I work with two CNAs that don't drive. One (Amy) simply doesn't have a license due to a mental/physical disability since birth. The other (Kim) has a license and a car, but the car is broken down and she can't afford the repairs. Both expect a ride home from coworkers every day.
Amy often goes to a friend's house instead of to her home. Her friend's house is literally two blocks from the facility where we work. She has never even asked me for a ride, she simply waits by my car and gets in when I unlock the doors. Kim lives about three miles away and used to ask for a ride, but now she simply tells me she will be waiting for me. They do the same thing to other coworkers who drive.
It isn't a big deal because it only takes about ten or fifteen minutes to get them both home. I don't think that any of us spend much extra money on gas. I think there is just some frustration with being expected to deliver them to wherever they need to go. Neither has ever offered to pitch in for gas.
Kim is a single mom who leaves her children with her mother while she works. A few days ago, Kim's mother called her while we were on our way to her house. She was concerned because Kim wasn't home yet. I only heard one side of the conversation, but Kim made the comment to her mother, "The nurse who is taking me home didn't manage to get out on time. She really needs to be more considerate of the fact that I have obligations at home." It was a long and lousy night. I was tempted to pull over and tell her to get out (not that I ever would, but it certainly annoyed me).
All of us who take them home have similar issues. We are just seeking some advice on how we can reduce our frustration about this. One of the CNAs that gives them rides has said she is going to start charging them fifty cents every time she gives them a ride.
Also one day when someone was dropping Amy off, her car died in the parking lot of Amy's apartment complex. She ended up having to call her husband to get it moved and eventually restarted. Amy told her that her car is a piece of junk and that she got in trouble with her landlord for having a friend's car in the lot overnight. She said that from now on Amy and Kim can just walk.
isn't it funny that humans who are given a privilege will, at some point, consider it an obligation. I bet if they had to find a way they would get to work on their own or find work closer to home or near public transport.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Do you not know what coinsurance means? The insurance only pays part of the cost, and you pay the rest. When you're talking about cancer treatment, even 20% is going to be a ton of money. Are you under some impression that health insurance pays 100% of the cost of all health care?
Most people with any smarts who are on Medicare get a secondary plan to cover that 20% that isn't covered. It's much cheaper than paying the 20%.
I would assume he's thinking of when she inevitably ends up needing to be on SSDI, making her a moocher on the taxpayers...just like I'm a moocher because I'm on SSDI due to cancer.
In that case, he's talking about the majority of the country. Also, if one has worked and paid into the system, I don't consider that mooching when in need.
I would assume he's thinking of when she inevitably ends up needing to be on SSDI, making her a moocher on the taxpayers...just like I'm a moocher because I'm on SSDI due to cancer.
Now you're just taking my words way out of context. As for the fact you have cancer yourself, my deepest sympathies are for you.
It made me sad to see a mother buying multiple bottles of cheap Puerto Rican rum, plus vodka, plus four or five CARTONS of cigarettes, then boasting that she was going to consume all of them at the beach during her trip. That is irresponsible behavior. Her children are already suffering because of her "I got mine" attitude, being left in Chicago with what amounts to a stranger. Is it seriously too hard to extrapolate from this that she's not the paragon of responsibility? That when she gets sick, it won't be because of some genetic predisposition, but because she's smoking and drinking too much? And I didn't pry for any of this information, by the way - she was proudly telling anyone who would listen.
You can broadly hint that somehow I'm a prejudiced jerk, or you can see that I am concerned because the way she's living, she will wind up taking resources that should be devoted to the truly needy who got there through no fault of their own. People like you, for instance.
Wow. Even small towns have taxis, and if nothing else the two blocks person can certainly walk. I wouldn't dream of even asking if I were her, except maybe in exceptionally bad weather. 3 miles is not that far, either- pretty quick on a bicycle.
I'm curious, are they of a different culture? I know some cultures have a much blurrier line when it comes to use of other people's property and time, and that's about the only explanation I can come up with for this behavior. Or maybe that culture is from another planet...
I work with a girl that doesn't have a car that always takes a cab to and from work. She only asked me for a ride once, when a mishap happened at work and she had to spend her cab money. Otherwise she has never asked, even though we frequently work the same shift and her place is only slightly out of my way. Honestly, I'm impressed.
Have to disagree with you, some small towns do NOT have taxis or any other kind of public transportation.
I would say bring it up as a group. The comment to her was rude and a bit selfish. You do not need to be sensitive her obligations, that is her
responsibility. Tell them you cannot take them home. I would have said something as soon as she got off the phone that night. The other one with the junk car comment would have gotten a snippy one back along with a 'get a ride elsewhere' comment. Maybe a supervisor or HR representative needs to be involved
My grandfather always said "don't start something you don't intend to keep up" and you can apply that to various situations.
Once you start something this, it is hard to undo (not impossible) but you are left feeling like the bad one when you aren't really at fault for their lack of ride.
I have seen similar situations and it's amazing that when certain people have used up all everyone's freebies and sympathy...they amazingly find a way to work and that $50 dollars for whatever they NEED.
classicdame, MSN, EdD
7,255 Posts
isn't it funny that humans who are given a privilege will, at some point, consider it an obligation. I bet if they had to find a way they would get to work on their own or find work closer to home or near public transport.