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Nurse (RN) Resignation Letter Template – with Samples

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Nurse (RN) Resignation Letter Template – with Samples

Updated September 12, 2023

A Registered Nurse (RN) resignation letter gives notice to a medical office or hospital that an employed nurse will be terminating their duties. Depending on the support staff, the nurse should try and give as much time as needed for the medical office or hospital to adjust to the loss. In most healthcare environments, granting 6-8 weeks is recommended. The nurse will most likely be required to train their replacement during the notice period until their departure.

Table of Contents

What to Include

Use this letter to resign from a position as a registered nurse (RN). Like any resignation letter, this one should include:

  • The intended date of departure.
  • Any provisions for the final weeks, if relevant

How to Resign as a Nurse (4 steps)

  1. Control Your Emotions
  2. Consult with Management
  3. Give Notice and Date of Departure
  4. Follow-Up with a Written Resignation Letter

1. Control Your Emotions

It’s not easy to leave a job – especially a nursing position, which can feel like both a labor of love and a calling. Try to anticipate these challenges before breaking the news to management.

2. Consult with Management

Speak to management first before sharing the news with colleagues or patients. Generally, it is better to deliver departure news face-to-face and provide the letter as a supporting document.

3. Give Notice and Date of Departure

While two weeks is usually considered to be the standard in the professional world, try to get a sense of the norms at your workplace. Aim to at least meet these expectations.

4. Follow-Up with a Written Resignation Letter

This letter sets the wheels in motion on the departure. Putting it all in writing, and signing and dating the final letter, is critical for ensuring that there is no confusion about plans.

How to Write (Format)

Your nursing resignation letter should include a formal letterhead and salutation, an introduction, at least one body paragraph, a conclusion, a formal sign off, your signature, and your typed name.

In your letter you will declare your resignation and give a precise date for your last day of work. Make your letter as positive and professional as you can. Avoid detailing any negative reasons that you may have for resigning. Show appreciation for your time spent as an employee and offer your assistance in the training of your replacement. Your resignation letter will be kept on record, so make sure that it is a testament to your professionalism and maturity.

Formal Letterhead

At the top of your page, list the following information in your letterhead: your name, your address, the date, your director’s name and position, and the address of the hospital or institution.

Example Letterhead

Chris Barry, RN
42 Keypoint Ave W
Cleveland, Ohio 44101

June 4th, 2017

Dr. Linda Guarez
Medical Director
Ridgehill Hospital
PO Box 0091
Cleveland, Ohio 44121

Salutation/Introduction

Start your letter with a formal salutation and an introductory paragraph. This paragraph should state that you are resigning and provide the precise date that will be your last day of work.

Example Introduction

Dear Dr. Guarez,

Please accept this letter as the official notice of my resignation from the position of Staff Nurse at Ridgehill Hospital. My last day of employment will be July 3rd, 2017.

Body Paragraph(s)

In the body of your letter, you can describe why you are grateful for having had this job. By including a few details regarding your time as an employee, your letter will serve not only as a notice of resignation, but also as a sort of resume. Keep in mind that this letter may be referred to by your employer if you ever use them as a reference. Offer to help train your replacement and explain how you plan on making the transition less inconvenient.

Example Body

Ridgehill Hospital is a special place, one where people work together to make the best of a difficult situation every day, and succeed. Working alongside the fine men and women who I have called my esteemed co-workers has been one of the great privileges of my life. It is difficult to leave a place that I value so dearly.

I have spoken with my colleagues, and we are confident that we can transition smoothly through the process of training a new employee as my successor.

Conclusion

Your letter should end with a brief concluding paragraph, a formal sign-off, your signature, and your typed name. In your final paragraph, you can restate your gratitude towards your employer.

Example Conclusion

Thank you again for taking me on as Nurse at Ridgehill Hospital when I applied 3 years ago. It has been a momentous time of my life and I will forever be grateful. I wish you and the staff all the best.

Regards,

Chris Barry

Sample 1

 
March 1, 2017

Dear Ron,

This letter serves as a formal notice of resignation from my position as Clinical Nurse I at Valley Hospital. My final day of work will be March 22, 2017.

Please advise if there are any additional steps that I can take during the final weeks of my employment to ease the transition.

It has been an honor to work with such a dedicated group of caregivers.

Sincerely,

Joan Armitage

Sample 2

 
Ms. Misty Travis, RPN
3132 Transit Blvd.
Aberdeen, SD 57402
(555) 555-5555

April 4th, 2017

Mr. Eric Furlough
Hospital Administrator
Aberdeen General Hospital
12 Pemberton Pl.
Aberdeen, SD 57402

Dear Mr. Furlough,

I am writing this letter to formally resign from my position as Staff Nurse at Aberdeen GH. As per my contract, I am issuing my notice of resignation 4 weeks in advance of my last day of work, which will be on the 4th of May.

During the two years that I have been working at Aberdeen GH, I have learned how to work with a team to ensure that every patient gets the care that they need. Your staff is unrelenting in their commitment, and with your considerate direction, this hospital is consistently able to triumph over the adversity it faces on a daily basis.

Over the next month, I would be glad to help out in the hiring and training of my successor if that would be helpful.

Thank you for all that you have done on my behalf. I wish you, and everyone at Aberdeen GH continued success in the future.

Sincerely,

Misty Travis, RPN
Staff Nurse

Sample 3

 
Randolf Peters, RN
42 Rosebud Pl.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(555) 555-5555

January 2nd, 2017

Dr. Wendy Davies
Director
Norwhich Clinic
PO Box 001
Little Rock, AR 72217

Please accept this letter as the formal two weeks notice of my resignation from the position of Staff Nurse at Norwhich Clinic. My last day of employment will be January 16th, 2017.

It has been a pleasure working at Norwhich Clinic, and it has been a valuable learning experience. As you know, this was my first professional position as a nurse. Over the past three years, getting to know the regular patients and seeing how much they trusted our doctors made me appreciate how lucky I was to be working here.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being so welcoming and patient with me when you took me on as a new hire. My training was extremely thorough and contained lifelong lessons. I feel that my development as a caregiver has grown tremendously, and I thank you for that.

If there is any way that I can be of extra service over the next two weeks, do not hesitate to ask me.

Thank you again.

Sincerely Yours,

Randolf Peters