CHAPTER 6

CHOOSING , RETAINING ,
RESIGNING &
DISMISSAL FROM A
POSITION
CHOOSING
Should think of long-range goals- to build up
a career ladder in nursing
Considerations:
1. must make self evaluation
2. must consider their capacities , interest ,
qualifications & goals
3. can ask advisers , clinical instructors or their
parents
QUALIFICATIONS

1.What is your educational qualification?
2. Does it fit the job you are applying for?
3. Beginning positions in nursing do not usually
require more than registration.

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE & TRAINING
1. What are your experiences & training?
2. Are these relevant to the position you are
applying for?
Special areas like OP, ICU , CCU(coronary) ,
ER require nurses who have experience in
these areas
Staff nurse- no requirements for experience
but is advantage if there is any for the
evaluation
AGE & PHYSICAL CONDITION
Employers prefer young nurses for
beginning positions
Older nurses may feel uneasy to start anew
in staff nurse positions but may feel
comfortable in administrative positions if
qualified
Positions in public- require extensive
evaluation

YOU MAY ASK(SELF EVALUATION)
How much energy is required of the job?
Can you work long hours w/o tiring easily?
Administrative positions will require nurses
who are mature in judgment & decision
making& who possess the educational
required by RA 9173-Philippine Nursing Act
EMOTIONAL STABILITY & GOALS IN LIFE
1.How is your emotional self?
2.Can you be calm even under stress?
3.Do you get along well with people?
4.What is your primary aim in going to
nursing?
Earn money or have the satisfaction of
helping people?
5. Your own objectives & Philosophy in life
will determine to a great extent the kind of
field you wish to get into.


FACTORS IN SELCTING A FIELD OF NURSING
1. kind or work to be performed
Are you prepared for the job?
Can you work under stress?
Do you get along well w/ people?
Are you interested in it?
What kinds of skills are needed? Is it
hazardous?
2. Availability of the work
Will you choose a field of nursing that is
crowded? Or where there is shortage of
workers?
3. Hours of work
How many hours a day or week do you go on
duty?
Is your work rotated on shifts?
Will you be paid for extra hours of duty you
will perform?
4. Qualifications
What are the requirements in terms of
educational qualifications? experience?
Training?
5. Opportunities for advancement
What chances do you have in being
promoted after several years of
employment?
Will they allow you to go to school if you so
desire?
Are you allowed to attend professional
meetings/seminars on official time?
6. Method of entering
Do you need an examination to enter?
Do you need someone to recommend you?
7. Earning
How much is the initial salary?
The maximum salary?
Is salary paid weekly or every 15 years?
Is additional pay given for overtime work?
8.fringe benefits
How many days of vacation & sick leaves are
given?
Maternity leave?
Education leaves?
9. other benefits
Are insurances , medicare , retirement
benefits provided for?
Can nurses participate in discussion of
condition of work?
Nurse are free to choose the field of nursing
they wish to enter
Money or salary is not the only important
factor
Most important is the ability to give ones
best , enjoy work & get along well w/ patients
& members of the health team.
Failure or success in work will depend on
how the nurse works w/ the co-workers &
their attitude .

A letter of application is important becausecit
enables the employer to judge the applicants
scholarship ability.

USEFUL POINTERS IN MAKING A LETTER OF
APPLICATION
1. USE CLEAN , WHITE LINEN PAPER

If you are working in an agency , do not use
the agencys stationery with letterhead
2. USE INK OR BALLPEN IN WRITING

You may want to type the letter if you prefer
3. USE PROPER SALUTATION

Preferably know the name of the person to
whom the letter is to be addressed.
4. OBSERVE PROPER MARGIN &
PARAGRAPHING

Use good English & correct spelling
5. WRITE IN A COURTEOUS MANNER

Ask permission before using a persons
name as preference.
After permission has been granted , write a
letter of thanks especially if the desired
position was obtained
6. ENCLOSE RETURN POSTAGE

So that the person to whom the letter is
addressed will be encouraged to reply & will
not have to spend for postage in doing so.
A LETTER OF
APPLICATION
USUALLY CONTAINS
THE FOLLOWING
FACTS:
1. SOURCE & PURPOSE
First paragraph
Contains source of information concerning
the vacancy
The nurses intent to apply to the position
May be interchanged
2. QUALIFICATIONS
2
nd
& 3
rd
paragraphs
- applicants qualifications
School or college from where he/she
graduated & year of graduation
Experience & training along the field applied
for may also be included

3. REFERENCE
At least 3 names of persons who have given
consent to the use of their names .
These persons must know the applicant well
enough in order to serve as good reference
background
PREFERRED REFERENCES:
Principals , deans , leading persons in the
community , parish priest , minister of ones
church ,professional nurse or ones former
instructor
4. A REQUEST FOR A PERSONAL INTERVIEW
If time & distance permits , is usually
indicated in the last paragraph
SAMPLE APPLICATION LETTER
PAGE:80
PERSONAL INTERVIEW
Is a face to face conference between 2
people about something
It will give both a chance to assess each
other


FOR THE EMPLOYER
It gives him/her a chance to assess the
applicants personality , alertness in
answering questions , poise , command of
the spoken language & the like
FOR THE APPLICANT
It gives him/her background of the institution
, its potential as a working place , its
philosophy & objectives , the working
conditions
An applicant sells himself/herself in an
interview
Convince the employer that he/she is best
applicant for the job

PREPARING FOR AN INTERVIEW
1. Make an appointment either by mail or
telephone

Nursing office or Personnel division
schedules time to conduct interview
On the spot interviews are given
2. BE AT THE PLACE AT THE APPOINTED TIME
Start early from your place 10-15 minutes
before the time, so you can relax & appear
unhurried.
Do not come during breaks or mealtime
If delayed , apologize & state your reason
Do not insist on being interviewed as the
person who will interview you may have
another business to attend to.
3. Know something about
the institution where you
will apply so that you can
answer questions
intelligently
4. BE AT YOUR BEST
Female
-neat , w/ a simple hairdo , moderate make
up, modest dress
Do not appear as if you are going to a
party
Use an anti-perspirant
Male
Be sure your clothes are spotless & clean
collar line
Decent haircut & be well-shaven

5. KNOCK BEFORE YOU ENTER
Greet the person whom lets you in & the
person who will interview you.
Wait until you are offered to sit before you do
so.
Feel at ease , sit properly , do not slouch
6. BRING CREDENTIALS
Registration card , residence certificate , tax
account number
Bring 1x1 photograph to enclose in a
personal data form
Fountain pen or ballpen for filling out forms
Do not borrow from the prospective employer

7. ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE JOB
It may help in deciding if you like the
position
8.THANK THE INTERVIEW FOR GIVING YOU SOME
OF HIS OR HER TIME
If there are other applicants to be interviewed
, do not delay the interview unnecessarily
9. GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO THINK ABOUT THE
POSITION
Notify the prospective employer if you have
changed your mind or have transferred to
another address.
10. If the prospective employer does not
answer , you may write a follow- up letter
stating your interest in the position

-your letter will show that you are interested
& they may give you first preference should
one occur
RETAINIING A POSITION
1. HAVE ADEQUATE knowledge &
preparation for the job
-update your knowledge through attending
seminars & reading professional literature
2. have a well developed personality

.Cultivate a pleasing appearance
Gives a good first impression
3. Develop good interpersonal relationship w/
your co-workers by:
A. enthusiastic , dedicated , sincere &
considerate to others
B. be tactful & dependable , practice self
control
- Hot headed persons frequently encounter
trouble
C. developing ability to adhere to social
amenities & being socially compatible

No man is an Island
D. having self confidence & being cheerful
See the bright side of life ,

E. offering help when needed
A helping hand eases the burden of your co-
workers.
- Entact in an island cheerful help needed

4. develop proficiency in communication,
both in oral & in written forms.
5. able to adjust to working conditions
& to life patterns characteristics of
particular occupations & communities
pakikipag-kapwa tao(ability to relate w/
others)
pakikisama(ability to get along well w/
co-workers
6. keep abreast w/ advances in medicine ,
nursing & related sciences by reading
professional literature & attending activities
of professional organizations.
CAUSES OF FAILURE
1. incompetence
Lack of the required ability & knowledge for
the particular job
2. poor interpersonal relationships
Lack of cooperation w/ co-workers ,
dishonesty , inability to get along w/ people
3. personality defects , such as imprudence in
choosing friends , insincerity , envy,
discourtesy , being too argumentative
4. inadequate knowledge in social conduct ,
too little time for relaxation & recreation
5. indifference to need for professional growth ,
always finding reason for not attending
professional meetings or joining the
professional organization
HOW TO TURN FAILURE INTO SUCCESS
Nurses who accept their limitations know
their weaknesses, try to overcome them
Those who are willing to turn their
weaknesses into assets may be more
successful
Nurses must fit into & adjust to the position
(being competent for the job ,taking it w/
pride & doing ones best at all times)
Must develop themselves professionally
through observation, staff development
programs , reading professional literature
RESIGNING FROM A JOB
Reasons:
1. seek better positions whether in the
Philippines or abroad
2. inability to adjust to the work situation ,
marriage , children. transfer of family to other
places
If possible ,nurses must keep their positions
for at least 2 years
- 1
st
year- adjusment period
- 2
nd
helping them find the field of nursing
specialty of their choice

Seek assistance in making decisions, involve
the family especially if it will, in a way , affect
them
If offered a better position, talk it over w/ the
employer an open door policy
Leave a friendly feeling towards superiors &
co-workers, a reference from them may be
needed later or one may return to the
institution or agency.
If accepting another position
- be sure it has more to offer in terms of
salary , opportunity for promotion ,
advancement or professional growth

Give advance notice, a month is usually
enough for those holding staff nurse
positions
Teaching or administrative position-
6months
Leave w/ a clean record
Clearance includes non-liability from
responsibilities
Leave in the most gracious professional
manner
WRITE A LETTER OF RESIGNATION
1. Give the date of resignation
- Good practice to complete the month from
the date the notice of resignation is filed.
- 15
th
or at the end of the month, for easy
computation of salaries, accrued leaves
2.state the reason for signing
- It is important to be courteous because the
letter is usually on file
3. Express gratitude for kindness &
consideration given during the period of
employment
- Express regret for leaving regardless of
the reasons
4. attach clearance for money , work , property
responsibilities
Never walk off from a position
Abandonement of duty
Referred to as french leaveor AWOL
(absence w/o official leave)
DISMISSAL FROM A POSITION
Reasons:
Negligence , incompetence , malpractice ,
unprofessional behavior or breach of contract
Before they are dismissed from their work
they are given due process
CHAPTER 7
CONTRACTS
Is a meeting of minds between two persons
whereby one binds himself , w/ respect to the
other , to give something or to render some
service
- is a promise or a set of promises which the
law recognizes as a duty & when the duty is
not performed , the law provides a remedy.

Usually an agreement to be paid a certain
amount of money& provided w/ benefits in
exchange for such services
KINDS OF CONTRACTS
1. FORMAL CONTRACT
Refers to an agreement among parties
involved & is required to be in writing by
some special laws.
Ex.: marriage contracts, mortgages , deeds
of sale or work contracts
2. Informal contract
Is one which is concluded as the result of a
written document or correspondence where
the law does not require the same to be in
writing or as the result of oral & spoken
discussion
3. Express contract
Is one in which the conditions & terms of the
contract are given orally or in writing by the
parties concerned
Ex.
Services offered , salary , date & time of
effectivity
Facio ut desI do that you may give
4. Implied contract
Is one that is concluded as a result of acts of
conduct of the parties to which the law
ascribes an objective intention to enter into a
contract
Clarify the terms & conditions of employment
5. Void contract
Is one that is inexistent from the very
beginning & therefore may not be enforced

6.illegal contract
Is one that is expressly prohibited by law
REQUISITES OF A CONTRACT
1. to have a contract 2 or more persons must
participate
2. the parties involved must give consent to
the contract
3. The object w/c is the subject matter of the
contract must be specified such as;
A. all things w/c are not outside the
commerce of man
B. all rights w/c are not intransmissible
C. future inheritance in cases expressly
authorized by law
D. all services w/c are not contrary to law,
morals , good customs., public order
4.