expressed annoyance and resentment for all the new grads that come in, suck the resources dry, and then move on to greener pastures as soon as they have 6-12 months under their belt.

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Specializes in MSP, Informatics.

From her and your co-workers perspective I am sure this sucks though. It is probably unlikely that you have even been off orientation for very long if you are a new grad. You probably sucked 50K or more out of that hospital in salary, benefits, non-productive orientation/precepting time, and education. Generally doing things like this are in pretty poor taste. I understand your rationale, but you need to understand that during your last few weeks, people might not look on you so kindly.

..

yep. we see this time and time again. You have to do what you have to do. Does not matter how you bow out, the void has to be filled by all that remain. Glad you brought this up.

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Annymouse! Go follow your dreams. But since you say you like your manager very much and she has taken you under her wing and all, I'd break with etiquette and drop some cash and buy her a very nice token of your appreciation to give her when you tell her, in private. Like charm and chain... gold or silver, maybe with a meaningful saying. I have done this in the past.

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.
Yes, I just started working for a large university hospital that has a very nice nurse externship and new grad training program. Nurses I've talked to that have been there many years have expressed annoyance and resentment for all the new grads that come in, suck the resources dry, and then move on to greener pastures as soon as they have 6-12 months under their belt.

Personally I would stay where you are at. Your employer as you stated about extended themselves for you when normally they would not. I just think in the future employers will notice on your resume your quick change of employment. Your position will probably not be filled by another new grad. Why should they?

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

Just to clarify I was intending that comment t the OP not to Klone. :nurse:

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The Truth shall set You Free!

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Nurses I've talked to that have been there many years have expressed annoyance and resentment for all the new grads that come in, suck the resources dry, and then move on to greener pastures as soon as they have 6-12 months under their belt.

Perhaps some annoyance at mgmt for their unacceptable retention rate is in order? What is the use of selecting highly motivated people for training programs if you don't have something to keep them around when training is done.

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.

Go with option 1--tell her the truth. Thank her for all her assistance, the time she spent teaching you how to be a nurse in your first job, and wish her the best in the future. It doesn't have to be something terrible. She may be disappointed to see you go, but she will understand and be happy for you in the long run.

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I've recently contemplated this question myself. I'm a new grad with no job as of yet, been looking for 6 months now. I only applied to the places I really wanted to work at and for the type of work I really wanted to do. Well obviously that has gotten me nowhere. I never wanted to look into the long term care facilities because I would feel bad going in there knowing that I would only be working there until something better came along. And not to mention having to give my notice to the manager, I would feel awful. While I've now considered long term care because there's nothing else out there, I figure I cant worry about the employers feelings anymore. As competitive as the market is, you gotta take what you can get and if you get offered something better, then take it.

In your case, I would just be honest with the manager, let them know you found a position that you cant pass up.

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