Would you quit this job?

[stefspets]

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I am working as a CNA at a rehab facility, and I have been here about a year. It wasn't too bad when I started--the patient load was really good, we don't have to shower our patients (we have a shower aide), and it seemed like the DON and administration were really supportive.

Now, it has become obvious to me that the administration/DON will say anything to pacify you, but they won't actually do anything to solve the issues that arise. They are not particularly supportive of the nursing staff. They don't follow protocols with isolation, they don't inform the aides when a patient has an infection that we should really be aware of (MRSA, VRE, C diff, etc), and the worst part is that the patient load is unrealistic. It's probably typical for this type of facility, but today I had 14, most of which were total care. A year ago I would have had 11 and only a few would have been total care.

I feel like I should stay until I interview, so that I can say I work in healthcare. I am worried about how it would look to quit a job in healthcare while applying to medical school.

On the other hand, the job is causing me a lot of stress now, where before it was pretty manageable. I can't complete the work they want me to complete. I feel overwhelmed and the past few days I have broken down in tears in the middle of my shift. I am not giving my residents the quality of care they deserve because it is impossible with my current patient load. I think my reasons for leaving, if I do, are legitimate, but I need an outside perspective.

If I find another job, I will definitely leave, but if I can't, I am not sure what I will do. What would you do in my shoes?

 

[TriagePreMed]

I would quit. There's nothing wrong with that. Maybe you can find some other activity to take its place.

 

[stefspets]

I would quit. There's nothing wrong with that. Maybe you can find some other activity to take its place.

If I quit I would volunteer a lot more to fill my time (if I remain unemployed), possibly take a couple more classes that interest me, and start going to the gym.

You don't think it will look bad to an adcom if I give the reasons I listed (if asked)?

 

[TriagePreMed]

If I quit I would volunteer a lot more to fill my time (if I remain unemployed), possibly take a couple more classes that interest me, and start going to the gym.

You don't think it will look bad to an adcom if I give the reasons I listed (if asked)?

I don't know. It's one of those things where some people will expect you to muscle through that and others will say you did the right thing. I think saying that you wanted to move onto other things (like the volunteering) is an answer that would generally be seen more favorably.

 

[DrMidlife]

A year vs. more than a year as a CNA isn't interesting - you're above the bar for "worked in healthcare" either way. If you get asked about the gig, focus on what you learned about healthcare delivery and not on your longevity there.

If you want to really get the most out of the experience before you leave, give yourself an assignment that will grow your perspective about being the doc in charge of such a place. Maybe put 2 weeks into approaching management with bite-size questions about the competing priorities & pressures they have to handle. If there's a particular ER that your facility works with, go visit that ER and ask questions about how your facility compares with others in terms of how bad off the patients are. And do some journaling now about how it feels to be on the bottom rung. Most people who have menial jobs can't entertain the luxury of quitting - and they'll be your patients.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Nasrudin]

A year vs. more than a year as a CNA isn't interesting - you're above the bar for "worked in healthcare" either way. If you get asked about the gig, focus on what you learned about healthcare delivery and not on your longevity there.

If you want to really get the most out of the experience before you leave, give yourself an assignment that will grow your perspective about being the doc in charge of such a place. Maybe put 2 weeks into approaching management with bite-size questions about the competing priorities & pressures they have to handle. If there's a particular ER that your facility works with, go visit that ER and ask questions about how your facility compares with others in terms of how bad off the patients are. And do some journaling now about how it feels to be on the bottom rung. Most people who have menial jobs can't entertain the luxury of quitting - and they'll be your patients.

Best of luck to you.

Facts of life five!

 

[Nasrudin]

Come'on kid. You've got nothing wrong with your application. Appreciate the effort. Stoppin by and seein how we do. But do whatever you want before you start med school. Stop wondering what an adcom thinks of your bongrips or whatever else your doing with yourself.

And don't cry. Not when you've had a bad shift. Not when things are reallly really haaaard.

Cry when you watch someone loose a young wife from terminal cancer. Who has children he has to break the news to. Etc.

If you cry when you fail to impress an attending. Those of us who haven't been incubated in this bubble. Will never respect you.

 

[The right Path]

Hey OP,

There's nothing wrong with feeling the way you do. You show up to work to provide a certain standard of care and with the way bizniss is run, it just isn't happening.

Everyday your best faith and strongest efforts are never enough. It wears on you. Not having the luxury of being a comforting presence to someone who just lost their young wife to cancer because three other patients won't eat if someone doesn't physically put spoon to food to mouth and three other patients are sitting in a hot nasty pile of C.diff, and three other patients are simultaneously jumping out of bed, pulling out IVs, biting and scratching.

Be a revolutionary and try to elevate the environment or GTFO of Dodge. It's a tough call. Good luck.

 

[Nasrudin]

I was harsh.

Only because it is completely unnecessary and couched in a what would an adcom think way.

All I meant was there are plenty of things to cry over. Making sure more of your potato-farming management can make six fig's while you suck on it is not one of them.

Codependence is a weapon wielded against the weak in these situations.

That's why this job is usually filled by immigrants and people without options. Not premeds with options to not even work. Sitting on credentials that all but ensure their place in medical school. Who worry about what an adcom thinks.

I don't know of any adcoms who were in the position that OP is frankly. Such that the consequence of how they view it is an absurdity.

 

[stefspets]

Hey OP,

There's nothing wrong with feeling the way you do. You show up to work to provide a certain standard of care and with the way bizniss is run, it just isn't happening.

Everyday your best faith and strongest efforts are never enough. It wears on you. Not having the luxury of being a comforting presence to someone who just lost their young wife to cancer because three other patients won't eat if someone doesn't physically put spoon to food to mouth and three other patients are sitting in a hot nasty pile of C.diff, and three other patients are simultaneously jumping out of bed, pulling out IVs, biting and scratching.

Be a revolutionary and try to elevate the environment or GTFO of Dodge. It's a tough call. Good luck.

I doubt I can elevate the environment, it can't/won't happen. Too much too do, too little time to do it, and I am way too frustrated. I can barely keep a straight face for my patients.

 

[stefspets]

I was harsh.

Only because it is completely unnecessary and couched in a what would an adcom think way.

All I meant was there are plenty of things to cry over. Making sure more of your potato-farming management can make six fig's while you suck on it is not one of them.

Codependence is a weapon wielded against the weak in these situations.

That's why this job is usually filled by immigrants and people without options. Not premeds with options to not even work. Sitting on credentials that all but ensure their place in medical school. Who worry about what an adcom thinks.

I don't know of any adcoms who were in the position that OP is frankly. Such that the consequence of how they view it is an absurdity.

I didn't take it as harsh. I got where you were coming from.

I wanted to work to pay for apps over the next couple months--but what's another couple grand in the scheme of medical school debt? My husband works so there's no point. I think I have my answer here.

I just need to pick a date to give notice. Thanks for the help, guys. 🙂

 

[yankswin2011]

It's one thing to quit because you don't have enough time to study for the MCATs, classes, etc. On balance, your MCAT and grades are more vital because you won't get past the initial screening if they are not up to par. So MCATs/grades trump work.

On the other hand, it's another thing to quit because you can't deal with the stresses at work. On balance, no matter how much you can't deal with your bosses, it doesn't really affect your chances because you can spin it however you want in your interview.

From your post, it appears that you have finished your MCATs, classes, etc.? In that case, unless you are independently wealthy, I think you should keep the job because you need some income to pay the bills, no?

But in terms of how it would affect your application, I agree with everyone else -- it won't affect your application much if you quit now. On the other hand, I am big proponent of encouraging people to carefully consider the financial consequences of their decisions -- reckless financial decisions based on emotions should be avoided. With that being said, if you're independently wealthy, then yes, quit your job.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

good luck, stefspets. 🙂

 

[stefspets]

It's one thing to quit because you don't have enough time to study for the MCATs, classes, etc. On balance, your MCAT and grades are more vital because you won't get past the initial screening if they are not up to par. So MCATs/grades trump work.

On the other hand, it's another thing to quit because you can't deal with the stresses at work. On balance, no matter how much you can't deal with your bosses, it doesn't really affect your chances because you can spin it however you want in your interview.

From your post, it appears that you have finished your MCATs, classes, etc.? In that case, unless you are independently wealthy, I think you should keep the job because you need some income to pay the bills, no?

But in terms of how it would affect your application, I agree with everyone else -- it won't affect your application much if you quit now. On the other hand, I am big proponent of encouraging people to carefully consider the financial consequences of their decisions -- reckless financial decisions based on emotions should be avoided. With that being said, if you're independently wealthy, then yes, quit your job.

I didn't mention finances because I wouldn't be considering quitting if I needed this job to get by. No, I am not independently wealthy, but my husband works and makes enough to pay the bills and save some money. He is supportive of whatever I want to do so that aspect of this is covered. Maybe I'll try to get a seasonal job or retail job in the meantime. If I can't though it's not a big deal.

It isn't really a simple issue of not being able to handle the stresses of work. I could tough it out and things might get better. The fact is I am tired of being a CNA--I want to be a doctor. My question related more to how quitting now would affect my chance at my ultimate goal. But you're right, I can spin it however I want. So with that I'll probably finish out the month and then be done.

 

[Nasrudin]

I didn't mention finances because I wouldn't be considering quitting if I needed this job to get by. No, I am not independently wealthy, but my husband works and makes enough to pay the bills and save some money. He is supportive of whatever I want to do so that aspect of this is covered. Maybe I'll try to get a seasonal job or retail job in the meantime. If I can't though it's not a big deal.

It isn't really a simple issue of not being able to handle the stresses of work. I could tough it out and things might get better. The fact is I am tired of being a CNA--I want to be a doctor. My question related more to how quitting now would affect my chance at my ultimate goal. But you're right, I can spin it however I want. So with that I'll probably finish out the month and then be done.

Good for you. It's good from my point of view only insofar as most doctors don't even see these people. Like their pieces of hospital furniture or something.

1 year is more than enough.

Some of your future classmates are doing the cultural rite of passage of touring Europe in between college and professional school.

Noone seems to bat an eye at the frivilous nature of such endeavors. Rather. They are the mark of cultural higher learning.

Elbows deep in C-diff. Not so much.

But as someone who did way more hard time than you could stomach. On the lowest rungs of this ladder. I appreciate you for doing what you did.

Keep in mind. Physicians are a small minority of the health care work force. And yet their ignorance of all the others is not seen as poor form at all. Not in the least.

 

[DoctorRock25]

I am working as a CNA at a rehab facility, and I have been here about a year. It wasn't too bad when I started--the patient load was really good, we don't have to shower our patients (we have a shower aide), and it seemed like the DON and administration were really supportive.

Now, it has become obvious to me that the administration/DON will say anything to pacify you, but they won't actually do anything to solve the issues that arise. They are not particularly supportive of the nursing staff. They don't follow protocols with isolation, they don't inform the aides when a patient has an infection that we should really be aware of (MRSA, VRE, C diff, etc), and the worst part is that the patient load is unrealistic. It's probably typical for this type of facility, but today I had 14, most of which were total care. A year ago I would have had 11 and only a few would have been total care.

I feel like I should stay until I interview, so that I can say I work in healthcare. I am worried about how it would look to quit a job in healthcare while applying to medical school.

On the other hand, the job is causing me a lot of stress now, where before it was pretty manageable. I can't complete the work they want me to complete. I feel overwhelmed and the past few days I have broken down in tears in the middle of my shift. I am not giving my residents the quality of care they deserve because it is impossible with my current patient load. I think my reasons for leaving, if I do, are legitimate, but I need an outside perspective.

If I find another job, I will definitely leave, but if I can't, I am not sure what I will do. What would you do in my shoes?

OMG, I am in your shoes! I have been working at my job as a Lab supervisor/Lab tech for a year now. The beginning was fine, until my supervisor came back from maternity leave. I dread going to work, but no one's hiring right now. I want to just suck it up and bear it too. She micomanages, repeats everything I say which really gives on my nerves, gives us unrealistic deadlines, is rude, irresponsible so I have to end up fixing her mistakes while she sits and eats in front of the computerall day on Facebook.

The pay is great, you can take super long lunch breaks, but it's becoming soooo boring, a lot of office politics goes on, people feel entitled to dump work on me (and it's not my job to do their work), and it's just annoying. I can handle workload and stuff, but, I hate when people feel entitled to give me extra work because they are lazy. I get up a lot because I cannot stand being in presence of my supervisor. The meetings she gives us, uuuuggghhhhh, soooo unnecessary! I think it's an hour coffee break, wasting our time. I always think about the things I could and should be doing that is considered important.

I really need the money right now to save up, so it's very depressing being here sometimes. If I were you and I am doing the same, I would look for another job first and then quit. If money is not an issue for you, I would give in my two week notice. It's not worth it. Life is way too short to deal with crap like that, especially when you are waiting until you are done with interviews. But, like it was said before, one year is good enough and a lot of experience! There's my rant. Do you feel better?? I know I do, lol!! Good luck!!!🙂

 

[stefspets]

I'm putting my notice in tomorrow. My friend's getting married and her bachelorette is in two weeks--I don't want to miss it for this job. So that's it, just a few more shifts. I feel better already. 🙂

 

[DoctorRock25]

I'm putting my notice in tomorrow. My friend's getting married and her bachelorette is in two weeks--I don't want to miss it for this job. So that's it, just a few more shifts. I feel better already. 🙂

Awesome!👍