Nurse Resigns by Sending 'I Quit' Cake to Her Employer

oldsockventriloquist · Jul 2, 2016

NRSKarenRN said:
With all the publicity involved with this unique resignation, may be difficult to obtain another nursing position for this new RN.
Don't let your frustration with workplace lead you to career suicide via unprofessional behavior.

This x1000. My thoughts are she should have left a note with the manager and made the cake without her name, as a joke, in the break room. She would have gotten a similar result with a Twitter post of a picture of the cake, without her name.

ann55 · Jul 3, 2016

Mental health nursing is not for the faint of heart....but you still have to have one. This young lady with her cake received attention- but what did she contribute to the work of her floor? The administration of this hospital is similar to the gulag in Russia. Any creative idea (unless it is a new peice of paper to fill out0 is pretty much quashed not only by admin but by employees who are too bored, lazy, controlling and rude to even try something new. Being kind is not a buzz word. Supervisors are loaded down with auditing, and then are audited themselves. The paperwork is ridiculous...one could get buried alive and collect hazard pay. The patients themselves suffer from an

extremely controlling environment and medications that make them walk around like robots. Indeed, they are very ill- but most of them

assault when they are frustrated or treated rudely. Or when they know staff is not paying attention and they take advantage of the situation. Many suffer from poly substance addiction, especially meth, that destroys their brain cells and increases the symptoms of their

underlying mental illness. Add staff that are poorly trained and really just are there for the money (for the life of me I dont know how some staff are hired!) Some spend all shift texting and on their cell phones, some work so many double shifts they could really give a

hoot whether they are "therapeutic or not". If RNs say anything about all this they are put on the "stupid " list and then nothing gets done without a whine. I stay for the patients, they need help and there is hope for them. I dont know about other mental health facilities

but this system is badly in need of repair.

RiskManager · Jul 3, 2016

rachel100639 said:
Steilacoom? Isn't that the hideous facility that Francis Farmer was committed?

It was, albeit one of many.

elkpark · Jul 3, 2016

rachel100639 said:
Steilacoom? Isn't that the hideous facility that Francis Farmer was committed?

At the time Frances Farmer was hospitalized, nearly every psychiatric facility in the US would be considered "hideous" by today's standards. Just as our current standards of care will likely be considered ignorant and barbaric 50 or 60 years from now. Also, movie depictions of psychiatric facilities and treatment are generally sensationalized for dramatic effect.

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Jul 3, 2016

If I read the story correctly, she resigned the proper way, and the cake was brought in on her last day to say goodbye to all her co-workers.. he 'going away' party cake.

lavenderskies, BSN · Jul 4, 2016

elkpark said:
I looked up the story, and found this; she's not shy about badmouthing her former employer to the press:
Quote
The cake may be sweet, but Childers said the seven months she spent working at the hospital left a sour taste in her mouth.It could do so much good, and it's just one of the worst places right now,she told KOMO-TV.
Childers said the pay is low, the hours are long and hospital staff aren't given enough training. She also said management spends too much time writing up employees' mistakes and handing out punishments.
How do we control the population with such little staff and so many patients? she told the station. You can't have individualized treatment that way.
Doesn't sound like a joke to me. I'm sure the hospital administration isn't laughing.

I didn't say she said quitting was a joke, she has legit reasons, as you quoted her saying above. She said she wanted to give her CO-WORKERS a laugh.

Missie Hannie · Jul 4, 2016

Apparently other people have figured out that Adler didn't use his brain - he hasn't been CEO at Western State Hospital for several months.

Missie Hannie · Jul 5, 2016

rachel100639 said:
Steilacoom? Isn't that the hideous facility that Francis Farmer was committed?

Fortunately, best practice has changed dramatically since the 1940s.

margaret1 · Jul 6, 2016

Working at a mental hospital is not the same as a medical hospital.

DawnJ · Jul 6, 2016

The evidence is going to be eaten, so she should followup with an email to HR :)

AutumnApple · Jul 6, 2016

NRSKarenRN said:
With all the publicity involved with this unique resignation, may be difficult to obtain another nursing position for this new RN.
Don't let your frustration with workplace lead you to career suicide via unprofessional behavior.

Yes.

When I saw this, first thing I thought was: "What a shame. Another nurse who never learned to protect themselves from burn out. And despite all the grandeur of her resignation, no one will even remember her name after three days."

I am probably wrong though. The HR offices will probably remember that name evermore. I mean, seriously.........its on the cake.

AshBuggin · Jul 6, 2016

NRSKarenRN said:
With all the publicity involved with this unique resignation, may be difficult to obtain another nursing position for this new RN.
Don't let your frustration with workplace lead you to career suicide via unprofessional behavior.

Previous employers can not share theses specifics with a new employer. They are either eligible or ineligible for rehire- at least that's the case here in the state of FL. She also doesn't have to list this employer as a reference. It's hardly career suicide. She can most likely land a job somewhere else if she networks herself. I know nurses who have quit without any notice and they're doing just fine.