I’ve been working in the public health care sector for 6 years. Almost two years ago my boyfriend asked my to move with him, so I quit my job (where I was severely overworked and burnt out) and took a new one earning less per hour, but working out to getting about the same on each paycheque because of where we live and work being a remote community. I’m also working in a job classification that’s lower than what I can do because of stupid licensing and political reasons.
I’m working in a capacity that they haven’t had before but is desperately needed. Everyone I work with tells me how much I help them, how great it is I’m there, and how they wish I could work there forever. Everyone knew when I was hired I’m only staying for a couple years, or until I finish school and work in another area in health care.
Since I started here, I’ve been telling everyone who will listen that if they make a real job classification for my field, I can take on a recruitment role and help get these sites the staff they need so bad. I can do licensing, training, managing the staff and computer systems, or whatever they want as long as it’s related to my field. I want to help them. Currently, patients have to travel 200+kms to another health care facility for basic services that can be provided at home, but there’s no one there to do it. My position fills that so people don’t have to travel anymore. More people like me would easily solve that. I’ll be moving to nearby the main office site, so I can easily have a job based out of there and travel to other sites as needed. No one is listening.
I’ve finally had enough. The nurses I work with are earning more than double what I make. I’m acting as a senior or charge employee, but not getting paid for it. I’m getting called in when I’m off to do things no one else can do (which I don’t necessarily mind if there’s real medical emergencies, but I’m not coming in because someone can’t figure out how to turn on the computer). My bosses are messing around with my job. They’ll let me stay in the same position, without any raises or support, until I drop dead, and then tell me I’m needed so I can’t die yet. I got a job with a travel agency to work wherever sites are short-staffed. I quit immediately. When I quit, I told my manager there’s no future for me there. They seemed shocked that I felt this way, but when I asked about career progression and what’s going to happen when I move in a few months, they had nothing to say but hoped I can stay on like I am right now. They couldn’t even guarantee education leave for me to finish my degree.
If people wonder why health care in Canada is failing, this is why. Too many politicians are sticking their noses into random things and impacting people like me, who just want to help, but can’t. I took such a large pay cut to work here, am working below my training level, and giving this job as much as I can. Instead, the government chooses to listen to specific voices on how to solve shortages. Not everyone in health care is a nurse. When you listen to the small voices, you can find people like me in niche areas that desperately need covered. Instead, they’re choosing to employ other staff and train them on the job (very poorly, too), and forking over tons of money to cover the holes in the system that they created.
Sorry for the rant. I’m just very frustrated, because I do enjoy my job and the organization, but there’s no point in staying around and hoping for better.