Agency client offered me a job. What would you do?

[dualstar]

I have been working for a caregiver company for about 3 months. The pay is crappy (min wage) but right now its so hard finding a job in CA you have to take anything. I worked for a week for a family doing part time care who had just signed up with the agency. The family fell in love with me and wanted me to stay buy I was already assigned to someone else (just happened to be picking up extra hours until they found them a steady caregiver). This was about 3 weeks ago.

Well today I ran into the daughter of that client at the grocery store. She told me that she ended up getting rid of the agency because she hated how almost every day they would send someone new and the last person DROPPED HER DAD. She said it must have been fate that she ran into me today because her dad LOVED asked about me all the time and they would love to have me back.

She said she called the agency for nearly two weeks and asked for me but they kept saying I was unavailable....funny since I am always calling them asking for work and there never was any. Anyways, she told me they were paying the agency $18 an hour (HOLY SMOKES....agency was paying me $8). So to take her number and think about it and if I want a job then to call her.

Well there are a few issues.

1. I still work for the agency (very part time ughh)

2. She is looking for full time care. I am a full time nursing student so I can't do mornings, only 3pm-11p

On the flip side, I am a single mom and money is VERY VERY VERY tight. I was thinking if I took the job part time and just charged her $15 this would make a world of a difference money wise for me.

what would you do? I told her I would call her back next week.

[xxkmpxx]

I would do it.

[Mina E.]

Do it...try it out for a month and see how it fits your schedule. You might have to study while your client takes a nap or is alseep.

[PalmHarborMom]

I would definitely find out about liability before taking the job. Most agencies have RN's that you can call if a problem arises that is outside the scope of your license. That will no longer be available to you, so who will be responsible for anything that comes up? Maybe if the patient sets something up with their doctor so you could give them updates... then I might consider it. Even then I would make sure that I purchased an insurance policy. It is great that you have the opportunity to earn more money, just keep yourself protected (and any future licenses).

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

I would definitely find out about liability before taking the job. Most agencies have RN's that you can call if a problem arises that is outside the scope of your license. That will no longer be available to you, so who will be responsible for anything that comes up? Maybe if the patient sets something up with their doctor so you could give them updates... then I might consider it. Even then I would make sure that I purchased an insurance policy. It is great that you have the opportunity to earn more money, just keep yourself protected (and any future licenses).

Big time... make sure you're covered and that you have some adequate backup. Should something arise that is out of your scope, you want to be able to call on a pre-set resource. I don't know if your agency has anything like that set up. Another issue is that the agency you work for may have a policy where an employee may not "quit" to work for a "former" client and expect to still be considered re-hire eligible with that agency later.

This is not something you should just simply jump at. Consider it well. Yes, the increase in pay could be considerable, but you must weigh the negatives against future employment. Tread very carefully. Very, very carefully.

[realitycheck2013]

I agree with what most of these posters said. Take into consideration the legal aspects. You'll be on your own. I was offered a job like by a friend for her older friend, but I turned it down. BTW, I am unemployed, looking for a CNA job, and I wouldn't even touch it. Once you're a CNA, the whole game changes.

It's better for you to stick with that 8 dollars an hour than to risk losing your certification and any chances of becoming an LVN or an RN. If you want some more money, then invest into an LVN program.