How to work your notice gracefully

Wonderful article. I admit, I have burnt a bridge or two by not leaving gracefully and it has come back to bite me at times.

Good advice!

Perhaps, a version of this should be created for employers. A coworker has just worked her notice. The unit manager was horrible to her the entire time. Shifts were cancelled. Verbal jabs made in front of people. She is a good nurse and her new unit is lucky to get her. She can and will be replaced but until the new nurse fits in her departure will be felt.Favourtism is rampant on our unit and it's the real reason she left. I proof read her resignation letter and it was extremely graceful, not a complaint in it. Yet our Manager who has a hard time covering the shifts this woman left keeps up her game of playing favourites and is going to lose this nurse as soon as she can find a job that interests her.

A nurse came to work for night shift, her first night back after some time off on workers' comp. She came in, looked at the assignment and threw a fit and walked out, leaving the night shift hanging short one nurse. That was in October. She still doesn't have another job. Pretty stupid move.

Excellent advice, madwife! I myself have quit places that I later went back to; thankfully I never burned any bridges, no matter how badly I wanted to or how strongly I felt I'd rather live on the streets than work for that facility again.Like you said, the healthcare community is much more tightly-knit than a lot of people give it credit for, and word spreads quickly when one of its members behaves unprofessionally in leaving a job. It's not worth the brief satisfaction that slamming a door shut may bring.

Great article. I have noticed though, that certain workplaces will speak ill of an employee even if the employee left on good terms, with plenty of notice. They aren't supposed to, but we all know there are loopholes. It was common knowledge at my other hospital that the boss would sabotage any attempts by her people to find a new job. I managed to sidestep it by asking another manager to give me a reference while she was on sick leave. I saw this happen to a former coworker of mine. He finally had to resort to calling the HR department of the old hospital and requesting to see his file. He offered to bring his attorney with him. Funny, after that he started getting calls for interviews again.So sadly, I believe that you can do everything right and still get screwed.

I have a mixed reaction to this post. I left my first nursing job on good terms, filled out my notice happily and thanked HR for the oppurtunity and did everything right. But was leaving bc I had what I thought was my dream job waiting for me. So when I found out it wasn't, were 8 months later, they accpted me back with open arms. My 2nd job, the one I left for, was a horrible exp I will never forget and would leave nrsg and eat dog food before working for them again. I gave my 2 wks after 6 months. I gave it my all, even stayed over completeing my work 45 mins after my shift on my last day. Did me no goood! I went on 5 interviews before having too crawl back to first job. I don't know what HR said or did, but I have my suspicions, bc how would I know what there saying? So basically I'm saying the article is right, but it still may or may not do you any good.

Quote from redhead_NURSE98!A nurse came to work for night shift, her first night back after some time off on workers' comp. She came in, looked at the assignment and threw a fit and walked out, leaving the night shift hanging short one nurse. That was in October. She still doesn't have another job. Pretty stupid move.

Quote from brandy1017So what was wrong with the assignment, was it full of heavy patients that would cause her to reinjure her back? Maybe she decided to stay on workers comp?

One thing you did not mention was what to say to an employer who has allowed a horrible working environment. I would be honest with it. Many times people are leaving jobs continually and no one know what the issue is. We have three units at my facility and on the 3-11 shift ( a particular supervisor) we had the highest amount of resignations within one year. Employees need to be truthful with issues and managers at their jobsite so HR can know. HR typically never knows all the nonsense going on at a site.

Quote from katherine100One thing you did not mention was what to say to an employer who has allowed a horrible working environment. I would be honest with it. Many times people are leaving jobs continually and no one know what the issue is. We have three units at my facility and on the 3-11 shift ( a particular supervisor) we had the highest amount of resignations within one year. Employees need to be truthful with issues and managers at their jobsite so HR can know. HR typically never knows all the nonsense going on at a site.

As I think, whether you hate a job or loved it and have or need to go, leave on good terms best. Dont be too sorry to be leaving that you place your self in a position doing extra than you need to like taking extra work days, and taking peoples loads of work, and dont be too happy that you can literally tell everyone to kiss your ass. if it is a "kiss my ass" situation, say it in your head with a smile on your face. But all due, it's not necessary to leave grudges in that you never know when your new or future new jobs may require some contact with the job you are leaving./ Be consistent and leave on a good note. you'll be better off that way....and i will be in a kiss my ass situation soon, but I ''ll do better because I know better. and leave a good terms. simple. lol.