Any nurse thinking about resignation will often wonder how to go about resigning from the job. As a matter of professionalism, you should always let your soon-to-be former employer know when you intend to resign by notifying them of your last day at work and the reason for resigning through a resignation letter. Giving advanced notice greatly influences the type of reference or recommendation you get from your employer(s) and can thus make it easier for you to find a new position in a different organization.
A nursing resignation letter is a document used to formally notify your employer that you terminate your employment/job as a nurse with the organization. A nurse sends the letter as a formal notice to their supervisor or employer that they will no longer be working at the medical facility. Additionally, submitting a nurse resignation letter gives your employer enough time to find a replacement and adjust to the changes.
Typically, advanced notice of 6-8 weeks is considered reasonable in the health care industry. This gives enough time to allow a smooth transition and assimilate the new nurse. Finally, the letter is filed with company records to document that the nurse voluntarily terminated their duties. So, if you are considering resigning from a nursing job, this article will show you the best way to give notice through a resignation letter.
Pre-Considerations
Resigning from your place of work is often a sensitive matter. As a result, you must tread carefully to ensure this process is completed without compromising on any professional relationships and networks you’ve created in your time with the organization. Therefore, you should consider certain things before crafting your resignation letter for the nurse position.
These include:
Control your emotions
Before writing a nursing resignation letter, the first thing is to put aside and be in control of your emotions. This is regardless of the reason for resignation. Nursing is a demanding job, and as a result, committing to it will usually come from a place of passion which might lead to being attached to the organization, colleagues, patients, etc. Therefore, resigning can be overwhelming due to the emotions involved. However, you should be in control to ensure this is not reflected in your resignation letter. This helps you to remain objective in your thoughts and actions.
Consult with management
Before writing your nursing resignation letter, communicate with your manager and HR to see what agreement you may have to make to reign. This should be before relaying any information to your colleagues and patients. Most healthcare institutions will have policies in place that guide the resignation process. Identify what requirements you must fulfil to ensure you’re compliant. This way, you will be able to minimize any disputes arising during the resignation process because it helps reduce confusion. Also, you must aim to communicate with management in person. Resignation letters will always follow resignation announcements to your supervisors.
Give notice and date of departure
Most employers require at least two weeks’ advance notice for resignation for any nursing staff. Hence, you must always be aware of the date you intend to quit your responsibilities officially to satisfy the notice period requirements. In addition, some institutions will have other specific notice period guidelines or norms, so you should first check what guidelines are in place and plan your exit in compliance with the applicable rules.
Writing a Nursing Resignation Letter
When writing a nursing resignation letter, you should include important information such as the reason for leaving, your anticipated last day of employment, and how you would like to assist with the transition. You should then sign and date the letter and keep a copy for the record.
The standard format for this type of letter is as follows:
Header
Relevant correspondence is required in any nursing resignation letter since they are formal letters. This should include your name, title, contact details, date, and the name and contact details of the company where you are employed. In addition, the header should be placed at the top of a section of the page.
Salutation/introduction
Next, you should provide a formal salutation to the recipient. Formal salutations are formatted as shown – ‘Dear Mr./Mrs. (last name).’ Ensure to use the appropriate title, such as Dr, if applicable. Then, in your nursing resignation letter, you should include a short paragraph that introduces the reader to the reason for writing. Make sure to mention your intent to resign, position in the organization, and last day of work. The introduction can be given in 2 or 3 lines as it does not have to be too long.
The body
In the body of the letter, carefully explain why you are resigning, a message of appreciation, noteworthy experiences, lessons in your tenure with the organization, and how you can help with the transition. The body of your nursing resignation letter should be concluded with a thank-you statement to your employer. Use this letter section to show you are leaving on good terms. The body can be 2-3 paragraphs long, but you shouldn’t make it too long with unnecessary information.
Conclusion
Lastly, you should close the resignation letter for the nursing position with a formal complimentary close such as “Best Regards,” “Sincerely,” or “Yours faithfully.” This should be followed with your signature at the bottom.
Nursing Resignation Letter
Review the sample letter below and use it to write your own letter:
Sample
Sara Torres
Nurse
44th Avenue
Kingston, FL 0871
April 20th, 20xx
John Soyer
HR Manager,
1324 Berth Street,
Portland, Ore 7629
Dear John,
My name is Sara Torres; I am writing to announce my resignation as a nurse at St. Hopkins Universal Hospital. I enjoyed working for you and your team, but I have decided that it is time for me to move on. I have been offered a rare opportunity elsewhere that will allow me to continue the work I love while utilizing my skills in a new way. Therefore, I will be leaving on May 10th, 2022, to pursue my future endeavors.
I feel I may not be able to adequately convey my gratitude for working in such an excellent environment. You allowed me to flourish as a person and a nurse, and I am incredibly grateful for everything you have done for me. I have learned so much from you, mainly dealing with the human aspect of nursing and how it can affect patient care on many different levels. I have learned that sometimes the best medicine is compassion, kindness, and understanding. These are the values of a great nurse that you have instilled in me during my whole experience.
I will never forget our conversations about health care reform and how your organization was at the forefront of such a difficult task. I am stunned by how far we have come, and I encourage other nurses to participate in the process. There is still a lot to be done to make our profession better, and I am ready to become part of the solution.
You have been a great mentor, and it has been a great honor to be a nurse in your institution and your friend. If I can be of any assistance with the transition, do not hesitate to reach out.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Sara Torres
Free Templates
Here is a collection of free templates you can download and use from our site:
Pro Tips
It would be best if you always aimed to write a letter that effectively communicates your intentions formally and respectfully. This is regardless of the reason for resigning. To this effect, you should include these tips when writing a nursing resignation letter:
Keep it short
Since your objective is to inform the supervisor of your employment intentions and future plans, only use a short letter. There are no specific rules of what word counts to use but make sure you don’t exceed one page.
On the other hand, resist the temptation to write a long letter with unnecessary information. Following a structured process when crafting a letter like the one provided in this article will ensure you communicate your message with less but relevant information.
Use appropriate fonts
Use a professional/formal font such as Times New Roman and avoid stylized fonts. Other decorative fonts make the letter seem unprofessional. Instead, use a consistent font throughout the letter.
Use the correct margins and spacing
Always start your letter with a header at the top left-hand corner. Also, use a margin space of 1 inch on all sides and a line spacing of 1.15. You will have space to write your name, title, contact information, a formal salutation, and a professional signature and name at the bottom. This margin and spacing guidelines will also ensure the letter’s content will be displayed clearly without the recipient having to strain themselves.
Be respectful
Your tone is essential in a nursing resignation letter. It should be reflected in the language used. The tone should be formal enough to show you are still committed to being professional even as you leave. With that in mind, avoid complaining or badmouthing your colleagues or employer, even if you are in conflict.
Proofread the letter
As with any other letter, you should proofread the resignation letter and correct any errors identified. Additionally, once you are done with the content, get another set of eyes to proofread it for errors in spelling and grammar that may affect the professionalism of your letter.
Final Thoughts
Many nurses have different reasons for leaving their job or moving to another hospital. Conveying this decision to your superiors can be difficult. However, the most effective way is through an in-person meeting and a formal nursing resignation letter. It would be best if you used formal language for your communication when writing a nursing resignation letter since this is an official correspondence.
Avoid using informal abbreviations such as standard in-office phrases since they are inappropriate for informal correspondence. How well you craft your letter can set precedence for your relationship with your former employer, which significantly affects your chances of getting a good recommendation in future if you need one. The guidelines in this article, if followed correctly, can help you craft a strong nurse resignation letter that protects your relationship with former employers.
