Relocating during 1st year

lovinglife2015 · Mar 18, 2015

Why do your husband's dreams come before yours?

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Mar 18, 2015

Any way you could stay and finish your year and then join your husband?

dylank · Mar 18, 2015

It's not that his dream is coming before mine. I'm proud of him. He has worked really hard to get to where he is and this is an amazing opportunity for him. The good thing about nursing is that I can get a job in other places if need be. Long distance across the country for five months wouldn't be realistic for us -- financially or otherwise.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Mar 18, 2015

This scenario is something military couples face all the time. Lots of military spouses go into teaching or nursing because of the portability of those careers. Your current employer will understandably be disgruntled that you're leaving but couldn't really justify obstructing your attempts to find work in your new location. It's not like you took this position with the intention of leaving in the first year. I think you're wise to keep your plans to yourself for a while longer so you'll have the benefit of as much good learning experience as possible. Most places you're really only obligated to provide one pay period of notice or whatever is in the collective agreement if you have one (most often 4 weeks). And given the situation, your brief employment is easily explained so shouldn't be any bigger impediment to finding a new job than any other factor. You could always include "due to spousal transfer" on your resumÃ© to get ahead of all those questions. Best wishes for a smooth transition!

greenerpastures · Mar 20, 2015

Give the minimal amount of notice necessary by HR policy to preserve your rehire potential- 2 weeks or 4 weeks is generally the norm. Sorry, but in the end, no work environment is loyal to you. I've seen more than one place come up with a reason to phase someone out who they know is going to be leaving anyway.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Mar 23, 2015

In my experience "unavoidable resignation/turnover" (due to change in family circumstance) is viewed differently and will not characterize you as a job-hopper when you're applying for jobs. Chances are, your current boss will also be more understanding of your situation, especially if you provide her with notification in advance.

Good luck on your relocation.

guest464345 · Mar 24, 2015

I had nearly your exact situation...left my first job eight months in, relocating to another state for a spouse's opportunity. It was fine, I got another job, the world didn't end. My advice is, keep quiet about your plans, look in the HR policies to find out if they require 2 or 4 weeks' notice, and politely/professionally give exactly that much time, in writing, a very simple note without explaining the reason. To your manager, verbally explain matter of factly that you had planned to stay longer but your husband's job moved - don't over apologize, don't freak out - and tell her thank you for the opportunity. She may be ticked off and berate you (happened to me once) but probably it will be anticlimactic. People come and go all the time...I was offered two jobs in my new state, and neither of them even asked why I left my other job (though of course I was prepared with an answer just in case).

It's kind of sad, but also kind of liberating...we nurses are often seen as replaceable and interchangeable from the hospitals' point of view.