Wondering if I should stop working as a CNA

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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I recently left my old agency for a new one, because they were only giving me work every 3 months ( just one client for one day, that another CNA chose not to work ). It took me a while to find the agency that I'm currently in the owner made me sign a contract , which says I could not join another agency for 6 months when I start working for them . At first I was called for a lot of jobs, then I only work two days , then something happened to my client , so now I currently have one job for one day which he has added 6 more hours for that day. My boss has promised me other clients when i first started working for him only for him , but they all fell through I would ask him about it and he would say, he still hasn't heard back from them yet . He had recently promised me another job with another client so far, I have not heard a news about wither or not I will be assigned to this client . Plus the pay is very low I hardly make anything , I made more money when I worked at the grocery store and at my previous agency (when they used to gave me a lot of jobs) . I'm wondering if, I should just leave the CNA profession ,and just go work at a grocery store to make more money . In fact it seems like most of the agencies in my town are doing this to a lot of CNAs, I feel like I'm being used , I went from getting a lot of jobs to just only having one job . Should I just look for another agency and hope for the best or should I go work in the store and stop being a CNA . Plus it doesn't help that my parents are down my throat everyday because this job doesn't make enough money even though I always give my share of rent on time . I was hoping that my boss would give me a chance since I am a very hard worker but it seems like that doesn't count anymore plus I wanted to work for this company when I become a nurse in the future but since they are treating me this way as now I don't think I will work for them as a nurse in the future .

I wished I never signed that paper and I'm wondering if they can tell if I'm working for another agency .

Do what you have to do in order to support yourself based on your investigation of other avenues of employment in your area. How many agencies are there? Why don't you go to a long term care facility for steady work if that is what you need? Yes, it is more difficult, but it is a steady paycheck. If the grocery store job is what it takes to be gainfully employed, then make that choice. But research all of your options. The non-compete clause that you signed most likely can not be enforced but it would not hurt to run it by an employment attorney.

Specializes in Long term care.

Talk to your current boss again and be very honest. Tell him you cannot continue to work for him if he can't give you more hours, then follow through if necessary. I bet he will find something just to keep you.

Be willing to pick up for call outs and vacations.

I don't think you should quit being a CNA since and training/certification is always valuable. You may need it in the future.

It is my experience that you DO NOT have to sign the agreement regarding working for another agency. If they need you and have available hours to offer you, they will let you skip it. They just want you to not take any trade secrets (forms, ideas) with you to another agency. They also want you to be available to only them because it's typical for a home care agency to have more clients than CNAs to work and if they can't fill a shift they have to pass it to another agency.

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