Resigning nurse...do I spill the beans at the exit interview

[Crazymaisienumber9]

So I've been in my specialist nurse job for about 12 years. Over this time I've been bullied, unsupported and generally treated badly by colleagues and management....much like every other nurse out there really ! Anyway I've accepted a job in another trust at a lower pay grade because I just cant face staying any longer. I'm resigning tomorrow and have to give 3 months notice. The question is do I say anything at my exit interview about certain elements of my experience and treatment, or is it better to let sleeping dogs lie. I'm 55 this year and unlikely to ever be back in this trust again.

If you don't say something will it ever change? You have nothing to lose OP, I'd seriously think about telling them.

Exit interviews are there for a purpose so yes being honest (but being tactful) is a must.

The way I look at it is if several people were being unfairly treated and a colleague left, you'd want them to say something. Same goes... speak up, it's your chance

If you can say it in a constructive way- yes. If it's not going to sound professional- I wouldn't. If the systematic bullying is documented, then I'd be bringing up everything you've tried to have changed. If you've just put up with shite for years and never taken anything further, I'd maybe loosely reference the working culture, but that would be it (for me anyway)

Does anywhere actually do anything with what they are told in exit interviews?

They've always seemed more about putting on a public performance of how much the organisation cares about staff blah blah blah but then the feedback all goes in the bin.

I would tell them exactly why you are taking a pay cut.

In my experience doing this causes you a lot of stress, and will change nothing (I am a nurse). I'm glad you have found new job, it's sad so much of this goes on in the nursing profession.

I work in HR op although not for the NHS. I have been desperate for people to be honest in exit interviews! Often I know there is a problem somewhere but I can’t act on it or do anything when it’s not a obvious issue and no one will speak up about it. As other have said, you can be honest and professional but you going on record could be just what is needed to allow someone to address things. It’s very hard to deal with an issue when all you have is rumours and whispers.

Have you raised these issues in the past? It will hold more water if you have.

If your Trusts exit policy includes paperwork for you to complete it's likely a copy will go to HR. If so it may help them build a bigger picture even if your interview doesn't go well.

Yes, definitely be honest in your exit interview. Have you raised any of the issues before? It's a shame if your exit interview is the first time your employer is aware of any of the issues you are going to raise.

I think you should speak up OP. Good for you for considering it.

Time to have your say after so long

I would tell them by putting it in a letter which you hand over at the exit interview. You can then discuss it from there. That way it's in writing and hopefully they will do something before it all happens again to someone else!

Be honest. How will they ever improve their care of staff and reduce staff turn over if they don’t know what the issues are

Your interview will help HR look at patterns and find areas which need development.

Wrote a list of bullet points to take

If you have mentioned it before I would definitely otherwise you haven’t given them a chance to change so I would let sleeping lie. Best of luck in new job.

Would you need a (not a basic 'x worked here from YY to YY' type one) actual personal business reference from them?

I agree to write it all down (concentrating on concrete examples, and practical language). If they have any published policies, point out where these are falling down/not worth the paper etc). Hand it over after you’ve spoken at the interview.

I think just enumerating the failures by voice to a person who may well know already but not be powerful enough to prompt change is a bit pointless. Kind of like vomiting on someone, you feel instantly better, but they don’t end up on your side!

Go the route that has the possibility of change (however remote) rather than just ‘getting it off your chest’. Both verbal and written together will have more impact, and leave you feeling you’ve done your best.

Good luck in your new job!

I’d assess the mood at the interview before spilling the beans fully. Say you are moving to another trust at a lower pay grade because you’ve been unhappy with levels of support from management for some time and take it from there. If they seem genuinely interested and seek more info then you can expand but they might well shut you down. If they don’t seem genuinely interested and concerned I’d keep quiet. Don’t make the next three months more difficult than it has to be unless you are reasonably sure it could make a difference in the future.

It’s all very well PP saying that’s what exit interviews are for and how will they learn and change if you aren’t honest but that’s only true in an organisation that cares about its staff and it’s development which this trust clearly isn’t. In a lot of places an exit interview is a box ticking exercise and it’s purpose is to prove to inspectors, management and funding bodies that things are well run and regulations are adhered to. The truth is that in most government funded bodies it’s more important for HR to have paperwork that proves they are doing things by the book than to expend time, money and effort trying to make meaningful change, particularly when those changes will be resisted and thwarted by bean counters.

I did.
And of course it made absolutely no difference to anything.
It’s the only exit interview I’ve ever been offered.
Also put it in my letter of resignation...and nothing.
Do it but don’t expect it to go anywhere or mean anything to anyone.

In my experience exit interviews very rarely change anything. I’ve not left anywhere on bad terms but just experience I’ve had of other people leaving.

I dream of the day I can hand my notice in at my current place, and come the exit interview I will remain quiet, it’s too late at that point and I’m on the mind set of stuff them, they’ve treated everyone badly of late and they know it.

Someone at a Trust I used to work at, sent an email to every single employee, stating exactly why she was leaving (bullying culture).
I would not recommend this but it certainly got attention.
I'm leaving my position soon and bad management decisions which have led to constant changes and demands from us (even whilst dealing with covid). None of these "improvements" has improved patient care in the slightest, just takes me away from my clinical role.

I wish you well in your new job.

I wouldn’t bother as I’ve never known anything change from them.
Just be glad you’re escaping.

It depends on when your exit interview will be. If yo have to give feedback there and then with 3 months to work out, then no I wouldn't. If you will be doing an exit interview in the last few days, then yes.

Being cynical, do you really think nurses leaving the NHS and saying why they are is really going to change the ingrained culture of the place? Surely it is too ingrained.

Will you even get an interview? I left the trust I’d worked for for nine years and they didn’t bother. I left nursing altogether it was that bad. Doubt I’ll go back. The pandemic and their response and treatment of me during it was barbaric. Wishing you luck in your new job.

I had an exit questionnaire when I left my last job and I was brutally honest about how I had been bullied, didn’t feel safe in the workplace, Etc etc as far as I know nothing has changed there (Friends still work there but employees are leaving in droves) but it felt good to get it out. It was such an awful place to work.