Resigning

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Dec 24, 2013

What position are you in and for how long?

CrossCountryRN2008 · Dec 24, 2013

How long have you been there? And where are you?

caliotter3 · Dec 24, 2013

Check the website of your state labor commissioner on the subject of notice and take it from there. Remember these people are probably not going to give you glowing references anyway.

ceccia · Dec 24, 2013

How long have you been there? Check your employee handbook and/or contract - many places use your first 90 days as a trial period, in which either you or the employer can terminate the working relationship without any notice required.

If your facility doesn't have a trial period, and the stuff going on there is serious enough that you're worried about legal liability/your license, what about sending a written resignation to management detailing that you feel the need to leave without notice because of the unethical and/or illegal practices you have witnessed. Keep a copy for yourself, possibly also report the facility so there is something on record to back up your assertion that you feel the need to leave ASAP in order to protect your license/because you don't agree with their reckless practices.

ceccia · Dec 25, 2013

have to add though, the specific things you mentioned -unsafe pt/staff ratios and having techs pass meds - happen in almost every SNF. At least every one I've worked in so far. Stuff like that isn't likely to change if you go to another SNF/LTC, as long as corporate greed rules the day.

Future FNP 14 · Dec 25, 2013

Don't feel bad, i quit via text, yes via text. I was working per diem at a senior care and I had poor orientation, then they started accepting patients that belong in nursing homes and expected one nurse to take care of 30 plus patients who where falling everyday. On top of that they don't hire cna's. One day my boss text me upset that I didn't do something he wasn't even a nurse, at that point I had enough. Someone lost the documents and I was responsible, oh no I text him I officially resign. If you ever feel your license is in jeopardy you only have to do whats right.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Dec 25, 2013

I quit via e-mail. I worked at a detention center that housed over 1,000 detainees. It was soo stressful. The nurses were given soo much work that the other staff could do. On top of that I got pregnant-unplanned. So the stress of everything just made my mental & physical health crash. For the safety of my baby & me, I resigned.

MOLpN04 · Dec 25, 2013

If you have addressed those concerns with your supervisor and nothing was done about it, and You feel your license is in jeopardy...I say Quit, you can always get another job, your license is a bit harder to re-obtain if you lose it working for a crappy place like this. Those patients deserve better, and so do you. Could you give like a 2 day notice?

KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN · Dec 26, 2013

I quit via e-mail. I worked at a detention center that housed over 1,000 detainees. It was soo stressful. The nurses were given soo much work that the other staff could do. On top of that I got pregnant-unplanned. So the stress of everything just made my mental & physical health crash. For the safety of my baby & me, I resigned.

Corrections is rough. I give kudos to all who make it their career, but for me.. 14 months was my limit!

I always recommend resigning in the most conflict-free method, lol.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Dec 26, 2013

Corrections is rough. I give kudos to all who make it their career but for me.. 14 months was my limit! I always recommend resigning in the most conflict-free method, lol.[/quote']
Lol. I've worked in jails, prisons & a detention center. My last job was probably the worst. Nothing on the computer, all the detainees that came in had a chart but 80% of the time no one could find it. Plus all the work that had to be done (I barely had an orientation because the nurse showing me was too busy) only got worse after we had an audit. I wanted to at least call my boss, he was really sweet & cool. But I couldn't get ahold of him so I just emailed. It worked.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Dec 26, 2013

What are your thoughts on quitting a position without giving two weeks notice? I have never done this before; but I feel that my license is at risk! I've tried talking to my manager, but then felt like I was being hazed after speaking up. I have witnessed unsafe staff ratios, and unlicensed techs push meds! It's unprofessional to just up and quit, but they're working under my license. What would you do?

Quitting without giving notice burns your bridges. It not only burns your bridges at that facility but with any that are owned by the same company. Also with your current management team -- and you never know where they'll be the next time you wish to change jobs. Your boss at this job may become the manager at the next place your decide is your dream job.

I've been a nurse for 35 years, and I've never seen anyone lose their license for unsafe staffing ratios. The Board of Nursing of most states sends out an annual newsletter with a list of nurses and disciplinary actions. The list is never very long . . . I've never seen a list longer than a hundred or so. And the reasons listed are things such as practicing beyond the scope of your license (bedside nurse placing a central line) or diversion of narcotics and falsifying documentation to cover it up. I'm not sure where people are getting the idea the the BON is lurking about just waiting for an excuse to yank licenses. It just doesn't happen. Nevertheless, it's a popular "reason" given by new grads for quitting their jobs without notice, or for quitting after just a few months.

I doubt your license is really at risk. Do the right thing. Give notice.