My job is going to hell in a handbasket. LOL. A few weeks ago, they were short one LPN, so they contracted with an agency nurse until the end of May. A week after they signed the contract, they had an LPN apply for a position and they hired her on the spot. So...now they are one LPN long. They aren't willing to break the contract with the agency nurse. To top it off, they just contracted with an agency RN as well. They are required to have 8 hours of RN coverage every day and until they got the agency nurse, the DON was the only RN available (other than a PRN RN). So...they decided to use me and one of the day shift LPNs in CNA positions until the agency nurses contracts are up. The first four nights that I was scheduled as a CNA, I was sick and I have two doctors notes and a throat culture to prove it. They got agency CNAs to cover my shifts. Then, the next night I was scheduled, they called me when I was almost there to tell me to stay home because they got an agency CNA to cover. Somehow they decided that using us as CNAs was a bad idea overall and contracted with two agency CNAs. That leaves me and the other nurse who was to work as a CNA with only one day a week.
I have never been disciplined at this facility. My 6 month review was excellent. I've been very willing to work around weird schdules and have been bounced from day shift to night shift to 8 hour evening shifts and everything in between. I've come in on days off every time they have asked except once. I have worked every holiday since I was hired and I pulled a 18 hour shift on Christmas. I have seniority over the nurse who was also going to do CNA shifts and the full time day shift nurse. I can't really figure out what made them decide to pull me off the schedule and not the day shift nurse. Yes, I prefer nights, but have alwasy been willing to cover days and they know that. The day shift LPN is married to an RN who pulls some PRN shifts and I think that is why they are going out of their way to make her happy...and she has stated on many occasions that her husband being an RN gives her a little more leeway than the rest of us.
So...I am applying at every hospital and nursing home within 60 miles of here. There is no nursing shortage in this area, so there aren't many positions available.
Right now I am feeling pretty depressed and discouraged.
