I recently took a job which I am desperate to quit.
The staff is wonderful, but the work is mind-numbing.
I was hired to be charge nurse, but thanks to a generous sick leave policy, the CNAs call in sick all the time. I have to work as a CNA at least one to two times a week. I don't mind the work, but my old back can't take it.
The unit is a LTC/locked down behavioral, and rehab unit in one. It is within a hospital. There is a PA on duty 40 hrs a week. The guy is so order happy, he literally writes a hundred orders a day, most of which are useless, imo, and just make sooo much busy work.
I charge, but also take a hall of 20 pts. There a 60 pts total. I have to do the med-cart thing. The 0600 med pass is huge. It takes an hour and a half to prep for the pass and three hours to do it. Because of this, there is no time to truly charge, or know what is going on with the pts on other halls. Luckily, the CNAs mostly know what to do and do it, because I have no time at all to follow up on their work or check on them.
I am used to using my assessment and critial thinking skills to their fullest. With this job, the overwhelming, mind-numbing med pass takes up all my time and energy, and there's no time for real assessments or pro-active interventions. I am really not being utilized as an RN.
I dread going in and hate it every second I'm there.
I would like to stay at this hospital, but I cannot wait for another position to open up. I need to get out of that unit now. Many nurses who have seniority are trying to get out of the LTC unit, so I don't have much chance at any openings in other units. Staff are considered for jobs on other units based on seniority and who they know. I'm new, and I don't know anyone.
I did not even apply for this job- I applied to the endo clinic, but a nurse with more experience got the position.
When the LTC manager called me out of the blue and offered me the charge job on her unit- without ever having interviewed me or even laid eyes on me, this should have been a red flag.
I would like to work for this facility, but not in this unit.
How do I quit this job without burning my bridges and feeling guilty for leaving? The facility has put a lot of time and effort into my orientation.
I recently took a job which I am desperate to quit.
The staff is wonderful, but the work is mind-numbing.
I was hired to be charge nurse, but thanks to a generous sick leave policy, the CNAs call in sick all the time. I have to work as a CNA at least one to two times a week. I don't mind the work, but my old back can't take it.
The unit is a LTC/locked down behavioral, and rehab unit in one. It is within a hospital. There is a PA on duty 40 hrs a week. The guy is so order happy, he literally writes a hundred orders a day, most of which are useless, imo, and just make sooo much busy work.
I charge, but also take a hall of 20 pts. There a 60 pts total. I have to do the med-cart thing. The 0600 med pass is huge. It takes an hour and a half to prep for the pass and three hours to do it. Because of this, there is no time to truly charge, or know what is going on with the pts on other halls. Luckily, the CNAs mostly know what to do and do it, because I have no time at all to follow up on their work or check on them.
I am used to using my assessment and critial thinking skills to their fullest. With this job, the overwhelming, mind-numbing med pass takes up all my time and energy, and there's no time for real assessments or pro-active interventions. I am really not being utilized as an RN.
I dread going in and hate it every second I'm there.
I would like to stay at this hospital, but I cannot wait for another position to open up. I need to get out of that unit now. Many nurses who have seniority are trying to get out of the LTC unit, so I don't have much chance at any openings in other units. Staff are considered for jobs on other units based on seniority and who they know. I'm new, and I don't know anyone.
I did not even apply for this job- I applied to the endo clinic, but a nurse with more experience got the position.
When the LTC manager called me out of the blue and offered me the charge job on her unit- without ever having interviewed me or even laid eyes on me, this should have been a red flag.
I would like to work for this facility, but not in this unit.
How do I quit this job without burning my bridges and feeling guilty for leaving? The facility has put a lot of time and effort into my orientation.
don't feel guilty about quitting .. be happy your geting out of that nut house.. i think you should be so happy to get out of there i would be jumping up and down with joy... who needs that stress?? when one door closes another opens.. good luck
I know you posted this link a while back so I'm sure you already came to a conclusion one way or another. So what happened?
I don't want to burn bridges with my current position as well. Unlike your situation, I really cannot complain about my treatment on my unit. I work in an extremely busy level 1 trauma ER and the work is relentless. That be said, I actually like the challenge and I knew full well going in it was like that. I came into this situation as a new grad and wanted top of the line training. Well, I got it, and my management and staff have been nothing but great to me and they supported my development as best they could. I also get a great salary to boot for my area.
So whats the problem? the problem is not my job, but my life outside the job. I been wanting to become a traveling nurse since I first decided to become an RN. I am just so bored, and being single with no children, I feel it's now or never. As I approach the needed experience level to travel, I find myself wondering what I'll say to my management when that time comes. It's almost like I'm breaking up with a girlfriend by saying, "It's not you, It's me."
In all honesty, I'll miss my job, but I need to travel since I've never really been anywhere else in my life. They have invested so much time and money into me that I feel like I am using them. I guess the most important thing is to leave here on good terms, because if I decide to come back, I will want this position again.
No need to feel guilty about wanting to quit, Val. If they ask why you are leaving just say that you are thankful for the opportunity but do not feel that you are a right fit for the unit and the type of care the patients need.
If economic conditions at your facility worsened, they would not feel the least compunction about laying you off; if you stay there so long that your salary "maxes out" I can guarantee that you'll be the first to be let go; and lastly, your workplace is a place of employment - not a family.
Employment is a two-way street. The employer needs your body and your license to service their customers. You need their paycheck. PERIOD. I know you consider that they have been good to you, but you have worked hard for them. Neither of you owe the other anything else. Life is what you make of it; this is NOT a dress rehearsal! YOU are responsible for your own life, and "loyalty" to an employer should never hold you back from your dreams. I can promise you that your employer does NOT factor loyalty to you in any of their plans.
If you want to go - go. Keep in mind that it is much easier to find a good job while you already have one.
My recommendation is to a) Find another position that you want to accept. b) Get their offer, including ALL conditions, in writing. c) Find out how long a notice period you are expected to give to your current employer, so that you get any owed vacation time, are eligible for rehire, etc. d) Accept the new offer and set a starting date. e) Write a resignation letter listing your last date to work that is at the end of the expected notice period. Turn in your resignation in to HR, not your department head. e) Only agree to an exit interview if it is a condition of rehire eligibility. If you do have to do one with either HR or your boss, tell them as little as you feel like you can get away with. DO NOT tell them the name of your new employer. It is not necessary to specify a reason for leaving. Your resignation letter should be short and generic.
I, (NAME), do hereby resign my position with (EMPLOYER) effective (DATE/TIME).
All company-owned property in my possession will be returned to (EMPLOYER) on or prior to that date/time.
I appreciate the opportunity to have worked at (EMPLOYER), and will remember the experience here for the rest of my career.
Well quit don't feel guilty do what makes you happy , sounds like you are miserable. And the fact they just hired you sight unseen is a big red flag !!!!
Valerie Salva, BSN, RN
1,793 Posts
I am going to go back to working agency, and stay away from LTC.
Thanks for all your replies and advice. Please, keep it coming. I find it really helpful.