Quote:
Originally Posted by PurpleFlyingMonkeys
So I've been stuck for 2 years as a crap hole of a job. I make less (due to some loop hole of theirs) than I did to begin with (starting at 8.50 an hour, not at 8.15 an hour) and don't get benefits due to another loop hole. I accepted the low paying job under the assumption that I would be getting a raise at 6 months and promotions by now. Wrong.
I'm a somewhat single mom (engaged, but not to the father) and it's rough. I make 200 a week IF I'm lucky. Mostly I make about 150 a week and it's driving me up the wall. Every stinking pay check I'm selling things to try and make ends meet. My light bill is sky high, backed up on rent and all other bills, and I myself have had more Ramen than I ever care to have (to save the better food for my daughter)
Applied for medicaide but I make $50 too much a month. Yeah. So now I have $10,000 in hospital bills due to the seizures I was having.
I'm at my wits end, my job is so extremely stressful in every aspect that it's part of why I was having seizures. I need to quit but don't know what to do about it. I don't have a license and my fiance works, our schedules work around eachother so thankfully I no longer have to pay for child care (as I can't afford it) and I have a ride to work.
I need to quit, I can't take this stress much longer. I get treated like absolute ***** by my employers as well as customers, I've had a decrease in pay even though I was the best employee they have (got the decrease just a couple months after my employee of the month certificate) and I can't afford it but I don't know where to go if I do. But I'm afraid it will do more damage to my health and put me that much more in debt from these seizures.
So I'm considering certificate programs, as I need something to help ASAP and not 5 years down the road, I'm financially drowning (I know, it's a recession many of us are) but I know those who have gone to school for nursing, graduated and been out of school for years and still haven't found a job. Same thing with paramedics and many other jobs. It's like they tell you "You have to go to school to make it" but even those who go to school often can't get work in their field. My friend who graduated nursing school two years ago is still working at hooters, can't get a job anywhere and she lives in a large city.
So basically, any advice on what to do in my current situation, how to pick a certificate program, one that would actually be easier to find a job, and any advice on anything at all? I need out of this hole, it's suffocating me
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You can train as an Emergency Medical Technician thru your local emergency squad for free or next to free. That by itself begins the process of taking the next step of Cardiac Tech which is also taught my the emergency medical service in your locale. You then have a resume to submit to doctors offices looking for lower level nursing staff; we do this in pediatrics where we do not necessarily need RNs to run the office.
If you are a great worker (read that: shows up on time, does the job with a bonafide good attitude, crosscovers others when they are off or sick, and basically make yourself a favored employee), you will find that the employer will make time for you to begin classes and may even pay your way. For example, if a venipuncture class makes you a better nursing staff employee, they might pay for you to go.
If your daughter is under 5 I believe she still may qualify for the WIC program thru the health dept: food stamps for certain staples of food and if you are only 50 dollars over medicaid limit, you may qualifyfor the medicaid health maintenance organizations + famis, ie amerigroup + famis , anthem healthkeepers plus + famis: this is the next level up of income but still allows government benefit. Talk to social services about whether you qualify for one or both of these assistance programs.
Apply for HUD chapter 8 housing; rent is based on income but there is a waiting list of applicants: this is managed by county usually.
Hope some of this gets you on the path to success!