Resignation Do's and Don't

Jolie, BSN · May 7, 2008

It is never necessary and rarely helpful to state the reason for a resignation. In short, it is none of your employer's business why you are leaving, and offering too much information (illness, family problems, etc.) will only hurt you if you decide to reapply in the future. On the other hand, never burn bridges. Even the worst hospitals may improve with time, and you may want to return someday. This is my suggestion for a resignation letter:

Dear Ms. Manager,

This is to inform you that I will resign my position as Staff Nurse in the NICU effective June 1, 2008. I wish to offer my sincere thanks for the opportunity to practice neonatal nursing at Community Hospital.

Sincerely,

Nancy Nurse

I assume that you are leaving due to dissatisfaction with your job. If so, I would recommend skipping the exit interview. If your unit or hospital is dysfunctional, the administration already knows and either doesn't care or is ineffective in improving the situation. Nothing that you tell them will prompt improvement, so there is no benefit in being honest. You will just be labeled as a malcontent.

If you are leaving for unavoidable circumstances (moving, returning to school), and believe that your superiors may actually be receptive to constructive criticism, then go ahead and tactfully offer some realistic suggestions.

Good luck as you move on!

llg, PhD, RN · May 7, 2008

I pretty much agree with the above post (assuming you are leaving because you hate your job and your manager and the unit educator, etc.)

However ... if the situation is not all that bad ... it can help the "good guys" to improve the situation if you give them a little tactful information. For example, you may not like your manager and really hate your schedule. You might say something like, "I have enjoyed working with this patient population, but I am unable to meet the schedule requirements at this time." ... or ... If you are leaving because your family is relocating, say that. If you are leaving because you have found another job that will advance your career, you can say that you are leaving "to take advantage of a career advancement opportunity" .... or ... mayby you are leaving "to further your education" etc.

A good administration that is interested in retention can use that information to improve the situation. Also, if you have a good manager, you don't want her to be blamed for your resignation if she did not cause it. They need the information about why people leave to make good decisions about working condition and retention. However, you have to be a little careful about how you say it. You don't want to burn your bridges. You might want to work at that facility some day in the future.

elkpark · May 7, 2008

I think that the exit interview is always worth doing if there are real problems with how the unit/facility functions. Even if it seems that higher administration just isn't interested, there's value in adding your opinions to "the pile;" if they get enough reports of the same problems, eventually they may be motivated to make changes. If everyone who leaves because they're unhappy working there assumes that her/his opinion doesn't matter and isn't going to make a difference, then nothing's going to change. And, obviously, if you're leaving because you just can't stand your boss anymore on a personal level, there's no point to reporting that to the administration. But if your boss is running the unit in a way that creates problems for the unit and staff, that is something that can be reported and discussed in an objective way, without getting personal or emotional (and, IMHO, you should use the exit interview to report any other types of general, "systemic" issues/problems that impacted your decision to leave). Go in to the interview with constructive suggestions/examples of how the situation could be improved, not just complaints.

I had this exact experience many years ago; I left a job because the NM of the unit was a very troubled woman who took out a lot of her dysfunction on her staff. When I left, I had an exit interview with the DON and was very open about why I was leaving (not that I "didn't like" the NM or "she was mean to me" (although both those things were true! :chuckle), but specific examples, including dates and other people involved, of actions/behavior of hers that impacted negatively on the staff and the quality of the program provided to the clients). I knew as I was saying it that they had heard all the same stuff many times before, and they thanked me warmly and sent me on my way and I figured that was the end of it, but I heard later from someone who still worked there that, shortly after I left, another person complained and this time she was fired. Sometimes it's just a matter of reaching "critical mass" with the negative feedback about a particular issue (and, when it's a matter of firing someone, the facility, for its own legal protection, has to establish a clear "track record" of problems over time and the individual's failure to improve despite being counseled -- so that requires multiple complaints from others over time).

I certainly agree that it's important to be thoughtful and professional about what you choose to share in an exit interview, so as not to leave on bad terms.

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · May 7, 2008

I think that the exit interview is always worth doing if there are real problems with how the unit/facility functions. Even if it seems that higher administration just isn't interested, there's value in adding your opinions to "the pile;" if they get enough reports of the same problems, eventually they may be motivated to make changes.

I agree. I left my original NICU job due to unsafe staffing, unrealistic educational requirements, a lack of night shift support, and an outrageous amount of call shifts. I laid it all out on the table during my exit interview. (I was transferring within the hospital) The director of Women's & Children's services asked me how I would solve these problems. Six months later, all the issues I had mentioned were addressed. Call shifts had decreased, staffing/assignment grids were implemented, and night shift was given more support. I transferred back in, and it was like the old unit I "fell in love with" all over again. Unfortunately, a year and a half later, I had to move away for graduate school. I'm counting the days until I can go back!!!

elkpark · May 7, 2008

I agree. I left my original NICU job due to unsafe staffing, unrealistic educational requirements, a lack of night shift support, and an outrageous amount of call shifts. I laid it all out on the table during my exit interview. (I was transferring within the hospital) The director of Women's & Children's services asked me how I would solve these problems. Six months later, all the issues I had mentioned were addressed. Call shifts had decreased, staffing/assignment grids were implemented, and night shift was given more support. I transferred back in, and it was like the old unit I "fell in love with" all over again. Unfortunately, a year and a half later, I had to move away for graduate school. I'm counting the days until I can go back!!!

Good for you! I hope that returning will work out for you.

justme1972 · May 7, 2008

Saying ANYTHING more than the fact you are leaving and the date your resignation is effective, is too much information.

Never put in writing that you are going to work for someone else, leaving due to benefits or pay.

Less is more when it comes to resignation letters.

wjf00 · May 11, 2008

It may be helpful to your former co-workers on the unit to point out what management can do to improve working conditions. If you are speaking with your feet then speak up.