DON not working with my school schedule ...

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Jun 5, 2011

Whoa.......back up the ponies there, amigo! First of all, you're assuming the DON is going to chew on you, plus you seem to think you outrank him because you've been on the job for eight months and he's only been there for one.

Guess what, the DON is your boss and it doesn't matter if he's been there for only one hour---he is in charge, and you're not. You also need to understand that your employer is not required to accommodate your schedule, especially when it takes away from resident care and puts other employees in a bind. Most companies and supervisors will at least try to work with staffers who are also students, but when employees behave as if they're entitled to special treatment because they've chosen to work and go to school, the tolerance goes away pretty quick.

It's not your employer's fault that you've taken on fulltime work, fulltime school, and a 50-mile commute. And it's not fair to the residents or the other staff who must take up the slack for you when you leave during the busiest time of the shift. Your best bet would be to take a part-time job someplace else if there are no part-time positions available at your current facility; but before you do, I'd suggest an attitude adjustment.....you need to realize that the facility doesn't "owe" you anything but a fair day's pay for a fair day's work.

volcomcna · Jun 5, 2011

I didn't say I was entiltled to any special treatment and I know the don is in charge and whatever he says goes. And obviously it doesn't matter if I've been there 8 months or not but I meant to say I am permanent and usually employers accommodate students because the encourage education. I never said I went to school full time tuesday Thursday and Saturday is obviously part time. I guess you didn't understand the part that I am toughing it out and now I can't leave work early to go to school? No other staff picks up my slack I finish before I leave and were only required to get up 2 for the 7-3 shift census is 20 so there really is no slack to pick up and last time I checked 530-7 is 2 hours and rounds are done every 2 hours and my attitude is perfectly fine I know the facility doesn't owe me anything but he's not gonna last long anyway I'm not worried administrators are always the first to go but thanks for your lovely input

caliotter3 · Jun 5, 2011

I was hired by a DON who told me that they would work with my school schedule, because she appreciated getting another eventual RN for the night shift. When this person left, a new nurse supervisor told me off when I wanted to arrange my schedule for school. This happened immediately after another nurse, who was not going to school, had been given her request for days off. Was I ticked off? You bet I was. But the bottom line is that there was no requirement that anyone work with me, in spite of the fact that I was almost an RN for their night shift and the nurse who got what she wanted was as worthless as they come. Worthless with a brown nose almost always trumps hard worker with multiple qualifications. You need to make alternate arrangements about school or find another employer that is willing to work with you.

1smrtnurse · Jun 5, 2011

First of all let me say "STOP and PRAY"!!!!!! "DO NOT" let anyone frazzle your nerves like this!! In some workplaces this is to be expected, looks to me that you may be a very good worker as a CNA and they probably do not want to loose you in this capacity. Usually this is what happens when people do not want to loose a good worker or even see you do better, they like to hold you down!! I can understand your frustration with this matter, it is not anyone's fault that you have to work as we all do, go to school as a lot of us do full-time, work full time and even drive from far away to get to school, work, and home. I have been in situations where I had to make tough choices, by this I mean I had to let a job go making more money with no benefits to get a job with benefits and less pay!!! Fortunately my supervisor did work with me on my new job to accomodate school, even the old job worked with me I was prn and they did not mind me coming in late as long as I was there and of course whenever they needed me to work overtime I did that when I could to help out because they had helped me. If you have to take a job prn position, baylor(weekends) even making less money then take it because you will "WIN" in the end when you graduate and move "UP" and "ON". My mother always told me and still does that sometimes you have to "GIVE UP SOMETHING" TO GET SOMETHING" it just depends on what it is and "HOW BAD YOU WANT IT" You will find that it will be "HARD"but getting and working for what you really want in life is not worth having if it is "EASY"!!!! You can do this "GOD" ALWAYS makes it a little easier when you look to HIM for help, so don't get frustrated with these people misery loves company and you give them the upper hand when you get upset and loose your cool, their is a solution for you in this situation you just have to stay focused on what you are doing and find it. You will find that you will have to takes less hours to get through clinicals and also for study time! This is only GOD's way of showing you that you have to make a choice in your job with less hours or don't go to school which you have already said "IS NOT AN OPTION" so it seems to me you have already made a wise decision about something so put your best foot forward and start looking for another job with less hours, you can make it on less believe me I have done it. I will be praying for you, hope this helps because it seems you are DETERMINED and a determined person "NEVER"!!!! let's anything get in their WAY!!! Read this and repeat it at work when ever you get frustrated and watch how GOD can change people and their minds: Matt 19:26.

1smrtnurse · Jun 5, 2011

@volcomcna I hope this helps you deal with this situation if you need a friend and help with anything im me ok! Been there where you are this is why I chose Excelsior to do online. I had everything including Chemistry, Ethics and Statistics for the BSN program just could not seem to get a break to get in the brick and mortar!!!

mazy · Jun 5, 2011

"Hold on back up the ponies!" I'm going to use that one in the future!

Unfortunately, it looks like your scheduling needs are not fair to the other staff at your facility. I know you think you get your work done early and that's enough but it isn't when at end of shift -- or beginning -- people are running around answering not only their call lights but yours, and covering your patients as well.

If they can't find coverage for the day shift and are down one CNA on the noc shift, that can create some serious stress and anxiety for your other co-workers too. They might also have some pressing needs to get out of work and who are now standing there wondering if THEY are going to get stuck staying, now that your needs to go have been accomodated.

I can see them trying to work with your need to leave on occasion, but doing it regularly does put some serious stress on the shoulders of your co-workers, who are working with the knowledge that they can't count on you.

You may not think your charge nurse is doing anything and should be answering your call lights, ummmm no. There is a ton of work that nurses need to do on ALL shifts and depending on what is going on with that nurse -- that you won't know about until you graduate from school and start working as a nurse -- answering call lights is more than she can handle. EVEN if in your perception that nurse is just sitting at the desk messing with paperwork.

Patients come first. Hopefully you will be able to work out a deal with your DON, but it's not a right, it would be a privilege. Best to be mindful of that.

volcomcna · Jun 5, 2011

The census is 20 and on my hall only 1 resident/ 10 uses the call light and she doesn't abuse it.

I know nurses are busy but if you have Time to check Facebook all night, you have time to help especially when our don expects nurses to answer call lights, and toilet if needed Instead of getting on the walkie and calling a busy Cna to walk to the other side of the building to answer a call light. You can't compare other facilities that have 99 beds with ours, it's 45 beds and 20 occupied. My perception is not that the nurse sits at the desk messing with paperwork, but if you are that busy, finish your paperwork and then check your Facebook AFTER. Like you say patients come first so Instead of ignoring a call light because she is passing meds she could do something about it because the medication will always be there. I have tried working out a deal; his deal is for me to find coverage without creating overtime for other employees. I don't even have time to sleep I definitely don't have time to study the schedule

Christine2009 · Jun 7, 2011

The census is 20 and on my hall only 1 resident/ 10 uses the call light and she doesn't abuse it.
I know nurses are busy but if you have Time to check Facebook all night, you have time to help especially when our don expects nurses to answer call lights, and toilet if needed Instead of getting on the walkie and calling a busy Cna to walk to the other side of the building to answer a call light. You can't compare other facilities that have 99 beds with ours, it's 45 beds and 20 occupied. My perception is not that the nurse sits at the desk messing with paperwork, but if you are that busy, finish your paperwork and then check your Facebook AFTER. Like you say patients come first so Instead of ignoring a call light because she is passing meds she could do something about it because the medication will always be there. I have tried working out a deal; his deal is for me to find coverage without creating overtime for other employees. I don't even have time to sleep I definitely don't have time to study the schedule

All I can say to you is that once you get your LVN, we will see if you will answer a call light while passing meds. FYI when you pass meds, you can not just leave the cart and tend to the pt. CNA's are put on this earth to help us nurses! We have a lot more responsibility than a CNA and there is a time limit on passing meds...30 minutes before scheduled time or 30 minutes after the scheduled time. Plus in an LTC, nurses are swamped with the pt load they have and DO have a lot of paperwork to do. If they want to check thier Facebook then they are intitled to do so...STOP BEING SO CRITICAL ABOUT WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS NOT DOING AND CONCENTRATE ON YOURSELF AND YOUR JOB. If you are that miserable there, then look elsewhere for a job that will suit your needs and schedule.

Sorry to sound so harsh, but you really need to "back up the ponies"

nctamelanurse · Jun 7, 2011

christine2009 that was very harsh!!

Christine2009 · Jun 11, 2011

christine2009 that was very harsh!!

I was not trying to sound harsh and appoligize if I offended anyone.

I just know from working in a LTC myself as a CNA, the LVN's are always swamped with paperwork, along with pt load. Sometimes the LVN's are seen "goofing" off while us CNA's are running around like chickens with our heads cut off, but I am there to do my job and not judge or complain about another one of my co-workers who is my superior because they are not answering call lights. I on the other hand, I know that when I become a LVN, I will answer a call light and help the CNA's when needed. This is what I was trying to get across.

KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2011

I was not trying to sound harsh and appoligize if I offended anyone.
I just know from working in a LTC myself as a CNA, the LVN's are always swamped with paperwork, along with pt load. Sometimes the LVN's are seen "goofing" off while us CNA's are running around like chickens with our heads cut off, but I am there to do my job and not judge or complain about another one of my co-workers who is my superior because they are not answering call lights. I on the other hand, I know that when I become a LVN, I will answer a call light and help the CNA's when needed. This is what I was trying to get across.

I think I understand where you're coming from.

When I started working as a CNA, I always thought "Oh nurses have it so easy..they just pass meds & do paperwork. Us aides do EVERYTHING!" Boy, was I wrong! I'm just finishing up my first semester in NS, but this semester showed me how much hard work nurses do. There are very few tasks that nurses can delegate to the aides. And no OP, it wouldn't be a good idea for the nurse to stop the med pass to go answer a call light- that's how med errors occur.