Going from part time to 'on call'.....

[js9798]

hi everyone! this is my first time on here and i'm sad i didn't find this valuable resource earlier, there were many times i needed it.

i am just looking for some advice, but before i ask the question, i'll provide a little background info:

i am just recently divorced, it was final a year ago. i have four kids between the ages of 5 and 12. their dad and i share custody, though i have them more of the time. i was a stay at home mom the entire time i was married, over 12 years. i had some prior college, but no degree, so i was really scared to be out on my own. i decided right before i moved out that i would take the cna course at a local tech college. i had had many different friends throughout the years tell me that i should go into nursing, though i must admit, it never really crossed my mind and i didn't think i would like it.

so i took and passed the course. the last week was clinicals and was so worried because i kept telling myself that no matter what, i will never work in a nursing home! well.... to say the least, my clinical experience was a life changing experience. i was hooked and i loved every second of it. i passed my state tests the last day of my clinical and found a job a few months later at a ltf. i enjoyed the work tremendously, but it was far away from where i lived and when i got a job just a half mile from my house, i took it. this wasn't a ltf, it is an assisted living facility.

now, i am one of the few very fortunate women in my position that was granted liberal child support and alimony, so i could make it without working, it would just be tight. so i worked part time, just every wed 4-9 and every other weekend 2-1030. it wasn't bad at all until i started school for nursing. since then, i have been so stressed out and feel like i am being pulled in every direction.

now, let me say, i love my job. i find such fulfillment in it and look forward to going to work. however, i was working on the the weekends my ex has my kids, which means no daycare, but, those weekends were eaten up with my working and i needed those times to get caught up on homework, housework, etc. i don't have any family near me, so there is no one to help with anything.

the place i work is great, as far as my co workers and the residents. the upper management though is not so great. anyways, we are always short, always. i can't even count anymore how many of my weekends i either worked longer or put in doubles. well, things were starting to get to me and i felt like i was having a nervous breakdown. i knew that something had to give. i didn't want to give up school and i wanted to get good grades. i couldn't give up my kids, lol (not that i ever would, just kidding). so, the only thing i can give up right now is work.

but, i'm just heartsick about it. i really do love my job. the residents are terrific and there are a few who will be very sad when they find out i put my notice in. one of the ladies keeps track of my schedule and asks for me when she knows i will be working.

i asked the girl that does the scheduling if i could just go on call, and she said no, they have too many on call already. that doesn't make sense to me. we do have two or three on call, but even with them, only one of them is able to consistently put in hours and we are still short all the time.

so, my question is this: should i go in and try to plead my case for going on call? i was told my nurse would be given the final decision and i really like her and i think i might have a chance at convincing her, but i don't know if i should. should i just let it be? i just cry at the thought of not working there, but i felt like i had to make the decision for myself and my kids. my main long term focus is getting my nursing degree.

sorry it's so long... any advice would be greatly appreciated.

thanks, jen

[caliotter3]

Why couldn't you take a leave of absence then talk to your manager before you come back and request a more limited schedule? Most of the time they should be willing to work with someone in order to keep a good worker.

[windmill182]

First off, I just want to say that I feel for you. You seem to have a lot of passion in what you do. I would say that talking to your nurse couldn't hurt? I always remind myself that when you need to ask for something, the worst someone can say is "No." Have you asked your employer how its possible to have too many on call when you think they dont have enough?

I really wish I had an answer for you. Just stay strong. Everything will work out.

[js9798]

Thank you both for your responses. In response to Cailotter.... I could maybe try that route, though I doubt they would be very receptive to it since I only work part time.

And Windmill thanks for your support. I already called and left a message for my nurse letting her know I wanted to talk to her, so hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to.

This whole thing just drives me crazy... I mean, we are always short, and we have only about 15 scheduled staff as it is. And at any given time one or more of them has requested time off for something and we usually run short because there is no one to cover them. There are some girls who have over a 100hrs a paycheck! Only two or so, and if we lost one of them, we'd really be hurting.

There is just so much red tape at all these facilities, it is so frustrating. You would think that their main concern is just keeping good staff (which are hard to find).