Resignation Retention

mimmy · Oct 10, 2006

Well, I am considering handing in my resignation in the near future. I have been with this hospital over 11 years and until recently, I really enjoyed being a nurse. We recently had a buyout/merger with a big corporation. The lack of respect and professionalism to the nursing staff has been tremendous. It is not all about numbers and money, we are human beings that deserve to be treated as such.

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Oct 10, 2006

help!!! i would like to find out from nurses how and what matters most to you when faced with a decision on submitting a resignation. i have been asked to look into ways that matter most in retaining good nurses in our health system. please drop me a note as to what matters most to you other than the great $. how could we offer changes that make a difference? thanks so much.

ummm...it's definately not the "great $". i don't know how many people have said to me...you have a bs and that's all you make??? um, yeah, well since being a l & d rn is what i've wanted to do my whole life. not much i can do about the lousy pay right now. i think most of us want a place to work where we are all respected and treated as professionals, professionals with extensive education, not trained monkeys.

Kelly_the_Great · Oct 11, 2006

Wow, I totally forgot about this thread.

I wonder how things went with the OP mission...???

Something I've thought of in the interim, apply customer service techniques to nurses in the same way you would apply them to patients. For instance, if a nurse comes to management with a concern, approach it in the same manner you would a patient's concern, as follows: 1.) Acknowledge that there's an issue, 2.) Validate it (DO NOT MINIMIZE) and 3.) Find a solution (WITH THE NURSES INPUT).

ETA: Afterall, you can't service customers w/o the workers, right?

RNHawaii34 · Oct 11, 2006

I think there is no amount of money can match how sad a nurse feel when you work with an unsupportive manager, disrespectful and unprofessional co-workers...I just turned in my resignation today, I am unemployed, and I may feel crappy now, but I am sure I can always find another workplace anytime soon.

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Oct 11, 2006

I think there is no amount of money can match how sad a nurse feel when you work with an unsupportive manager, disrespectful and unprofessional co-workers...I just turned in my resignation today, I am unemployed, and I may feel crappy now, but I am sure I can always find another workplace anytime soon.

Good for you for leaving a bad situation. Good luck in finding your dream job!

Kelly_the_Great · Oct 11, 2006

I think there is no amount of money can match how sad a nurse feel when you work with an unsupportive manager, disrespectful and unprofessional co-workers...I just turned in my resignation today, I am unemployed, and I may feel crappy now, but I am sure I can always find another workplace anytime soon.

Oh, RNHawaii34,

I'm so sorry...I see/hear the frustration in your post. Wishing you better things...:icon_hug:

RNHawaii34 · Oct 11, 2006

Good for you for leaving a bad situation. Good luck in finding your dream job!

thanks :-) jenrninmi, I am a newbie. my former boss didn't think I fit for the RN job...after 3 weeks of preceptorship..I said, well telemetry is not for me, I left. my preceptor treated me like a stupid monkey, gave me 4 patient on my first day, yells at me in the hallway, I felt ridiculous! it was so embarassing because I didn't feel comfortable working with somebody who thinks she knows everything. I felt miserable...so I left. It may sting a little, cried a cupful, but I am all good.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Oct 11, 2006

1) workplace health and safety - no lift policies - you do want to know that you will not be expected to hurt yourself at work. we even have "wardsmen" still in some facilities - big men hired to do the manual handling, lifting and positioning of the patients.
2) zero tolerance to violence as a workplace mission statement. that means no bullying and no threats/abuse tolerated from patients or visitors
3) respect. not just from the public but from the staff as well. actually though one does follow the other.
4) trust. this comes with respect - being able to trust that your supervisors will back you when it hits the fan. .

these are all good points. respect is key.

am17sg05 · Oct 11, 2006

for me, i will stay in my job if management and staff are nice,approachable/accomodating and supportive, good pay and benefits, retention bonus(may help people to stay),good nurse-pt ratio,offer continuing education like class or seminars, opportunities to work extra hours

helloonurse0 · Oct 19, 2006

Hi, I have been an LPN for 13 years, working in the LTC field. Yes the money is a factor, however what matters most to me is the work environment, if the company is as concerned with my well being as they are with making money, I would give up higher pay.

"The goal in life is to love God, do good then shut up and go Home."

GIRN · Jan 27, 2007

Employees want to feel that when they identify a problem that makes them inefficient, management will understand their frustration and help them correct the problem. Too often, managers have not done the physical part of the job for so long that they forget the realities of nursing and create tension with their unrealistic expectations. The most satisfied employees are the ones who feel their bosses understand the job and are working towards the same goal of good patient care. Employees receive a lot of satisfaction from trouble-shooting their own work problems and should be given the autonomy to act as adults. Nurses don't want to be micro-managed but they need consistant, supportive management that respects their abilities. If nurses had a friendly, supportive, understanding environment to work in, it would take another business a huge increase in salary to lure that nurse away. It's not about the money.....

helloonurse0 · Jan 30, 2007

:roll Standing ovation for GIRN, I feel that sums it up...if only...:roll