Feedback requested before I give 2 weeks notice!

Nurses Relations

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After receiving an e-mail from my nurse manager that I MUST take a lunch (which I would LOVE TO by the way) I am so fed up, I'm ready to quit. I've been at this facility as an RN for 2 years but only 9 months on this med-surg floor (my very first med-surg job). Can you fellow nurses give me some feedback on my reply to her note? We don't cross paths at work, so I'm ready to send this but wanted to run it by you all. I don't have another job lined up but I'm starting to think my well-being is more important. I feel used & abused by this facility. I bend over backwards for them. I love the work itself, but this thing about "you must take a lunch" is only lip service. They could care less if I eat or not.

Here's my note:

Dear ,

I implore you to ask two questions of your remaining nursing staff.

1.) Do you feel you have enough time during your shift to take a proper 30 min lunch?

2.) Do you punch out for 30 minutes but continue to work during that time?

These questions may be difficult for you to ask for two reasons: One, you won't want to hear their answers, and two, you don't have the power to do anything about it even if they tell you the truth.

I leave my house at 2:30 in the afternoon. I hit the floor running & don't stop until 11:30 pm - I chart that last hour. I remove my lunch from the break room refrigerator & eat it in the car on the way home - TEN hours later. I usually have a headache by then. When we have only one Care Assistant, it is impossible to take a lunch break.

I have told other staff (even on the day & night shifts) that every time they swipe out & 'pretend' to take a lunch, it makes ME look BAD but they refuse to write it in the book.

I have been nothing but a loyal, conscientious & dedicated worker at XXXXXX Hospital. I was under the illusion that if I worked hard, had a positive attitude, surrounded myself with like-minded people . . . all would be good. Thanks for your concern. However, you can consider this my two weeks notice.

- Sincerely,

-

Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

I would just like to add, after reading GrnTea's post, that even if you leave and get another job, make sure you give feedback to the manager. This can at least give your co-workers a chance if there is a consistent issue with this manager.

Specializes in geriatrics.

I agree with others. Don't send that email, since it will do nothing positive. I'm not sure why you feel you need to resign over this, either.

Instead, take some time to reflect on a more diplomatic approach and ask for a face to face meeting to discuss your concerns.

I also wouldn't recommend directly discussing other co-workers behaviour in an email, or in person in that general sense. You will appear unprofessional.

Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Lots of great responses here.

This issue (fake breaks) seem to become ingrained as a department 'norm' with astonishing frequency these days as the workload increases. To me, it is a direct outgrowth of poor management. Either the manager is well-known for dead messengers (punishes anyone who tells her anything she doesn't want to hear) or is absolutely clueless, completely out of touch with staff - who understand that she is absolutely ineffective & don't trust her not to throw them under the first available bus.

At any rate, HR needs to know about the fake breaks. If anyone (I mean anyone) takes the time to collect evidence & report the situation as a FEDERAL wage & hour violation, that employer is in big trouble. They will be audited & each violation will result in big fines. Any manager who knew about it and didn't do anything has effectively condoned the practice, and is also vulnerable to criminal/fraud charges. So, any HR department should be very interested. If the HR department is not interested (!) then use your organization's Compliance rat line to report it. Basically, 'fake breaks' are fraudulent labor practices.

I know of several large organizations that have been subjected to Federal audits (one lasted 2 years) & had to pay out lump sums of retroactive pay to employees who had been working off the clock (with supervisor knowledge). They also had mega-fines for violating federal labor law.

If this is a job you would like to keep, given that circumstances improve for you and your coworkers then ask her for a plan, give her time to implement it, and if she either fails to respond or fails to improve, then quit.

Or if you really want to quit now and there will be no financial burden to you and this is not a facility where you ever want to be re-hired, it might be nice to tell her off and never look back!

I wouldn't send it. If you are truly ready to quit, take the higher road and try not to burn any bridges...I would continue working and take "fake breaks" while also trying to find a new position. I would than just put in a generic 2 week notice and that be the end of it.

Specializes in ER.

I loved the original letter, but you will regret sending it.

Jadelpn had the best alternative. Don't assume your manager actually knows what is going on- but make a written record of informing her. Send an email ("on April 12 we met and discussed xyz, and our decision was to do abc to solve the problem" ) so if anyone questions her knowledge, or your effort to fix the issue you can hand them that. If she doesn't follow up with other staff, or provide some relief so you can take your break, it's on her. Myself, I'd take the break, and then put in for overtime at the end of the shift if necessary.

Don't quit without a job lined up, ever, ever, ever. It's easier to get a job if you are currently employed.

Specializes in GYN/Med-Surg.

Don't do it. It's nearly impossible to get a job in this market. I would sit tight and hold onto that job. Heck, I'd love to take your job. It's been that difficult to get one.

Request to meet with the manager privately to discuss your concerns/issues/whatever, but do so professionally and discretely. If you aren't able to come to any sort of resolution and you still are unhappy and want to quit - like the others said above, quietly search for jobs and give 2 weeks notice WHEN you've got another job lined up.

I bet that felt good to write!! And trust me I feel you 100%. I would print this out and put it in a journal, take a few days to cool off, and then write another letter calmly explaining the reasons you are putting in your notice. You don't want to send this letter and regret it later when you're not so heated.

I love this letter, but do not expect for one minute that he/she will back you. If they do, please let us know, because that would be an uplifting post for sure. I wish you the best, and you sound like a nurse I would respect working with.

Specializes in Tele, Med-Surg, MICU.

If you value your job and career, suck it up and smile.

Meet with the manager, thank her for her concern, "as you know I'm a new nurse and I appreciate your time. I do feel overwhelmed at times, because I want to do a great job taking care of my patients. I want to be successful in this job". Come up with a plan. I would clock out for breaks even if you work through them. People do that to keep a job.

Your manager is probably under fire for staffing costs over budget, and will see you not taking a lunch as a prioritization / disorganization issue.

And look for another job... if you're already employed you can take your time about finding something you want to do, somewhere with good benefits and a good environment to work in, you won't accept the first thing that comes along...

Best of luck!

Specializes in ER.

Please DON'T clock out for breaks when you work through them. It's illegal, it voids your worker's comp, and your malpractice. It's bad for nursing as a group on your unit. Can you bring this issue for discussion at a staff meeting?

Specializes in ER, ICU.

Please whatever you do, do not do what 07032003 has said. Make the decision if you are willing to stay if things improve. If the answer is yes then talk to your manager. If the answer is no then send the email. Things might be tight in the market but you will find another job. Just stand up for yourself.

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