Asking for a raise/review when per-diem and feeling annoyed(long)

[pnkgirl25]

I have been with my job for a little over a year. I work in residential mental health and am overnight on-call. The company I work for has different "houses" that treat different conditions and I tend to float between 5 different houses. I work only overnights so I am always working alone and don't have a manger to report to unless I have a problem. In all honesty the only time I communicate with a manager is when they call or e-mail and ask me to work/...a few of them I don't even know their names.

The main person who hired me left the company 3 months after I started and turn over has been really high (all 5 houses have had 1-2 different managers since I started since they mostly hire MFT interns). There are only 4 people here (between all the houses) that were here when I started.

I recently graduated with my LVN and am waiting to take the NCLEX. I spoke to one of the employees during shift change and she just happened to mention they were short LVN's and CNA's and would be hiring and that I should apply. I sent an email to the manager of that house explaining I have been with the company for a year, recently graduated and would love to be considered for the oncall LVN position or full time overnight CNA position.

5 days went by and she never responded to my e-mail. The other day she finally calls me but it was to ask me if I could cover a shift (CNA shift). I told her I had no problem covering the shift and asked her if she had received my e-mail regarding the LVN position or the full time CNA position. She said yes she got it but said she didn't know how it would work because she was not sure if they could do split pay meaning pay me LVN pay when I work as an on call LVN and CNA pay if I work CNA. She said she would "try" to look into it.

So, I work the shift. A week goes by and again I hear nothing. Yesterday she calls me and asks if I can pickup another shift..(no mention of the e-mail). I again agreed. Well I come in to work and I'm doing my charting and I see a folder laying out. I open it thinking it was a client file and I see its new hire paperwork for an LVN and a CNA. The odd thing is the CNA is starting at $2 more then what I am being paid now and has ZERO CNA background (her resume was also attached).

Now I'm feeling kinda annoyed and ****** because I have been busting my butt picking up shift after shift for this lady and she does not even consider me for the position and on top of that hired someone for the position I am ALREADY working on call for and pays them $2 more then me.

While I understand she was not the person who hired me I still feel kinda cheated on the pay. Now my question is how do I go about asking for a review and a raise since I don't have a manger to report to and no one see's my work because I work alone. I'm starting to feel like I have no connection with anyone because I'm just the girl they call when they need a shift filled.

I really enjoy my job and would love to stay here however I feel I deserve more money. I took a pay cut to begin with when I took the job but at the time it was the only thing I could find that would fit in with my school schedule.

Anyone have any ideas on what to do?

[pnkgirl25]

anyone?

[verene, MSN]

Definitely ask for a review at some point in time. If they don't do formal reviews, just ask a manager if you can meet with them to go over your current work and what you can do to do your job better. Also - keep your own documentation of things you do when no one is around. It's unfortunate, but unless people see you doing the work they won't recognize it. At my last (non-medical) job I kept a list of major projects I'd accomplished, new skills I'd mastered, and any thing extra/unusual that would look good with dates and a brief description, that way when out twice yearly reviews rolled around I'd have something concrete to show my manager. It made a big difference because saying "I'm doing a good job" is one thing, saying " and here on march 15th" I took charge of X situation and saved the company $5K by my work" is much stronger. You can also use this in asking for a raise, by showing how valuable you are to the company.

[bluescrubs16]

Honestly I would focus on completing the NCLEX and then start job hunting. With that much turnover in just one year at the management level it tells me something is truly wrong with this company and their administration. Unless you really, really love the work you do I wouldn't stick around on what appears to be a sinking ship. Find a position that will pay you commensurate to your experience and skill. Hang in there!