help! new lpn grad,thinking about quitting:((

[cherielpn23]

hi heres the backstory: im new grad lpn, just got hired about a month ago in a nursing home. they started me out with $18/hr, which is pretty good compared to other nursing home facilities in my area, esp. being a new grad. i work mostly weekends and some weekdays if ppl call off....of course just starting out, esp in the field itself, is pretty rough. but things are getting better, im more acquainted with the patients, and my coworkers are absolutely amazing! they have been so patient and helpful to me and i appreciate that so much!

but heres my real issue: before i got hired, i laid it out to the DON which days i am unavailable to work for religious reasons, and i assumed they would consider that once they hired me....after all they could have sent me on my way if i didnt meet their requirements as far as the days they need me(unless they were desperate?) but it seems like lately, they have not respected my requests. my religious beliefs comes before this job, and it seems like they are putting me in a position to choose between the two by scheduling me on days i have my religious services!

so today i contemplated leaving this job, perhaps finding another elsewhere, but as new grad (having no exp at all), im asking all the exp &wise nurses here if quitting this job at this point would be a smart move? or should i wait for a certain time period to go by first ?

otherwise, im so grateful to have this job! the company i work for is one the best in my area, and although its been rough (30 patients on the regular !! :S ) everyone tells me everywhere else in the area is no better, and given their exp, ill take their word for it. everyone also advises me that working in a nursing home in the beginning as a new grad is the way to go to gain exp. but if i leave this job right now, the next best thing in my area is probably homecare( but theres not much exp to gain and they tend to be unstable, atleast the ones in my area, when your case dies, thats it.)

any advice for me????? (, in the meantime, im starting to look for other openings

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

I would definitely talk to the DON again. Offer her a 'trade' of one of the days that others want off a lot, to get your days off for your religious services. I used to trade working every weekend just to have a consistent schedule. Give them something they want, and see if that helps....otherwise, don't say anything, but see what else is around. :) I know jobs are hard to get, but at the same time, spiritual issues are important as well.