Should she tell why she's leaving?

[funmom]

My sister in law is an LPN. She's looking for another job because of nasty working conditions --- vicious coworkers, administration, etc. She asked me if I thought she should tell management why she's leaving (after putting in a notice) or just keep quiet and leave. I told her to just leave. She thinks that her telling them could help change things for other nurses who choose to remain there.

[island40]

I doubt that the parting shot from a disgruntled employee with change anything. Just go and be happy.

[April, RN, BSN, RN]

If she wants to use them as a reference in the future, I'd tell her to keep quiet and go on her way. I admire that she wants things to change for the nurses left there, but it may end up burning her. She needs to look out for herself right now!

[NC Girl BSN]

I think she should just leave and call it a day. They are not gonna care that she doesn't like the back stabbing co- workers or the way administration is handling things. I think if she says something it would only open up a can of worms and more room for gossip. They are not gonna change. She should just let it go and leave with a good concience.

[nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN]

I've sat thru my share of exit interviews, and you know what's done with them?

Nothing.

But if she tells the truth about leaving (working conditions, etc.) why would she think these same slime balls would suddenly behave fairly and honorably and give her a decent reference..... Just go. If she cares about her coworkers, call them from her new job and let them know there's openings...

[Jolie, BSN]

In my experience, it is not necessary and rarely helpful to be honest with an employer why one is leaving. If the working conditions stink, the employer usually knows it and is unwilling to work on improving things.

While it is nice to want to help one's co-workers by being frank about the reasons for leaving, the reality is that it usually only gets the person labeled as "disgruntled."

I would suggest that she write a professional, but brief resignation letter, stating the final date of employment and thanking the employer "for the opportunity to serve our clients."

If she wishes to discuss grievances, the exit interview is the place and time for that, but I never bother.

[mustlovepoodles, RN]

I guess it depends on several things. I've done it both ways. In one job I really liked the hospital, but not the unit I was on. I was going back to school anyway so I left on good terms with the idea that I might be coming back in the future(in a different postion, of course.) At another job I was getting pulled to other units every week(from the NICU, no less!), they were trying to require unpaid OT(yeah, sign me up!) and the climate in the unit was toxic with nurses fighting each other, sabotaging their work, and refusing to assist each other. Administration did nothing to relieve the situation.

When I left, with one week's notice, they called me in for an exit interview. The girl asked me why I was leaving and I hit her with both barrels(now I feel sorry for her. she really didn't deserve that.) I mean I was so angry i was just about enraged. I filled her in on everything that was going on and she asked me what they could do to make me stay. Ha! nothing! I informed her that if that was the last hospital on earth and i was so poor I was eating grass out of the backyard I would never, NEVER step foot over the threshold again (what? think I went too far?)

Well, thankfully we moved out of that part of the country and my little tirade never got in the way of finding a new job. If we had stayed there it might have had some effect on my ability to get a job. But, dang! it felt so good to unload...Okay, perhaps my way was a bit immature. I did hold myself back from flinging the flaming doo-doo.

[PrettyPillz]

Your sister-in-law should just give her 2 weeks notice and leave in a professional manner. The management already knows that they suck. You could be labeled a trouble maker. In my experience, I've never seen saying something against the facility on the way out to be helpful. Those policy changes will have to come from the top down.

[firechalice]

If she feels it will help then by all means do so. Don't burn bridges. I am facning a similar situation and decided that leaving without the parting shot is better.

[Faeriewand, ASN, RN]

Way in the past, in a non nursing job, I told my direct supervisor something I thought she would appreciate to know and it would make the company look so much better if they corrected it.

She didn't give me my due raise.

So no your SIL should not tell anything.

[systoly]

Of course she should give a reason for leaving, just not the real one. If she's concerned about making things better at that facility, then she should stay, as this would put her in a much better position to do so. PrettyPillz is absolutely correct. I would only add, not only do they know they suck, they probably like it that way.

[Keepstanding, ASN, RN]

tell her to just keep quiet.....and when she leaves she can just knock the dust off of her feet and be done with them. she has nothing to be ashamed of. best of luck to her and you !

praiser :heartbeat