Work/school advice needed

[orbaya]

I need opinions on what I should because I keep going back and forth.

I am a radiology tech that got hired in June as per diem employee for the summer with the agreement that I would work all summer 40 hours a week (12 weeks), and then I would be at a normal per diem status following the 12 weeks. However, once the summer hours were over (mid September), I had hip surgery on October 2nd and have been out per surgeon''s orders since then. My boss knew about the surgery since I was hired, so it''s not like I was being sneaky about it or anything.

A local school just started offering a CT program which I applied to and was accepted. I need to find a clinical site, and would love to do it at the hospital I''m employed at. However, since I haven''t worked in a few months I am hestitant about approaching my boss to see if they would take me on as a CT student (unpaid). I feel funny basically asking her to take me on a student after only working there for the 12 weeks and not being able to do anything since then. Does this make sense?

I recently got the okay from my surgeon to start working again, but my boss said that I''m not really needed much at this time because there aren''t many per diem hours to be had because people aren''t taking vacations right now. It doesn''t sound like doing clinical there would interfere with being available to work right now. The school can find another clinical site for me, so either way, I''ll be doing clinicals somewhere. The program is 30 weeks long.

So basically, should I talk to my boss about being a CT student, or just go with what the school assigns me? Even if I do ask my boss, doesn''t mean they will agree. I realize the worst she can say is no, but I don''t want to burn any bridges with her either.

Sorry this ended up so long-winded, but any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[neatfreak]

So let me get this straight here. They pay you to work there. Now you are willing to work for free because of your clinical hours? Unless I am missing something it seems like a win-win to me! I would certainly ask her, I don''t see how it will burn bridges.

 

[neatfreak]

Double post.

 

[:)]

Date: 1/13/2009 11:22:05 AM
Author:orbaya

I need opinions on what I should because I keep going back and forth.

I am a radiology tech that got hired in June as per diem employee for the summer with the agreement that I would work all summer 40 hours a week (12 weeks), and then I would be at a normal per diem status following the 12 weeks. However, once the summer hours were over (mid September), I had hip surgery on October 2nd and have been out per surgeon''s orders since then. My boss knew about the surgery since I was hired, so it''s not like I was being sneaky about it or anything.

A local school just started offering a CT program which I applied to and was accepted. I need to find a clinical site, and would love to do it at the hospital I''m employed at. However, since I haven''t worked in a few months I am hestitant about approaching my boss to see if they would take me on as a CT student (unpaid). I feel funny basically asking her to take me on a student after only working there for the 12 weeks and not being able to do anything since then. Does this make sense?

I recently got the okay from my surgeon to start working again, but my boss said that I''m not really needed much at this time because there aren''t many per diem hours to be had because people aren''t taking vacations right now. It doesn''t sound like doing clinical there would interfere with being available to work right now. The school can find another clinical site for me, so either way, I''ll be doing clinicals somewhere. The program is 30 weeks long.

So basically, should I talk to my boss about being a CT student, or just go with what the school assigns me? Even if I do ask my boss, doesn''t mean they will agree. I realize the worst she can say is no, but I don''t want to burn any bridges with her either.

Sorry this ended up so long-winded, but any advice would be greatly appreciated.

The way I see it, you fulfilled your original agreement, and are now solely on a ''on call'' type of per diem status. The person who hired you was aware of your hip surgery, and this was a legitimate reason not to be accepting any current per diem work. I think as long as you worked hard and got along well with everyone while you were there, your boss would likely be thrilled to add you on for your clinicals, and it would work out well for you too since you are already somewhat familiar with that hospital and the way it works. Did you get to know anyone in CT while you were there? You could ask them to put in a good word for you to the boss when you ask too.

 

[orbaya]

Date: 1/13/2009 1:39:33 PM
Author: neatfreak
So let me get this straight here. They pay you to work there. Now you are willing to work for free because of your clinical hours? Unless I am missing something it seems like a win-win to me! I would certainly ask her, I don''t see how it will burn bridges.

Thanks. Yeah, I''d be free labor for the hospital...hopefully they''d want to take me on and take the time to teach me.

 

[orbaya]

Date: 1/13/2009 1:47:59 PM
Author:

Date: 1/13/2009 11:22:05 AM
Author:orbaya

The way I see it, you fulfilled your original agreement, and are now solely on a ''on call'' type of per diem status. The person who hired you was aware of your hip surgery, and this was a legitimate reason not to be accepting any current per diem work. I think as long as you worked hard and got along well with everyone while you were there, your boss would likely be thrilled to add you on for your clinicals, and it would work out well for you too since you are already somewhat familiar with that hospital and the way it works. Did you get to know anyone in CT while you were there? You could ask them to put in a good word for you to the boss when you ask too.

Thanks. You did put it in a perspective I had not thought of...I fulfilled my agreement with them. Unfortunately I did not get to know anyone in CT during my 12 weeks...they were in their own little room and didn''t come out much. lol

I thought I worked hard, and people seemed to like me...they even got me a cake on my last day. I never heard any complaints about me so that''s a plus.

 

[AmberGretchen]

I agree with the others'' comments and would just add that I can''t even imagine how this would burn any bridges, as long as you ask in a polite and appropriate manner, which I''m sure you would.

As someone who works in a medical research lab, I''ve found that people are generally extremely happy to help out with academic learning opportunities for those in training, because everyone has been there at some point and they remember what it was like.