Long story short, I made the decision to go back to nursing school two years ago. I've been going part-time, while working in my office job, and doing very well - which pleasantly surprised me! I love my classes and my teachers, and am an "A" student.
It all came crashing down in January, when my boss found out I was going to school, and laid me off. His parting words were "what do you care, you're leaving anyway". This was a job I had held for over five years with good reviews 
Instead of trying to find another office job, I signed up for a local Community College course to be a Personal Support Worker (equivalent of a CNA in the states, I believe). I graduated four weeks ago with honours. I was well-liked in my class, successful with everything, and so pleased when I landed two part-time jobs almost immediately (here in Ontario, Full-time healthcare positions are almost impossible to find. I knew that going in).
One job is in long term care. The other is Assisted Living. I knew there would be an adjustment period. I knew it would be soooo different from my desk job.
But I thought I would like it more!
Right now, between the two jobs, I am lucky if I get one solid day off a week. My LTC job is four hours every single morning, and then I usually work 2-10PM at the other place. I cannot cut down to one job, as I need the money (I took a significant - BIG - pay cut from my office job, although I'll be making more once I'm done Nursing School). Add to this, I still attend school two nights a week.
I've been having trouble saying no to extra shifts, as I need the money, both to live, plus to replace the $5000 of savings I dipped into to fund the four months I was not working and going to school full time.
I am a friendly, outgoing person, but the majority of the staff treat me like an idiot, resent my questions, and generally feel I'm a bother. I am run off my feet answering call bells, which puts me behind in my work, and then the other staff get angry because I "should be looking after" MY residents, when I'm standing there assisted "Her" residents because she didn't answer the bell. Then the next day they chastise me for not answering the bells that are not my assigned residents! Two days ago, cleaning up the breakfast dishes, I threw out two bowls of porridge sitting on a table. My co-worker then proceeded to ream me out for throwing out the food she was "saving" for herself and the nurse. Wait a minute, you are getting mad at ME for tossing food you were STEALING (it is certainly against the rules to eat the facility food)?
I know I am new, but I am NOT young and I've worked in plenty of different environments. I've never come across such animosity.
My husband just keeps telling me that it will get better, that I will pick it up, and it's only two years til I'm done school and will be only required to have ONE job and a little bit more authority.
On the upside, the residents seem to like me, I think I give good care (which is what sets me back, time-wise) and I really enjoy caring for them. I just don't enjoy the atmosphere!
I have made the decision to say "no" to some of the extra shifts, and take my second weekend off. I'll work during the week, but I need those days to myself. I've only been doing it for three weeks, and I feel like I've been working every day for years!
I hated my office job with a passion, but I've always gotten along with my co-workers and I'm crushed that this is happening.
Any tips other than "Ha - get used to it?". Tell me that some of you don't experience this. Tell me I'll survive the next two years until I can finish school. Tell me I'll see my husband more than twenty minutes a week at some point in the future....:)
