Should I quit?

[smkiya]

I just don't know what to do. I started a part-time job a couple weeks ago, and I don't know whether I should keep it. It's so hard trying to figure out hours to work because I have a 7 month old who is not in daycare and a 5 year old in Kindergarten. Dh works fulltime M-F 9-5:30, and I work my regular job on weekends. I had to get a 2nd job because they cut overtime at my regular job. Well I spoke with my manager and he has time available and could put me on the schedule if I want. It would not be overtime, but at regular pay which stinks but, I like my unit, I'm familiar with it, and I love my co-workers. This second job would place me on different units, and I'm not used to or like the way they do things. The difference in pay would only be about $16/week. Another con for the second job is that I'd have to work 3 shifts every 6 weeks on a Friday from 3pm-11:30pm. I work Saturday and Sunday from 7am-7:30pm and it is doable, but would be difficult (I'd be exhausted, and I'm breastfeeding so I don't need to tell you how full I'd be ).

Now that my manager has told me that he can give me the hours I need, it doesn't seem worth it to stay at this new job that I'm not really fond of. I originally worked full-time, working every weekend and one day during the week. When I went off on maternity leave in May, I came back in August to change to part-time (weekends only) to spend time at home during the week with my new baby and because I would have to drop off and pick dd up from school when she started Kindergarten. Now that ds is 7 months, I feel better about leaving him with someone for a day. I do feel bad about quitting though, especially so soon after I started. I'm still on orientation and the position was 'per diem', meaning I'd be a fill in on a nursing unit that was short staffed. There are many, many others who started with me and will start in a couple weeks so I'm not hurting them with staffing. I think in writing this, I have made up my mind to quit. For $16/week it is not worth it now that I am assured that I can be put on the schedule at my regular job. I would be working FT hours, but with PT benefits but I wouldn't be obligated to work that extra day because I'm only PT. So if I scheduled myself off one week, that would be ok. What do you think? How should I quit graciously?

 

[JCJRSmith]

$16 per week does not sound like it is worth the hassle. Either way, best of luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[jaminmd]

I just don't know what to do. I started a part-time job a couple weeks ago, and I don't know whether I should keep it. It's so hard trying to figure out hours to work because I have a 7 month old who is not in daycare and a 5 year old in Kindergarten. Dh works fulltime M-F 9-5:30, and I work my regular job on weekends. I had to get a 2nd job because they cut overtime at my regular job. Well I spoke with my manager and he has time available and could put me on the schedule if I want. It would not be overtime, but at regular pay which stinks but, I like my unit, I'm familiar with it, and I love my co-workers. This second job would place me on different units, and I'm not used to or like the way they do things. The difference in pay would only be about $16/week. Another con for the second job is that I'd have to work 3 shifts every 6 weeks on a Friday from 3pm-11:30pm. I work Saturday and Sunday from 7am-7:30pm and it is doable, but would be difficult (I'd be exhausted, and I'm breastfeeding so I don't need to tell you how full I'd be ).

Now that my manager has told me that he can give me the hours I need, it doesn't seem worth it to stay at this new job that I'm not really fond of. I originally worked full-time, working every weekend and one day during the week. When I went off on maternity leave in May, I came back in August to change to part-time (weekends only) to spend time at home during the week with my new baby and because I would have to drop off and pick dd up from school when she started Kindergarten. Now that ds is 7 months, I feel better about leaving him with someone for a day. I do feel bad about quitting though, especially so soon after I started. I'm still on orientation and the position was 'per diem', meaning I'd be a fill in on a nursing unit that was short staffed. There are many, many others who started with me and will start in a couple weeks so I'm not hurting them with staffing. I think in writing this, I have made up my mind to quit. For $16/week it is not worth it now that I am assured that I can be put on the schedule at my regular job. I would be working FT hours, but with PT benefits but I wouldn't be obligated to work that extra day because I'm only PT. So if I scheduled myself off one week, that would be ok. What do you think? How should I quit graciously?

I understand completely if you want to quit your new job. However, if you ever want to go back to this facility again in the future, you'll need to give adequate notice or you may not be eligible for rehire.

How much longer is your orientation? If you discuss it with your new manager, they may just decide to let you go now, so they don't waste any more money training you, kwim?

 

[smkiya]

$16 per week does not sound like it is worth the hassle. Either way, best of luck with whatever you decide to do.

Actually, the way it breaks down is I'd do a 12 hour shift per week at my regular job or an 8 hour shift per week at the second job and I'd still make $16 more at the second job. However, I'd have like 4 hours of anxiety before that 8 hour shift, so IMHO it works out to be the same...

 

[MizTink]

yep, i would just be upfront with the new manager. tell them you have something else that will just work out better for you and your family. ask how they prefer to handle it. hopefully this would leave the door open in case you ever need or want to go back there!

 

[smkiya]

I understand completely if you want to quit your new job. However, if you ever want to go back to this facility again in the future, you'll need to give adequate notice or you may not be eligible for rehire.

How much longer is your orientation? If you discuss it with your new manager, they may just decide to let you go now, so they don't waste any more money training you, kwim?

Orientation was kind of scattered. Only 4 days over 4 weeks. The first 2 days were classroom and the last 2 on the unit (1 day one unit, 1 day a different unit). I just have to do one more day on the other unit. The scary thing is that because I am per diem, after orientation I could be placed at one of 3 hospitals on any goiven shift. I'll have only oriented on 2 units at one hospital, and that scares me. What made me decide to speak to my manager was my fear that I could be potentially putting my license on the line for this per diem job. I just don't want to leave on bad terms, though I doubt I'll ever go back there to work, who knows where she will be in another 5 years. My mother always said, don't burn your bridges.

 

[jaminmd]

Orientation was kind of scattered. Only 4 days over 4 weeks. The first 2 days were classroom and the last 2 on the unit (1 day one unit, 1 day a different unit). I just have to do one more day on the other unit. The scary thing is that because I am per diem, after orientation I could be placed at one of 3 hospitals on any goiven shift. I'll have only oriented on 2 units at one hospital, and that scares me. What made me decide to speak to my manager was my fear that I could be potentially putting my license on the line for this per diem job. I just don't want to leave on bad terms, though I doubt I'll ever go back there to work, who knows where she will be in another 5 years. My mother always said, don't burn your bridges.

That's what I meant.

When you were hired, did they tell you'd be working at any of three hospitals? That is one of the reasons I'd never go per diem again. I hated floating unit to unit. I was a neuro ICU nurse and when they'd float me to transplant ICU, I was lost.

At my current hospital they jerk the per diem nurses around daily. Four hours on one unit with a full load, then 4-8 hours on another unit with a full load. By the end of your day, you've been responsible for at least 16 patients! They wonder why nurses are leaving.

 

[smkiya]

That's what I meant.

When you were hired, did they tell you'd be working at any of three hospitals? That is one of the reasons I'd never go per diem again. I hated floating unit to unit. I was a neuro ICU nurse and when they'd float me to transplant ICU, I was lost.

At my current hospital they jerk the per diem nurses around daily. Four hours on one unit with a full load, then 4-8 hours on another unit with a full load. By the end of your day, you've been responsible for at least 16 patients! They wonder why nurses are leaving.

Yes, they did tell me. I didn't think it would be that bad the way she described everything to me. But you know, what they say and what it actually is, can be very different. They are still mostly paper, Kardex and med sheets. Where I am meds are completely computerized and nursing orders are input into the computer so we just print out rounds reports. If I was consistently on one unit, I don't think it would be that bad, but the way they do things (not only that), I just would not feel very comfortable. I spoke with some nurses on the floor on my first orientation day on the unit, and that is what prompted me to have a talk with my manager....

 

[wdwfan16]

IMHO it is to soon to quit. Keep the job the way it is now and finish out the school year and summer the way you are. In the fall, when your son is over a year and your daughter is in 1st grade then reaccess your employment needs. This would be a good time to say your 2nd job does not work with your current family schedule.

 

[Pembo]

Your last post is what you say...this job is not going to work out for me. I am not comfotable with this different way of doing things.

Be honest... and do whats best for you and your family. They come first, money is second