Quitting a job without another lined up

Published

Any experienced RNs ever done it? What was your experience?

I've been a nurse for going on 4 years with 3 years in a previous specialty. I started working at a place in a new specialty that has been toxic for me. It started off badly and continued that way. It's becoming unbearable for me and I want to quit, regroup, and then come back.

I don't have any bills and I am in school at this time. My biggest concern is how difficult it would be for me to get a job in my old specialty or somewhere outside of the hospital (primary care setting) if I decide to return in about 2-3 months.

Has anyone done this?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

It just depends on job availability. It's hard to say how

difficult it will be for you to just jump back into your old

specialty in 2-3 months. You were in your old job for

3 years, which is a decent amount of time.. but you wanted

to try something new, but it didn't work out.

Sounds acceptable to me, but WHY did you leave the

old specialty? Were you unhappy? Or did you just

feel like you HAD to branch out a little? Then founjd

out that the grass wasn't always greener?

If you are truly unhappy/miserable even, and you can

afford to take some time off, I say go for it. Just

make sure to give at least a couple of weeks notice,

and then work out your notice. Realize that often,

just the act of quitting a job burns a bridge, even if

you give adequate notice and all of that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
It just depends on job availability. It's hard to say how

difficult it will be for you to just jump back into your old

specialty in 2-3 months. You were in your old job for

3 years, which is a decent amount of time.. but you wanted

to try something new, but it didn't work out.

Sounds acceptable to me, but WHY did you leave the

old specialty? Were you unhappy? Or did you just

feel like you HAD to branch out a little? Then founjd

out that the grass wasn't always greener?

If you are truly unhappy/miserable even, and you can

afford to take some time off, I say go for it. Just

make sure to give at least a couple of weeks notice,

and then work out your notice. Realize that often,

just the act of quitting a job burns a bridge, even if

you give adequate notice and all of that.

I was in med surg telemetry/progressive care for three years and that included travel nursing with that specialty so I could learn something new. I left because my back started hurting and i wanted to see something else so I went to work in a level 3 neonatal icu. I like it for the most part but its very routine. Also, because I'm in graduate school with a desire to work in primary care (and because I'm losing the desire to work in the hospital at all), I want to leave and recalibrate.

I'm confident I can get a job(I've already been called several times about jobs). But my main reason is spiritual/mental health. I need to regroup.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

If you can afford it do it. However, if you don't have money socked away to last another 3 months after your sabbatical then do not do it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in tele, ICU, CVICU.

I'm not sure if I misunderstood what you posted, but if you know you are definitely going to resume working for the same employer, is there an option for a leave of absence? I imagine all facilities have different requirements regarding a leave, but it might be worth looking into. Although one would think doing that would reserve or hold your position open for you, when you return, employers can sometimes be shady about honoring previous commitments.

And of course your current employer would have to have your preferred specialty available when you are ready to return. Something else to think about, new grads will be completing school in December and by February, I'm sure a lot of these job offers you mention might be filled by these new grads.

Otherwise, I think as long as you can financially afford to not work while attending school (and for a few extra months, to be safe) and are really confident you will be able to find a position in a few months, go for it.

I've never worked in a primary care role. However, in my neck of the woods, most of these 'nurses', as they're called are LPN's and MA's. I have only seen a small handful of providers offer an RN position, when an LPN or MA could do almost everything required for an office position.

Best of luck, whatever you decide.

:-)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.

I'm in that situation, OP. My current workplace is toxic, to the point that my health has been affected. I think it depends where you're at, if you can afford to leave, and what the job prospects are.

There aren't many options where I am, but I also don't mind working with an agency, or working casual shifts. Ideally though, you should aim to have a PRN gig or something part time instead of quitting altogether.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I find this very interesting, the OP had adult med/surg. experience and managed to land a NICU position (not easy for someone who is an experienced nurse but doesn't have any NICU experience) and now the OP doesn't love the NICU. I only say that because it's not often that you hear nurses who want to leave NICU and go back to med/surg. but I digress.

To the OP, I'm sorry to hear that this isn't working out for you but you have to follow your heart on this. I echo the statements of another user who said that for financial stability you should have 3 months worth of income saved if you don't already have a position lined up. Best of luck with your continuing education and I hope you are able to find a position that meets your need.

!Chris :specs:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've been there, done that twice... it's not easy. My experience will be different from your experience.

Do NOT make an emotional decision. I hear you need a break.

Resign per policy. Try for a PRN position in the facility... you could work 2 days a month and keep that door open.

A 2-3 month resume gap, while you are in school, should not be a problem.

Best wishes, keep us posted.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The closest I have come to that is leaving a job without a formal offer in the bag from another facility. I put in my formal notice, however, and worked the entire thing. It took another 4 weeks after finishing working my notice to get that offer finalized and then another 4 to get started on orientation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I find this very interesting, the OP had adult med/surg. experience and managed to land a NICU position (not easy for someone who is an experienced nurse but doesn't have any NICU experience) and now the OP doesn't love the NICU. I only say that because it's not often that you hear nurses who want to leave NICU and go back to med/surg. but I digress.

To the OP, I'm sorry to hear that this isn't working out for you but you have to follow your heart on this. I echo the statements of another user who said that for financial stability you should have 3 months worth of income saved if you don't already have a position lined up. Best of luck with your continuing education and I hope you are able to find a position that meets your need.

!Chris :specs:

I dont hate it. I didn't realize nicu was difficult to get into since I landed the job fairly easily? Many people don't leave too that's true but I know I have more flexibility and options with med surg experience. Babies give my back a break though but I do prefer feeder/ growers to higher acuity Babies (prefer level 2 to level 3 and 4 acuity nicus). I also miss the stuff I've learned when I was in med-surg (imagine lol).

Idk, I'm trying to figure things out while I try to high tail it out of the hospital...I may just go PRN as been there, done that mentioned with all of it while I decide what my next steps are.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Nursing.
I dont hate it. I didn't realize nicu was difficult to get into since I landed the job fairly easily? Many people don't leave too that's true but I know I have more flexibility and options with med surg experience. Babies give my back a break though but I do prefer feeder/ growers to higher acuity Babies (prefer level 2 to level 3 and 4 acuity nicus). I also miss the stuff I've learned when I was in med-surg (imagine lol).

Idk, I'm trying to figure things out while I try to high tail it out of the hospital...I may just go PRN as been there, done that mentioned with all of it while I decide what my next steps are.

I think thank if you can get a PRN position on your unit you will be a lot happier and in a better place financially and will allow you to keep up the experience. I went from full-time to PRN at my ED job and I instantly felt more satisfied when I signed up for shifts and it helps to keep my out of the workplace politics/drama. Oddly enough, even if I sign up for (3) 12-hour shifts in a week (same as when I was full-time) I feel less stressed out because I know that I didn't have to do that, I did it because I wanted to do it.

!Chris :specs:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion