26// Step-by-Step Guide on How to Exit Your Nursing Job with Professionalism and Poise

Learn how to recognize the signs it's time to move on and master the art of leaving your job without burning bridges. 
 Discover how to stay true to your values when job conditions change unexpectedly, and gain practical strategies for making empowered decisions about your nursing career.

Ensuring a smooth transition can seem overwhelming, but I'm here to help. This episode covers all the essentials, from stating your reasons for leaving to preparing a seamless handover. 

We'll discuss expressing gratitude for challenging yet valuable experiences and the importance of identifying and preparing a successor. 

Learn how to exit gracefully, leave a lasting positive impact on your professional network, and set yourself up for future success. Don't miss this chance to take the first step toward a more fulfilling nursing career!

Join me on a free 1:1 Career Clarity Coaching Call. The link is found below. Limited spots are available!!

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

So last week I talked about those indicators that let you know it's time to leave your nursing job. Many of you get stuck in a place, overthinking if it's time to leave versus there's something different that you need to do. Many of you, if you are an ambitious nurse, you may have contemplated leaving the nursing profession. You may be in a headspace where you're just feeling stuck or frustrated with where you are. That episode really was to give you some good nuggets of things that you need to weigh one so that you don't stay stuck and so that you're making good decisions when you're making a decision to leave. It can be hard to leave a group of people, hard to leave a population of patients, and you may not even be leaving the population, but it's just good to work through those things that you may or may not be missing. So if you've not had a chance to listen to that episode, please go back and listen to episode 25. In this episode, I want to lead you. If you have made the decision, I want to lead you into a way to leave gracefully. I believe every person can keep a good reputation by leaving your nursing job at the right time and on the right terms. Most people don't leave because they don't know how to leave, or they leave badly and they burn bridges, and so I want you to know, no matter what the reasons why you leave, there's always a right way to leave, and you always want to find a way to leave on your own terms that benefits you and doesn't burn a bridge. I want you to feel empowered and at peace about the reasons why you're leaving. Also, are you feeling stuck in your current clinical environment? Do you want to make a change in your nursing career, but not sure what to do next? Exhausted, burnt out and maybe even ready for different leadership? I'm Bonnie Meadows, a board certified clinical nurse, specialist, influential leader, career coach and well-being coach. Being in the nursing and healthcare profession since 2004, I have felt stuck and unsure about what was next for me. I wanted to be fulfilled in my purpose, to have a voice at the table and to be a resource for others. I kept telling myself I wanted more, but didn't have the direction I needed until I found Clarity and Career Growth Strategies for Experienced Nurses Like Me. In this podcast, you will find simple, tactical steps that allow you to gain the clarity you need, solutions for how to grow even without supportive leadership and guidelines for setting boundaries at work, so that you can grow purposefully in your career as a nurse with a graduate degree who makes a huge impact in the profession. So get ready to trade your scrubs for yoga pants Pop in those earbuds and let's chat. Hey, my fellow nurses. Pogapants Pop in those earbuds and let's chat.

Speaker 1: 3:29

Hey, my fellow nurses, I know you've been on a hamster wheel trying to figure out your next move in your nursing career. You have gone on the interviews, you have looked on the job boards. You've gotten overwhelmed. Should you do this one? Should you go this route? Should you go that route?

Speaker 1: 3:44

You may be fearful of moving because you've encountered a bad experience before and you want to make sure that the next move is the right move. Or you've been applying to jobs and have not received a call back. Some of you are trying to figure out even what grad school program to even apply for, or just trying to get clarity because you already have a graduate degree but you're ready to make a change. If that is you, I want to invite you to a free one-on-one call. I am offering five free one-hour one-on-one nurse career clarity coaching calls. These calls will help you get unstuck and clarify your next move in your career. Come on, sign up, join me for a free call at bitly slash nursecareerclaritycom. In these calls we'll dig into the reasons why you might not be getting callbacks. We will dive into what direction we need to go next in your career. I'll take a look at your resume and just give you some ideas on where you need to go in your career. Sometimes you just need a sounding board. Sometimes you really need someone to give you that direction. It is a privilege and an honor for me to serve you as a career guiding nurse and to help you to figure out what your next step is. So come, join me, sign up for a free call at bitly slash nursecareercom.

Speaker 1: 5:27

Had a time when I was in a nursing research job, so I've worked as a program coordinator in cardiovascular nursing research. It was kind of a detour that I took while on my clinical nurse specialist journey. I went into the position looking for a little bit more flexibility. As many of us nurses are. We're looking for just a little bit more flexibility. I had a lot of autonomy in my previous position, but it was inside the hospital, so I wanted something that was outside of the hospital that afforded me some flexibility. I didn't want necessarily something that was in a clinical setting. I don't knock clinical settings at all, I actually love clinical settings. I've just found that I am no longer in that season of working in a clinical setting.

Speaker 1: 6:18

However, I was wanting a change. I was wanting to be able to have some flexibility with working from home and a couple of other things, and so I went into the job and I was told one thing about the position and as soon as life hit my home and this was during COVID, second half of COVID, you could say as soon as life hit my home and one of my family, two of my family members, got COVID, I needed a little bit more flexibility and all of a sudden the tide changed and the rules changed and I was like, oh no, I don't do rules changing. In the middle of whatever I value my work myself too much to be dealing with somebody's wishy-washiness about rules changing. So that's a number one. And I knew, I believed that I could quickly find something else that was within what I wanted to do, and so I quickly identified that it wasn't the right environment for me. But it was really because they had changed the rules and I realized who I was dealing with when it came down to this particular boss, didn't trust her anymore. I was like it's time for me to go. I actually left and asked for a transfer, and I was still within my first six months, and you're not supposed to be able to leave within the first six months. So I immediately started to look for a new position. That whole scenario I can go through in a totally different episode because I can definitely walk you through how I quickly transitioned out of one position and into another. And it was, yes, by the grace of God. But the key piece to that is that he used someone who I was already familiar with and I'd worked with before. So back to this.

Speaker 1: 8:21

I pretty much went into the conversation stating that it was about me wanting to leave. So, just to be more clear, we had started having these conversations about working from home. Once the rules changed. I called HR. I was like, well, what are my rights? And then I started having conversations about okay, so what? Because I need explanations, I ask questions about. Okay, so what? Because I need explanations, I ask questions. And so I started asking questions. And then it came down to technicalities of oh well, do you want flexibility or do you want more days at home? And I was like whoa, I didn't even know there was a difference, but I just found out, like you got to be technically. Oh, so we're trying to figure out whether we want more days at home versus flexibility.

Speaker 1: 9:13

I was my mind was blown and I said this is not the right place for me. This is not the right environment for me. It didn't check one of my boxes that I should have cleared beforehand of. Didn't check one of my boxes that I should have cleared beforehand of. Will she support my efforts in being engaged in professional organizations? That didn't check that box. So it was just kind of one of those things where I in my mind, the writing is on the wall, I need to exit the building. But when I had the conversation with her, she probably knew that it was about her, but I made it about me and that was a conversation of. I knew it wasn't the right environment and I made it about me and I said I need to find somewhere where I can have a little bit more flexibility in my time.

Speaker 1: 10:02

There were other times when I've left jobs. I worked in risk management. It was again another situation where I was in a good situation. I wanted to grow. That was a hard conversation to have because I enjoyed the autonomy in risk management, but I wanted to grow advance, upward, and I knew that I wasn't going to have that opportunity in risk management because there wasn't really an upward to go. You gain a lot of experience If there's someone else who is thinking about working in risk management. There's so much exposure that you can get in working in that role and it will help you in so many other situations Like. There's so much that I learned in risk management that I still apply to the work that I do every day, even now.

Speaker 1: 10:52

But even that one, I left because I wanted to grow. That's a harder conversation to have versus walking in and telling somebody that you just you know this isn't where you want to be anymore, and so all of those conversations are different. But they require you to reflect on you versus you reflecting on them. It requires you changing the tune of your conversation, especially if you are leaving in haste and you don't like the situation. Don't like the situation. That's when you really got to shift it to how am I going to say this without burning bridges, because you never know when you'll need to cross their path again.

Speaker 1: 11:38

In this episode I want you to learn the steps that you should take when you've made the decision to leave. Point one start by deciding whether it's the right time to leave. So episode 25, that episode set you up for this one to say, okay, I've made the decision to leave and now I'm good, I'm at peace with that decision, I know the reasons why I'm leaving and so now I need to start the process. When you're taking the time to thoughtfully consider why and when and how you should leave your job, that can ensure that you're making the best possible decision to find new opportunities and to gracefully leave your current role. So I share those tips in episode 25.

Speaker 1: 12:32

Point two once you have another job lined up so don't quit before you got another job lined up, unless you just got it like that. But once you have another job lined up, with a start date and your salary negotiated your offer then give at least a two weeks notice, because you can burn a bridge by just leaving, deciding okay, I'm not going to be here tomorrow. No, that's not an option If you want to be an ambitious nurse. It's a small world out here. You want to be able to give that two weeks notice. It's a standard time to give an employer before you leave and even if you have an employment as a contract travel nurse, the rules might be different. But it's just best for you to at least give a two weeks notice and say I'm not going to renew my contract with the people that you are talking to. They're working with and with the employer if you just decide to just stop traveling altogether. Like all of those parties need to know and give some sort of notice. The contract rules might be just a little bit different for a travel nurse and maybe you need to let the travel agency know a little bit earlier. But you just want to honor the length of notice and sometimes you get an extended notice. Like there have been roles that I've been in and they have asked for a month and not two weeks. That's cool, I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I will wait.

Speaker 1: 14:16

Point three you can either write a letter of resignation or schedule a meeting with the HR representative and or supervisor. So more than likely you are going to be having salary conversations with an HR representative. Sometimes you're having it with a supervisor, an HR representative Sometimes you're having it with a supervisor have never sent in a letter of resignation, because I want to be able to have that conversation with people face to face, even if they might blow up. But that is why I encourage you give your thoughts on why you're leaving and turn it around and make it about you and not necessarily about the situation. Now, depending on who it is, you might be able to go a little bit more in depth on well, I really needed this or I really needed that as far as your departure, and so I believe it's best for me to move on, but instead of and there have been times when HR has said oh well, do you want me to tell them or do you? I will tell them, I will have a conversation with them, because I don't know when I'm going to run across them again.

Speaker 1: 15:20

It could have burned a bridge, because when that manager came back around to me and they said, why didn't you tell me that you wanted to leave? I had actually told this manager, we'd had a conversation about it maybe about two months beforehand, about how it was time for me to leave. I didn't feel like you know that was the place for me anymore. Well, I thought she knew what was coming. Evidently she didn't know, so I decided that, going forward, I would just tell the manager, instead of letting HR be the first person to tell them. Well, thankfully, I actually needed a job from her again about seven years later, and, because I had a good work ethic, she welcomed me back. It was in a totally different role, but again, this is what I mean by you have to make sure that you are having these conversations with your current boss to let them know that you're getting ready to leave and then, depending on your relationship with your supervisor, it's an excellent opportunity to thank them for the opportunities that they provided you and collaborate on a plan for wrap up as you're getting ready to leave.

Speaker 1: 16:41

If, for some odd reason, you decide it is best for me to write a resignation letter, then here are some options on what you can include in the resignation letter A statement as to why you're resigning. Again, make it about you, don't make it about them. But if there are some things that are clearly pointed of, you need to put you. You believe you need to point these things out, and you know that other people might, might be leaving for the same reason or trying to leave for the same reason, then state it in conversation or in resignation letter. Include the date on which your resignation is effective, why you're leaving optional Again, even a thank you is optional in that resignation letter and then your signature at the bottom, so it doesn't have to be long and drawn out. Make it, keep it, state the facts, stick to the point and write the letter. If you are signed up for my email newsletter, the Ambitious Nurse Insider, I will have and share links to examples of resignation letters in my weekly email next week. Make sure you sign up below in the show notes. The link will be available in the show notes to for my weekly newsletter or you can go to bitlyambitiousnurseinsidercom. All lowercase letters.

Speaker 1: 18:15

Okay, number four give feedback on why you're leaving. If you believe that this manager or leader will be open to your feedback on why you're leaving, then it is best to do so. I always tell people that if you don't ask the question, if you don't say anything, that you can't complain that nothing was done. But if you have an opportunity and a platform to where you believe that what you say will be heard, then it is important for you to give that feedback as to why you're leaving. It is not required for you to share your reason why you're leaving a job, but it's helpful to your current supervisor, to other leadership personnel to just really understand why you're leaving, to other leadership personnel to just really understand why you're leaving. In my very last job that I left, I had an extensive conversation with her with a manager about why I was leaving. But we had a good relationship. She knew I didn't really want to leave, but it was just something that I needed to do.

Speaker 1: 19:29

Point five wrap up and transition your work. Now I will say there have been situations where nurses have told the manager and it's usually in project work positions or, if they are an assistant nurse manager, clinical supervisor type role they have told the manager that they were getting ready to leave and either the manager just stopped talking to them and took all of their work away, which put a burden on the people who were left, when that person could have worked through what they needed to work through to wrap things up, or they just gave them an extra load because they were mad. So it could go either way. So don't be surprised with what happens when you tell someone tell a manager or supervisor that you're looking to move on to a new position, but after you've informed them of your resignation, you'll again you'll likely have two weeks or more left in your role before you officially leave. So during this time you want to just work on completing any standing projects and then work with your supervisor to determine who should take over your work.

Speaker 1: 20:40

And already and this is really for people who are in roles where you work eight to five you're carrying a lot of projects already. Have in mind what you want to do Already. Have in mind who you want to hand off projects to or information to Always be thinking about what is your succession plan, especially as an ambitious nurse. Most ambitious nurses don't stay many places for long. Not that we're always job hopping. We always are seeking progression, and so you want to always have in mind who you can hand off work to or who you can hand off a project to. And even if you are not leaving, you're wanting to pick up another project in another area, but you've got too much going on. You should always be looking and seeing who's on your team and who's working with you to see who you might want to transition this project to, because you see another project that you have your eye on that you'd really like to be involved in.

Speaker 1: 21:45

All right, my last point share gratitude for the opportunity. Please remember that they did not have to give you the opportunity to come and work in that area. And good, bad or neutral every job opportunity is an opportunity to learn and grow, even if it was bad, because if it was bad, now you know what to look out for one in a team or a manager or someone else in the situation that could have made the job bad, and you know what person you don't want to be and how that can impact other people. So sometimes a job may be more than simply a money earning method. So we've talked in a recent episode I think it was maybe like episode 22, 21, where I talked about jobs versus careers.

Speaker 1: 22:48

And if you are a career-minded person and you got into this role for a career boosting standpoint, then you're thinking about the job as more than just a money earning method. So, depending how long you've been with the organization, you've developed strong bonds with the nurses, with your co-workers, with nurse leaders. You've developed new clinical skills, new essential skills, soft skills that you can now take to work up to a higher level position. So you're going into a position to where you can grow like. Whatever your next is, you're hoping to grow in that position, whether that be grow up or expand your skill set. So you're going into taking on greater responsibilities and you've grown professionally. Again, good, bad or indifferent you've learned something, and so your experiences from your current job have likely helped you to gain that new opportunity.

Speaker 1: 23:50

So it's important to show your gratitude to everyone who is involved in hiring you. Take time to thank your co-workers and the leaders that you've worked with closely, especially if they have made an impact on your career and it's bittersweet to leave them, but you know this is the best thing for you. Not only is it proper etiquette, but it can also help you grow your network. I have always said this and I will say it again you never know when you will cross the paths of your co-workers or those nurse leaders, so it's important for you to thank them for the opportunity so that they stay in the back of your mind no, not, they stay in the back so that you stay in the back of their mind as a good colleague that they might want to bring along. Or if someone is asking about hey, do you know someone who does such and such and such we're looking for? And they can say, hey, I do know of someone. That's how the networking works. You never know when you can also help a former colleague find a new opportunity and vice versa. So, to recap, here are the main ways in which you will prepare to leave for your next opportunity Decide whether it's the right time to leave.

Speaker 1: 25:26

Timing is everything. Once you have another job lined up, a start date and salary offered, you need all of that before you give your two weeks notice, all of those things. So don't skip. Then give your two weeks notice. Number three write a letter of resignation. I'm having a hard time saying letter, letter of resignation. Or schedule a meeting with the supervisor. You will more than likely have talked to HR, but try your best to have a one-on-one conversation with them versus sending in a letter of resignation.

Speaker 1: 26:02

Give feedback on why you're leaving, if you feel comfortable doing so. Again, make that feedback about you, not necessarily about them, but if you're giving some sort of feedback in which they need to use to provide improvements in the work environment, make it non-accusatory, make it very neutral, but something that they can use and take back and even come with some solutions. I know you're like child. Please, I don't want those. No, I don't want to get. Listen, you don't want to end up in that situation again and you don't want anybody else to end up in this, especially if you're not.

Speaker 1: 26:43

If you're leaving for not so good reasons, wrap up, transition your work. Make sure you're always looking around for who can take the work, even if you're not leaving. You're just leaving the project. Then you need to start looking around for who can take on that project and share gratitude for the opportunity. I hope you enjoyed today's episode. If so, would you take 30 seconds and share it with another nurse who may be unsure of where to go next in their career or maybe need some career clarity? Also, please leave a quick review for the show on Apple podcast. It brings me so much joy and so much encouragement to know this podcast is helping you. Now go get the career you want and not the one you settle for, and I'll meet you back here next Thursday for another episode. See you soon.