Seeking RNs' input on a CNA job dilemma

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Jun 4, 2016

This trip sounds very important to you. Did your employer say why they couldn't grant the time off? Did you request it far enough in advance to get it approved (some companies require a specific amount of time beforehand for approval)? Could you switch shifts with another CNA to cover your shift who may not be working during your trip?

As far as would it hurt you for getting another job in the future, as long as you leave on good terms with at least the required amount of notice as dictated by your facility (most CNAs in my area are 2 weeks, nurses in Assisted Living 30 days) then I cannot see how it could hurt you. There could be a variable amount of reasons for resigning if it came down to it. I think if you are willing to quit working for the facility in order to go on a trip you probably have more that just that reason for being willing to resign. I've seen people cut back on hours or leave and do something else in their field while going to school because it offered more flexibility with their school schedule. Can you afford to quit your job?

Don't make a quick decision. Think things through and weigh out the pros and cons of your decision. Only you can know if its worth resigning from your place of employment now. Leaving with notice and on good terms should not hurt you chances of employment elsewhere.

inprocess · Jun 4, 2016

You're right--this hasn't been the easiest place to work. I've had many days with no breaks. I had heard that this facility didn't treat its staff well, and that seems to be the case. The supervisor yells at people, and a couple of weeks ago some CNAs (not me) threatened to walk out. As to my time-off request, I did offer to swap shifts with someone else, but that was denied too. I hate the thought of bailing on the residents, though.

Ruas61, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2016

Unless there are few places in your area to find a job as a CNA- give notice, go to the reunion, and get another job.

Emergent, RN · Jun 4, 2016

This place is probably hard up for staff. My advise is to tell them you resign, but you'd like to continue as a Per Diem/Pool worker.

My daughter worked last year at a memory care place, she wanted to do a summer sales job out of town, so she went per diem a month before she left, finished up her snowboarding job, picked up a few shifts at the care job, and the door is wide open when she gets back to town in the fall.

TiredKitten · Jun 4, 2016

As long as you give at least two weeks notice, you should be fine.

That being said, I'd be concerned about working for an employer that won't even let you swap shifts with someone. Especially if you only work one day a week. One of my closest friends works as a CNA in a hospital full time and she has swapped shifts with people several times recently for personal reasons on both people. As long as someone is willing to swap with you, it shouldn't matter to the assisted living since they will still have someone working that day.

On another note, think about your family and how often you see everyone. If you don't go, and something happens, are you going to have major regrets over not going?

I say this because I was in this exact scenario working as a CNA while attending nursing school. I had class and clinical during the week, and worked the weekends. A close uncle got sick with cancer and I kept putting off making the 10 hour drive back home to visit him. Nursing school is pretty unforgiving over missing time, so I planned to go on a weekend, but work kept saying they would be short if I didn't come in. I decided to go up after the semester ended, but he caught pneumonia and died a couple of weeks before that. So I have regrets over letting work guilt trip me into working instead of seeing him one last time.

cleback · Jun 5, 2016

I can understand them denying vacation time, since you have't been employed there long yet and you only work one day/week, but that's crazy that they wouldn't let you trade shifts. Trading shifts is pretty much a standard in nursing.

I would look into seeing whether you can still work for them per diem; however, some facilities I know have policies about how soon after hiring employees can change their FTE status.

Either way, it doesn't sound like management is willing to work with employees (or at least very clear about their expectations). That's not sustainable. I would look for another job.

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Jun 5, 2016

If the reunion was "previously arranged", that could have been discussed at your time of hire. July is a busy time for requests off (with a holiday weekend thrown in there, too), and as a new employee, I can imagine that you'd have less of a chance being approved than someone with more seniority. I'm guessing that the shift-swap was denied because it would cross weeks and give you both overtime hours?

As for your question of how it will affect your job seeking in the future, that depends. Quitting after a few months isn't great, but what does the rest of your job history look like? If it's pretty stable, this job probably won't matter too much.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2016

Get a new job , tell them about your dates that you must have off and get them to agree to it in writing, then quit.

NOADLS · Jun 11, 2016

Call in sick on those days. I doubt they'll fire you. You can keep your job and take those days off. Even if you do get fired, you are in no worse of a position than you would have been otherwise.

amoLucia · Jun 12, 2016

Call in sick on those days. I doubt they'll fire you. You can keep your job and take those days off. Even if you do get fired, you are in no worse of a position than you would have been otherwise.

This may not work because management already knows that OP wants the day off. Even a dispensation from the Pope prob wouldn't even count because they know!