Resignation Advice & Help Requested

Nurses Career Support

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background: i began at my current place of employment approximately 6 months ago. (i still feel like a "new" employee but i'm done training and overall, i'm doing well.) i currently work full time at a wonderful medical-surgical hospital that specializes in elective surgeries. the company is wonderful to work for and i am quite content working for them. their staff turnover rate is pretty low, especially compared to other facilities.

problem: i was offered my dream nursing job: a full-time hospice rn position with another hospital in the area. this hospital's hospice program is known around the state for being so grand.

the long and short of it: hospice nurses are who got me into nursing. they have been and continue to be my nursing inspiration. my dream nursing job was/is a hospice nursing job. my goal in life was to eventually earn a hospice rn position. never in my wildest dreams did i imagine my dream would come true so "early" in my life (i'm 30), nor did i think it would be with this wonderful, well-known hospital, nor did i think i would be offered such a position with less than 5 years of nursing experience. (i could go into many more details about the pros/cons and what made me come to the decision and other background info but i don't want this to become too long...if you need more info, please let me know.)

i accepted the hospice position. i start this summer. now that that decision has been made...

please help me with advice on 3 things:

1) i start the hospice job in june. it is currently march. i want to give at least a standard 30 day notice to my current employer at the med-surg hospital. i'm not leaving due to dissatisfaction, i'm leaving because i landed my dream job. my *dream* job. is a 30 day notice sufficient or would it be better to give an even longer notice-such as 45 or 60 days? i don't wish to "leave" on any bad terms. also, you'll see below, i'd love to stay on as a casual rn status employee.\

2) since i'm still a relatively new employee, do you think they'd even consider keeping me casual? i know that's a difficult question since you don't work with me...just your general thoughts. my hope is to be able to stay casual status at my current med-surg hospital (another reason i don't want to "burn any bridges/give adequate notice).

3) what do you think of the following resignation letter? i'm not sure how much information to include about obtaining my "dream job" :

jane,

it is with respect and deep gratitude for abc med-surg hospital, and much time, deep thought, and consideration, that i write this letter of resignation. although i have thoroughly enjoyed my time spent at abc med-surg hospital, my last day will be april/may xx, 2012. i accepted a position with xyz hospice hospital as a full-time hospice rn. hospice nursing has long since been a dream of mine, however, i did not think it would be a reality until much later in my career. being presented with this new opportunity was a struggle due to being relatively new at abc med-surg hospital and being content working where i am.

i would like to take this opportunity to express my genuine appreciation to you as my supervisor, as well all of the nurses and other staff i have met here at abc med-surg hospital. i have had and continue to experience wonderful nurses and excellent training. this company is simply wonderful to work for.

should it be an option, i am very interested in staying onboard with the team as casual rn status instead of full-time. it has been and continues daily to be a privilege and a pleasure to work with this team. i very much appreciate the personal and professional growth i have experienced, the skills i have learned and keep learning, the relationships i have established, and the patients i have been able to care for. i am thankful daily for this adventure and hope it is not yet over.

sincerely,

"allie sparks rn" (not my real name)

[color=#ee82ee]thank you very, very much to anyone who responds! i look forward to reading your responses, whatever they may be =)

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

I would give whatever is required for notice.

As far as the letter, if it were me, I would edit it a little. I think you can express your appreciation while still being concise. Like I said, that's just my opinion.

Make sure you join the hospice nurses' association when you start your new job. They can be a good resource for new and experienced hospice nurses. Good luck and congratulations!

HPNA.org

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Your letter is fantastic! Congratulations on your new job! Good luck!

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If your hospital expects 30 days notice, I'd give them exactly that. If they were the ones ending the relationship, they wouldn't give you nearly that much notice. I'm kinda cynical, though.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Congratulations on your new job!! You must be a wonderful nurse......your patients are going to be very fortunate indeed to have you as their advocate in their final season of life.

I think 30 days is more than adequate notice. And I couldn't improve on your letter even one little bit. :up:

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.

Good for you and blessings for the new gig.

I tend to be a bit more practical in these matters. I would suggest giving them the required notice. I would also really encourage a shorter, concise resignation letter.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

FWIW, our minimum lead time on resignations was 6 weeks; anything less and they were not for rehire.

That said, IIWY I'd give them whatever the employee handbook requires, plus one week. I think it is perfectly appropriate to ask to stay on prn.

Good luck.

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I'd try to switch to PRN first, then you wouldn't need to resign.

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Give them their 30 day notice.If they wanted to terminate from their end ..it would have been 30 seconds.

Move forward, do not look back.

Do not apologize for taking a better opportunity.

That's right! You gotta do *you* first. :D

You'd feel a fool if you turned down your dream job and several weeks later they kicked you to the curb without notice and so much as a "thank you".

Your letter is great. Give them their required notice, be sweet as sugar and your normal hardworking self during your final days (heck if you feel generous bring a muffin basket in on your last day), and part on a good note. Afterwards look forward and not backwards.

Congrats and good luck! :yeah:

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Specializes in Rehab, critical care.

Even though I'm not old lol, I completely agree with what GrnTea said. The required 30 day notice is sufficient. If you knew that your job was guaranteed, that would be different, but what if they ask you to leave early? Then, no job for a number of months. It would be nice if we could be considerate and give even more advance notice, but in today's world, many employers will not extend the same type of consideration that you extend to them, which is sad, but the way it is. It sounds like you currently work for a good company, so it's your call.

I also work for a good place/good mgmt, so I wouldn't hesitate to give even more advance notice (which I don't have to do because I love my job). Isn't it awesome when you find a job you love? Best of luck in your new hospice career! I work in ICU, and palliative care happens on occasion and is rewarding, though difficult to see families' anguish as in the ICU, they didn't have 6 months to grieve, they may have only had 30 minutes notice or so. But, compassion and the challenges of nursing are why we do what we do, right? :)

Congrats!! Having a job that is a great fit for you makes a huge difference. I can definitely speak to that! :) Enjoy your new journey!

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Specializes in Rehab, critical care.

Oh, and your letter is sincere and very complimentary of your current place of employment. Well done.

Just a minor detail: do not end a sentence with a preposition, i.e. "work for." and "care for." Also, I wouldn't say "content." I would say something a little more complimentary; content is just that: fine, nothing special.

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Oh, and your letter is sincere and very complimentary of your current place of employment. Well done.

Just a minor detail: do not end a sentence with a preposition, i.e. "work for." and "care for." Also, I wouldn't say "content." I would say something a little more complimentary; content is just that: fine, nothing special.

Not wishing to cause offence nor poke fun but the comment reminds one of a joke that our English Lit teacher told us in college.

A young girl from the south was accepted to a Seven Sisters/Ivy League girls college in the north.

Quite excited on moving in day she met her dorm roommate. "Hi.... where ya'll from?" she asked. Her roommate a cool Yankee girl replied, "where I am "from" we do not end our sentences with prepositions". A bit hurt and taken back the southern girl thought for a minute then replied, "I'm sorry. Where y'all from, b**th?"

Just a little story. Do with it what you will.

DGTG

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Specializes in my patients.

thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who responded - i very much appreciate the time you took to write me a response. i value each response from every person. i took everything each one of you said and took it to heart. i was crossing my fingers that at least a few people would be very critical of the spelling and grammar of my letter and i am happy that this wish came true. again, i really appreciate all of you who responded to my message. thank you to you all!

allie =)

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