Officially not going to be a school nurse, at least not this year.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, ER.

What a mess this turned into. I posted a little while back about receiving an offer for a school nurse position. The goal was to start 10/18 so that I could give my job about three weeks notice, no less than two. I told the DON I would wait for the offer letter before resigning from my current position. She agreed that was the responsible thing to do. I received an email stating HR needed my transcript before they could send out the letter, which I scrambled to get quickly. Well, I didn't end up getting the letter until this past Monday, and it was $3k less than we talked about, and $10K less prorated from the end of August until Oct 18th. I called HR just to confirm and be able to do the math out, but I couldn't get in touch with the HR director until 4pm on Tuesday. Everything was squared away, and I was going to go down to the school to turn in my paperwork today, and officially resign from my current position.

Initially, the DON said we would work around HR and if I needed to start later then that's what we'd have to do. I emailed the DON to discuss my start date, because at this point I'd be giving my work less than 1 1/2 weeks notice, which I wouldn't do to any employer. I told her I could work my days off from my current position that week and start a full week on the 25th. She emailed me back telling me she expects me to start the 18th as we discussed and that she gave me enough time to give a two week notice, that I have to take orientation to school nursing that week at a local university (which I have to pay $150 for when she initially told me it would be nominal, not more than $20). She said in the beginning if I couldn't take it this fall I could take it in the spring. I had already told her I wouldn't hand in a resignation letter without that offer letter, and it came more than a week after I was told to expect it. She was abrupt in the email, and it got me thinking about my employment there, and if this is how she's treating me now before I even officially accepted the offer letter then it will only get worse once I start there. It also made me wonder if there was a reason why the position was posted at the beginning of July and still wasn't filled by October when jobs around here are so scarce and it's a state position.

I talked long and hard with my fiance about it and finally called her around noon to let her know I was respectfully declining employment. She was very surprised and I tried to keep it brief and professional, just letting her know I had my personal reasons but also because I would never give an employer any less than two weeks. She said to me I was the one who told her I needed two weeks, and that if it was a matter of needing a few more days she could've rearranged my start date (um, HELLO, you just told me that wouldn't be possible but now it miraculously is?). I said yes, I told her I needed two full work weeks, and she knew I received the offer letter a week later than I was supposed to, and I wouldn't just drop my scheduled shifts and leave my employer hanging (I had also scheduled myself for a vacation after that schedule so that my manager would have a month to replace me). I told her I felt it would be very unprofessonal, especially if I wanted to use my job as a future reference and that this is a position that just isn't going to work for me after all. She said she was glad I was honest but that she was VERY disappointed. I told her I was too, and to take care.

I feel really guilty, but part of me thinks maybe I dodged a bullet? What do you think? Did I overreact or jump the gun?

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Specializes in Postpartum, Antepartum, Psych., SDS, OR.

You should duck. She was very unprofessional. You did the right thing.;)

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.

It sounds to me like you may have dodged a bullet. Reminds me a bit of an interview I had at a psych facility...makes you go "hmm" about how they might treat you as an employee.

Good luck in your search...I know you've been looking for a schedule that works better for you. My facility is always looking for per diems (I know you are inclined towards the little ones, but just in case you are interested at all) Let me know if there's anything I can do. :)

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.

You totally dodged a bullet. Better luck next time in finding a job that works better for you!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Geriatric Psych, Med/Surg.

I have learned that there are reasons for everything. You dodged a bullet, I'll bet you get a fabulous offer from somewhere else in the near future. Good luck and GREAT job on your professionalism.

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Specializes in 12 years exp in corporate healthcare.

I would pass on this one..its not like you do have a job already...my Aunt had a similiar situation...you just got a preview of how she is before you even started working for her...take that "red flag" and run asap!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.

I wouldn't feel guilty at all. You did the responsible, professional thing. If they make you empty promises, don't follow through on things they say, and give you an attitude like you said, prior to actually starting, that is a good sign of what you would deal with as an employee. Sounds like it is very possible you were not the first to decline a position.

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Specializes in Acute Care, CM, School Nursing.

You dodged a bullet, for sure. Good for you! Imagine how they must treat their employees if they treat prospective employees this way?!

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

It seems like a wise choice. At best, this sounds disorganized. Also, compliments to you on your integrity and insisting on giving proper notice. If I had been the hiring administrator, even being disappointed that you did not take the job, I would have been impressed with your professionalism!

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You feel guilty because you stuck to what you said and she didn't? You honored your obligations to your current employer and she tried to undermine that commitment. You operated according to what she told you, and then she changed things. To go ahead after these danger signs would be to under-react.

Count yourself fortunate that you saw her true colors before becoming her employee and losing your current job.

And lose the guilt.

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Specializes in Health Information Management.

I strongly agree with the consensus. Employers who are abrupt and sneaky with prospective hires invariably treat their new hires like indentured servants, at least in my experience. Always listen to your gut instinct when it comes to red flags regarding a possible new employer. In my opinion, you dodged a bullet. Kudos on your professionalism.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, ER.

Thanks for the responses everyone. I'm just second guessing myself, wondering if I looked too deep into it, or overreacted. I just can't help feeling bad because I know they were really looking forward to me starting. She emailed me this morning and said she told me a November start was possible and wondering what else influenced my decision. I just nicely basically told her that she flaked on me about several things and in my past experience when something gets this difficult in the beginning it only gets worse. I also told her about my plans for the longterm, that I have an interview for PA school and hope to attend if I'm accepted. I just wish I could shake these little feelings of guilt - guiltlets!

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