Facility closing...pregnant...freaking out! HELP!

[rierie]

Okay tonight I found out that the facility I am working in will be closing it's doors within 2 weeks. We never recieved our permit from the state and have been unable to bill for services to inpatients since opening in the spring of 2007. It was no ones fault but the employees are reeling. I am 5 months pregnant with my first child. I live with a boyfriend who is supportive no matter what happens but he is a police officer and makes less than $25,000/yr. We can't make it on his income alone. The last day of work I will lose my insurance. I refuse to get married only to have insurance. I have used all my PTO on the holidays to spend with my family expecting to use my sick time for maternity leave in May. I will lose all of my sick time (3 months worth). There will be no severence pay and they are not required to give any since we have so few employees and since it was a new facility. I may be able to transfer to another facility with this company but that means leaving school. I would be starting RN (LVN-RN transition) school in the fall after having the baby. Now all that may change.

Do I take a transfer in the same company that is having financial difficulty to keep my sick time while moving 10 hours from where I currently live? Do I apply for government assistance (food stamps, WIC, unemployment)? If so where do I start??? Do I move home with Mom (uuuuugggggg!) to Colorado and change my license over just to work in a nursing home? Do I just suck it up and take any other job? I am an LVN with 11+ years of hospital experience. I don't think I can settle for just any job... I am in South Texas and the employment for nurses here flat out sucks to put it bluntly. Most employers here have high turn over rate for good reason. I really was wanting to finish school and move on with my life. I am unable to qualify for any loans this semester. I will qualify for much more in the fall but I know we can't hold out until then. We have nothing for the baby yet. This was just so unexpected. I'm not sure what to do. My head is spinning. Thanks so much for your support. I love coming here to read everyone's advice and help when I can. Please respond with anything helpful...

[Music in My Heart]

Okay tonight I found out that the facility I am working in will be closing it's doors within 2 weeks...The last day of work I will lose my insurance... There will be no severence...

Oh, Jennifer, I'm so sorry. I've been through similar transitions though never at such a vulnerable stage. It sucks no matter what.

Do I take a transfer in the same company that is having financial difficulty to keep my sick time while moving 10 hours from where I currently live?

Personally, I wouldn't. If the company is sick then you need to make a change no matter what and it sounds like the time is now. This is especially true if you have form of support where you are.

Do I apply for government assistance (food stamps, WIC, unemployment)? If so where do I start???

Unemployment - Absolutely. Today. Now. Every day that you don't sign up is costing you benefits. Go to your state's website and you'll probably find a link to the unemployment office. Here in Cali, you can do the whole thing online.

Do I move home with Mom (uuuuugggggg!) to Colorado and change my license over just to work in a nursing home?

Well, if you can't support yourself and you have a good relationship with mom, I'd certainly consider it. I actually did it myself for a few years and it proved to be a wonderful experience, one that I value even more since she died a couple of years ago.

Do I just suck it up and take any other job? I am an LVN with 11+ years of hospital experience. I don't think I can settle for just any job.

Bluntly, YES. I know it's a lousy position to be in but you're in a position where you really need a job and insurance. From personal experience I'll say that you can do anything for a while.

I'm so sorry that this is happening to you at this time. It's a lousy place to be and I wouldn't wish it on anybody. You probably need to focus on:

• Staying healthy - physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Actively practice stress-management techniques. You probably already know but maternal stress has been definitely linked to pre-term labor. Take care of yourself.
  • Eat well.
    
  • Rest.
    
  • Stay in a routine (Get up as usual, shower, dress normally) - this helps fight situational depression

  [*]Sign up for unemployment and whatever expectant-mother programs exist in Texas.

  [*]Make a budget.

  [*]Start looking for work.

  [*]Figure out where you stand with the BF and decide how much you want to stay where you are. Look elsewhere for work, if that's appropriate (for what it's worth, cops out this way make way, way more than $25,000 per year so maybe you both should be looking to move).

Do you have a support network there where you are? If not, you might consider (depending on your relationship) heading back to Colorado. Having support with a young baby is really important.

Man, I wish I could offer up something actually useful. I'm just so, so sorry that you're going through this. Keep your chin up, though. Things will work out over time...they always do.

[rierie]

WOW!! I was a bit nuts then huh? I was just looking back at my posts and saw this. I wish I could have told my old self that it would be okay and believe it.

Update:

PRN job for a month, took a new job offer in Dallas a month later...had a gorgeous healthy baby boy (on COBRA insurance). When he was 6 months old the Hospital that paid me so well and moved me to Dallas claimed bankruptcy and didn't pay all of staff. We found out they were also pocketing our medical insurance that was taken out of each check for approximately 3 months. I have never seen so much instablility in nursing until this happened. Looking back at the economy at this time for everyone I feel lucky that I have been able to find employment. When that happened I was offered a teaching position for clinical instructor at a nursing school in Dallas. It has been such a great change...still have stress but different. Been there 2 1/2 years now. Had a 2nd little boy and got married to the great guy that has been there through it all. Everything really does work out in the end! Thanks for your advice and empathy. It is really appreciated.

Also I never had to apply for unemployment or move in with Mom!