Resigning from a job before being asked to leave?

[JoshuaTree]

I have worked MICU for almost 2 years and was recently put into the hospital disciplinary system by receiving a formal oral warning from a new manager over an incident with a patient. If any future incidents come up you begin to receive written warnings and on the the third write-up you are fired. I do not particularly like the ICU environment and I would like to leave eventually. I've been looking at jobs in other areas of nursing and one question that always seems to come up on the application is if you've ever been terminated OR "asked to resign." That seems like a big red flag that I don't want to have to carry in an already tough job market.

I am afraid from what I've heard about this particular manager that she might ask someone to resign more or less on a moment's notice. And as subjective as write-ups can be (for example, you could get one for cursing) I feel like this might be as good a time as any to jump ship.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

In most organizations, the progressive discipline process has time limitations... in other words, the events must occur over a certain time frame. Each counseling/ write-up 'disappears' from your record after period of time - like points on your driver's license. I urge you to familiarize yourself with your organization's policy to get a better idea of where you stand.

You are correct about having to include terminations on your job history. Another very important issue -- any previous employers that categorize you as "not eligible for rehire" which indicates that you were not in good standing when you left. If you do resign, make sure that you will be listed as 'eligible for rehire' - maybe you can negotiate this as part of the process.

BTW, being counseled for cursing is not 'subjective'... if this is a violation of your employer's behavioral standards, it is an objective event - not open to negotiation or interpretation.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

Don't quit until you have another job.

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

Heck no, don't quit! You still have a couple of written warnings before you get canned so don't sweat it. You have worked and earned unemployment compensation, haven't you? So if you quit, you probably won't get it; if they fire you, you would be able to draw unemployment for all days you are without a job. I have been written up for silly stuff several times; in fact, my current employer thrives on writing people up. Hang in there, and don't quit unless you have a new job offer in hand.

[corlackan]

You are generally NOT able to get unemployment if you are fired for cause. You may certainly apply, but (at least in California and in other states in which I've worked) the employer is notified of your application for unemployment. They may contest it and if they do, there is a hearing before an administrative law judge where all the particulars of your dismissal are discussed.

I would be interested in hearing from the OP what the "incident" with the patient involved. Maybe you're burned out, maybe you're not suited for the ICU environment. Maybe you've blown the verbal counseling out of proportion? Whatever the case, if you really dislike where you're working, that probably shows through to others and you may be well-advised to look for another job - while you're still employed, that is.

[NurseCard, ADN]

Most places that I have worked have that same system of "one write up is a verbal warning, two a written warning,

three suspension, four is termination...", but they make it clear that they don't have to follow that system, and

many times they don't.

I work in an "at will" state though, plus I'm not unionized.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

I would resign, it is better than having fired on your record. I have been there and done that so I'm speaking from experience.

[JoshuaTree]

I guess I need to figure out if write ups = not being considered for rehire

In most organizations, the progressive discipline process has time limitations... in other words, the events must occur over a certain time frame. Each counseling/ write-up 'disappears' from your record after period of time - like points on your driver's license. I urge you to familiarize yourself with your organization's policy to get a better idea of where you stand.

You are correct about having to include terminations on your job history. Another very important issue -- any previous employers that categorize you as "not eligible for rehire" which indicates that you were not in good standing when you left. If you do resign, make sure that you will be listed as 'eligible for rehire' - maybe you can negotiate this as part of the process.

BTW, being counseled for cursing is not 'subjective'... if this is a violation of your employer's behavioral standards, it is an objective event - not open to negotiation or interpretation.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

If you have a complaint that ended up as a write up, be sure that you have the right to answer the same, discuss with NM an "improvement plan" and be it time measured and goal specific. AND be sure all of it is written for your personnell record. If you are a union facility, discuss this with your union rep.

Be sure to give proper notice. And make sure you have a job offer in hand before starting this process.

[JoshuaTree]

If you have a complaint that ended up as a write up, be sure that you have the right to answer the same, discuss with NM an "improvement plan" and be it time measured and goal specific. AND be sure all of it is written for your personnell record. If you are a union facility, discuss this with your union rep.

Be sure to give proper notice. And make sure you have a job offer in hand before starting this process.

It's non-union and there was an improvement plan in place. Would the plan need to be completed to be considered re-hirable?

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

It's non-union and there was an improvement plan in place. Would the plan need to be completed to be considered re-hirable?

Depends--are you working the plan? Is that something that is also recorded in your file?

It is very facility specific. Some facilities will say one is not rehireable if they DON'T have anything on their record.

The only thing you can do is to state that "you were not a good fit" but unfortunetely, there's no guarantee.

Put your feelers out sooner rather than later if you are wanting to move on.