Help! Should I quit my job?

[opalbee]

Okay, before I go any further, I just want to say that I know this is going to be my choice in the end, but I would like to hear some different perspectives on this.

I recently got my first CNA job, which I thought would work fantastic with my school schedule. I go to school Monday through Friday, but Mon/Wed/Fri is my Intro to Chemistry class and since my professor doesn't require that we go to class, I thought it would be okay to miss every other Friday. The only other schooling I thought I would miss would be my 2 days of orientation, but apparently that's not the case.

My job has me missing every chemistry class this week, and one next week, for training. I thought that training would have occurred on the days that I agreed to work (every other weekend) and I tried asking if I could do training then, but they're only available for training during weekdays (I'm not sure why this is the case, since they're, of course, open 24/7). I'm working with other CNAs in the same role as me, so I would have imagined they would also be available to work (and train) on the weekends. They also have me missing every Friday throughout the month of March.

I'm already falling a bit behind in chemistry (I still have an A, though). I tried e-mailing my professor, telling her of my circumstances, and asking if I could come to office hours to have her clarify some of the things on the chapter we are currently on, and she told me that office hours were not for students who miss class...

I was thinking that perhaps after the first 2 months, things at my job would kind of settle down, but at that point, this semester would already be over halfway over, and that really is a lot of class to miss. It's important for me to do well in my intro to chemistry course because that will affect my GPA for next semester when I take the real chemistry class, and consequently, my TEAS score. Both of those are the criteria looked at for my nursing school.

Right now I'm leaning towards quitting. I have my husband's support, and we don't really need me to work right now. I just thought it would be nice to have extra cash, have work experience, and to improve my interpersonal skills..

The things that are holding me back-

I would feel really bad if I quit after they paid me for orientation and all the hourssss of training videos I've watched. I hate to quit so abruptly like this and leave them hanging. The second thing is that I really love the company that I work for, so far. The people there are wonderful and so are the residents! Could I ask them if I could work during summers? I mostly just have a lot of guilt over quitting so soon, and it being my very first healthcare job I'm deserting, at that.

What would you do in my position? If I were to quit, how would I do it? With a letter? Do I talk to HR or my supervisor (I've hardly spoken to my supervisor, though she does the scheduling)? I have work tomorrow, so I hope I can give them an answer by then... Anyways, hope I can get some tips and insights on this. Sorry if it was long!

[J.Adderton, BSN, MSN]

I have taught on the college level and will tell you it is difficult to pass a course without attending class. I think if college is your priority then best option is to resign.

I would write a letter of resignation to your supervisor (since this is chain of command). You can include in the letter (or better yet 1:1) your interest in working on a prn basis (summers). I would also be sure to work out a notice, but let them know you cannot miss class.

Hope this helps.

[OcMurse93]

First, you don't owe them anything. If you made your circumstances clear and they still choose to schedule you during the week and force you to miss class, then you have every right to quit. For employers like that, you're nothing but a number and they couldn't care less about your personal life.

Second, school always comes first. Is making a little extra cash/experience going to matter in the long run if you end up not passing courses?

Finally, before you quit make your intentions to your employer clear. (What do you have to lose if you're going to quit anyway?) Tell them that you are in school and that it is your priority. You can not come to work on days XYZ and if they schedule you those days you will be calling out. If they continue to schedule you those days then you will be forced to resign. If you made it clear that you would be also attending school and needing them to work around your school schedule when you hired in then you have every right to hold them to it.

[opalbee]

First, you don't owe them anything. If you made your circumstances clear and they still choose to schedule you during the week and force you to miss class, then you have every right to quit. For employers like that, you're nothing but a number and they couldn't care less about your personal life.

Second, school always comes first. Is making a little extra cash/experience going to matter in the long run if you end up not passing courses?

Finally, before you quit make your intentions to your employer clear. (What do you have to lose if you're going to quit anyway?) Tell them that you are in school and that it is your priority. You can not come to work on days XYZ and if they schedule you those days you will be calling out. If they continue to schedule you those days then you will be forced to resign. If you made it clear that you would be also attending school and needing them to work around your school schedule when you hired in then you have every right to hold them to it.

Thank you for your input!

Yeah... When I was being interviewed, the woman was telling me how great this schedule would work with my schooling and we talked about how great it would be that I'd only have to miss every other Friday. She didn't tell me that all of my training would have to take place on week days, and that I would be missing the first 3 Fridays of March.

I think I'll do what the first commenter suggested, and mention that I would like to work for them during the summer, because I really would. I would even be okay with working night shifts, which they suggested to me a few times.