It's The Grim Reaper Charlie Brown

Ever hear that expression, "lowering the boom"? It's pretty descriptive of the way I felt tonight when my dear, sweet DON told me, ever so gently, that I might want to be prepared for lean times ahead: Our census has been dropping for weeks, and the numbers aren't going up any time in the foreseeable future; ergo, nursing hours are about to be cut. Big time. Like instead of being scheduled for four shifts per week, I might be lucky to work two. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

I know it's just a bit of rotten luck that can't be helped; the other nurse who works in that section has got YEARS of seniority over me, and she wants to work as much as she possibly can. But it also means that I'm going to have to look for another job---again---because I can't live on two shifts per week. There's no stinkin' way...especially not with a husband who is woefully underemployed, working at best 30 hours per weeks for minimum wage, and whose prospects for anything better lie somewhere between slim and none.

I don't want to leave. I love my job, love my co-workers, the residents, the schedule...it's all as close to ideal as it gets in this cynical age. But I don't know what else to do. Rumor has it that our prospects will be vastly better once the other nursing home in town closes down in September, but that seems awfully far away when you're looking at the possibility of being unable to pay your bills for three long months. I've done without cable, phone, even electricit...but I certainly don't recommend it.

So, what to do? I'm not laid off...at least, not yet, but that might come at some point if the census keeps heading into the dumper. I may be popular and well-thought-of at work, but I feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop, as if the Grim Reaper were standing at my elbow drooling in anticipation of the moment when someone says "Sorry, but I've got to ask you to leave your locker key at the front office." I haven't been there long enough even to HAVE a locker yet. That's what makes this so frustrating: I have no seniority---most of the nurses have been there for years (hence the reason why there are no lockers available). There are only three nurses with less time in than I have, and they're first in line once layoffs begin...and they WILL begin. What we don't know is where---or with whom---they will end.

I don't want to jump ship, but when management as good as ours is running around doing the modern equivalent of rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic and we're STILL sinking...well, the chances of keeping my job just don't look all that great from where I sit, and I've never been much for playing things by ear.

Ah, well, looks like I'd best dust off the old resume and put out some feelers. Just not today---my son graduates from high school, and I will not spoil his big day by giving him something to worry about besides the possibility of tripping on stage in front of 40 gazillion people when he steps up to receive his diploma.

But I'm worried, yes I am, and at fifty I am not looking forward to starting over yet again.

Wish me luck.

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Was it you who heard hospice calling? Listen closely...

This is not a world where we women in our 50's become meaningless in the greater scheme of things. I know there is something just right for you, waiting to be found.

Yes, I'm the one who wants to move on to hospice nursing one day. Of course, my luck being what it is, our local hospice isn't hiring right now, but they invited me to put in an application, resume, and a letter of interest anyway. Sounds like a pointless exercise to me, because I know what gets done with all of that stuff---I've had a few file drawers of my own! :rolleyes:

Think I'm going to wait a week or so to see how things play out before I get too antsy; I haven't been asked to stay home yet, but then I'm not even scheduled till Monday evening---this is the longest stretch of days off I've had since I've been there. Thank God our state tax refund came in today; it wasn't an enormous sum, but it'll give us a bit of a cushion at a time when we can really use it. Our son is also starting CNA classes soon, ironically at a time when there's more of a need for them than there is for licensed nurses, and if he does well in the course he'll be hired at the same facility where I work; needless to say, this gives me even more of a reason to stay put if I can.

Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

We can but hope that Obama and Congress can get thier act together and find a way to fund health care in this country. It's rotten timing that we get a president that wants to see real health care reform when ANY health care is becoming a luxury for many Americans with the current economic climate. It's our health care institutions that are getting squeezed- and nursing is getting squeezed out.

Specializes in Mostly Peds.

I understand your situation fully. Have you ever considered Home Health Nursing?

I love it!!!! And I too am in my 50's!

Good Luck and God Bless!!!:nurse:

As I'm reading this I'm wondering if I should even bother going to nursing school in August. I'm going to be taking on some hefty debt in order to do so and HATE to think (and scared to death) there would be nothing out there for me when I finish.

Someone commented that CNA's are currently in demand. If this is an ignorant question forgive me but, can an RN or LPN work as a CNA if there is a position open? I'm figuring some money is better than no money coming in. ???

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

My advice is: GO FOR IT!! The recession won't last forever, but the need for nurses will, especially with us Baby Boomers getting older by the minute. We're going to need someone to take care of us, because our generation is fighting the clock and we will NOT go gently into that good night, you can bet on it.

And yes, a licensed nurse can most assuredly work as a CNA, and sometimes it actually happens in long-term care; but generally you're hired on as an LN and get paid LN wages even though you're doing CNA work.

No kidding. I dutifully sent out a resume yesterday to a radiation oncologist's office, because I have to document that I am searching for work while I am drawing unemployment. I doubt if I will ever hear back from them, because I have no back office experience.

As for home care and hospice, I have had enough driving over Hell's Half Acre for over 20 years. Even if I still wanted to, I no longer have a car to do it with.

Remember my car that my sister and BIL's friend was going to get fixed? Well, after three different mechanics and

$3,200.00 later, it still is not running right. I think the transmission is shot, which will cost another 3K to

replace. I have to pay this guy back and I have no more money to put in it....period. Quite frankly, I am ready to

have it towed to a junkyard. At least I won't have to keep paying insurance and taxes on it.

Do what I am thinking about doing: Get certified as a Medical Coder. We can both work from home and not have to worry about how we are going to get there or antagonize our tired, worn out bodies any further.

You might want to do some research on medical coding before you leap; Dont just talk to schools that will tell you how great it is. My sister researched it, including talking online to a coder that worked in a building with 300 others in the philippines.(off-shored). The company also had doctors working there that did nothing but read x-rays that were sent to them on-line from the US/Cananda.

She also actually went to several facilities and talked to people in person. Can you talk to people already working in that area? Not just one, but a few, someone that has actually been there for a number of years?

I am so sorry this is happening to a group of people who dedicated themselves to care for sick and vulnerable patients. It just isn't right.

I am sorry to say this is happening many places. In our unit if we are busy we work are heads off. :bowingpurIf it is slow

RN's have to start going home to the point it is almost unsafe..if the shift gets busy later it is tuff on the one

left here.....I find it had to swallow. I am held to my three 12's a week- but it is OK for them to send me home any time they wish...with out pay- or we have to use all our vacation time up:nono:

I hate to see where nursing is going !:nurse:

Another thought would be and I think it depends what state you are in, you often can collect partial unemployment if you are cut back in hours. It is worth looking into as a cushion should you be cut back so much that you can't make ends meet. Hope it all works out for you!!

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Well, my DNS seems to have found a way to keep me working, at least from week to week while the census is down. Last night I did my first shift in six months as the medication/treatment nurse on the subacute/rehab unit; of course, I was VERY slow and felt overwhelmed with all the PRNs, and I didn't sit down all night!!! This is no job for an old woman like me---I swear, I'll never complain again about how hot it is on my unit!----but it's better than losing the hours entirely, even though it kicks my butt.

The nurse who was working my unit while I slaved away on the opposite end of the building totally refuses to do this position, and I don't blame her---she's got about fifteen years on me, and seniority to boot, so they don't even ask her. She is, however, willing to work all shifts, while I can only do evenings or days (it takes me two full days to recover from a noc shift, so I don't do them at all), so I guess it will all even out.

Specializes in Perinatal Clinical Applications.

I hear what you are saying and feel your sympathy.

Now is your time to shine and be indispensable. Perhaps reconsider those shifts and availability? You can only make yourself shine!!

(Not many of us embrace those night time hours, but survival must be considered.)

:nurse:I have always loved being a nurse. Today I am ashamed of being a nurse.