Hi
I’ve been working as an overnight care worker for 3 months now. I’m a female, 22 years old nursing student and I’m working part time in a home care company. I had regular shifts with a client who was an elderly lady but I had to leave that place due to my uni’s timetable. It was hard for me to manage so I told my roster manager. He assigned an elderly man as my client. I can’t drive so I had to walk for 25 mins from the bus stop around 8:30 pm on a quiet, dark road alone as my shift started from 9 pm. The road was like a highway so there were not even a single person walking in the road at that time of the night. Some vehicles used to pass by occasionally. There were very few street lights in that area. So I was very scared but I went to the client’s house for 3 nights continuously as I needed money for my tuition fees. The house was in a very quiet street and the other houses were at some distance away. On the 3rd day of my shift, I booked an uber as I was feeling much more scared than the past 2 days. As I got off on the road and was searching for the house address, the uber driver drove around 40 meters away and looked after me until I figured out the direction of the house using the flashlight on my phone. And then he drove away. I don’t know why I always felt very scared at that house. I felt scared walking alone on the street but I felt more scared inside the house. The client was nice to me and he lived with his 19 years grandson. The client and his grandson never did anything to me but I constantly feel scared. I still feel scared if I think about that house. I often heard his grandson walking around the hallway during the night. The client was constantly asking me to come back at his place as a regular care worker as he said I learned fast, I did a very good job and I’m a very soft spoken person. I was happy with his nice words for me but I don’t know why I kept feeling weird. I asked my manager to reallocate me somewhere else and that I was scared to go there but they kept telling me that the only shift available right now is that client’s house. Should i go back? I really need money for my tuition fees but even thinking about going there makes me shiver with fear.
Our local bus system has a place on the front of the bus for bikes. If your system has this, then get a bike.
I work home health and had been sent to what they call here in the US, "the hood." Actually, I felt safer in the hood than I do on my current case with an old lady in the wheelchair. She had cancelled the meet and greet twice. The second time I was able to meet with her briefly before I started on Monday. This is holy week, so I will be going to church on Friday. Thank goodness.
Anyway, I've had cases that started out okay, but before it was over the clients were raving lunatics. I figured out this agency has hired me for the worst cases. There were long stretches of waiting before I got a case and when I finally did get one, these folks have mental health disorders on top of their physical problems. Then these cases would end abruptly for some reason or the other. I'm in the process of onboarding with a new agency, so I will have two to pick and choose from. I don't intend on telling the other agency that I have another job. I'm just going to politely bow out and just don't call them for work anymore. These agencies are constantly hiring anyway. Even if I get a break for at least three to four months, it will work to re-adjust my nerves to see what is out there as far as the new agency cases run.
Sometimes little old ladies can be the worst. I think it is a matter of developing the confidence in yourself. I'm one for saying trust your gut on these things.
Being a newby nurse or home health aide isn't easy because there is a lot of emotional regulation on our parts. We put up with patient's scary behavior and habits and have to adjust ourselves accordingly.
With home care clients, they are in their homes; so, they are going to be more lenient with their habits. As I say all the time; we are in their element.
You have one plus going for you, they client is at least nice. If there is a problem, do not hesitate to dial 911 or if you are in another country, call the police.The grandson may be up at night playing video games or watching tv. I have a sixteen year old grandson who comes to visit some holidays. He stays up on his phone playing games or watches tv all night when he stays with me.
Try to Uber more to this home until you can locate another agency. When I was in home health years ago, I would be plugged in to at least three agencies. When I would go to agencies for orientation, there would be other CNA's there and we would exchange agency information regarding jobs. This was years ago during my generation. Home Health back then was much better than it is now where they are allowing any type of client on their rosters. Most of the smaller agencies have been taken over by these giant medical corporations.
My concern for you is having to walk a long stretch of road at night. Uber or Lyft to the home or rent a bicycle or electric scooter to work. If you have parents, ask them to buy you an old car that works well so you can drive to work.
I’m a retired nurse . When I was a new young nurse I worked in a hospital . I never took the stairwells at night , one night I did instead of using the busy set of elevators . I figured it was Christmas Eve nobody was around . On one of the landings I got pinned up against the wall by a doctor who had been flirting with me for months . It was Christmas Eve , he told me he wanted a Christmas kiss . I used my knee you know where and got away . I never reported it either , I should have , but back then nobody would have believed this about a doctor and I was new and needed the job . This doctor spoke inappropriate things to me for years , even after I got married . I left that job after 6 years never reporting him .
Plus, it is not safe for you to walk that long of a distance at night.
Maybe you should look at other agencies and apply to work for them if this agency won’t assign another client for you to work with.
Best wishes to you.
The bad gut feeling might possibly just come from the walk in the dark, with a hang over to the house. But both might be dangerous. People who are out to do the wrong thing are often nervous themselves (unless they are very very experienced at it), and their nervousness can be what your gut is sensing. Trust your feelings. And don’t tell the client that you dislike the walk in the dark – it’s almost an invitation to the client or grandson, if something really is wrong.
Find another job.
And I know it might be difficult but ask if you can be assigned one that is not a far distance from any public transportation you might have to take.
If this is not possible with this Agency I am sure that there are other agencies that would love to hire a dedicated, fast learning caregiver. So don't let your manager tell you there are no other jobs.
I'm particularly concerned about the 19-year-old grandson, as there's no way you can know much about him. Most guys his age would be living somewhere besides with grandfather, and yada yada yada, I see on this site grandchildren who have been pressed into service by grandparents all the time because the grandparent shouldn't live alone. Still, I don't think it's quite a normal life for a grandchild.
Also, you're a sitting duck for a sadist or pervert when walking on a lonely road in the dark.
Please find another agency that can place you in a more comfortable situation. BTW, this is the same advice I'd give to my own daughter. I hope you take it seriously.
Like he might smell like a creepy uncle, or a beard like a creepy neighbor
As to why you find your clients "scary" I cannot imagine.
I would tell you, if this is unusual for you, to listen to your own gut feelings.