How to handle taking off

[KristinWW]

Does anyone have a problem where you put in for a vacation day months in advance, it is approved, then the day before your manager tells you that you can't take off because they are short? This happens all the time. I also have 2 kids, and sometimes I am notified of something that I am invited to attend at their school in the afternoon, with a week's notice. I'll tell the asst. manager in advance, then when the day arrives and I arrive in the morning, I'm told that I can't leave in the afternoon. Familiar to anyone?

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

If it's in writing I would politely decline, then stop answering my phone.

If it's not in writing it's not officially approved. Pulling you makes them jerks, but really there's nothing you can do.

[KristinWW]

If it's in writing I would politely decline, then stop answering my phone.

If it's not in writing it's not officially approved. Pulling you makes them jerks, but really there's nothing you can do.

Requested in writing, approved in writing, and put in MONTHS in advance. I don't take week vacations, I just need either one or two days a month for school activities for my kids. I can't not answer the phone, because they'll tell me the day before my scheduled day off that I can't take the approved day off. I'm a relatively new nurse - does this happen everywhere??

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

sounds like poor planning on the manager's part, or they are getting grief about paying agency/prn nurses. Most things come down to money. Sounds like your nursing dept ought to deal with HR or Admin to get some ground rules set in order to retain experienced nurses.

[puggymae]

If you have the request in writing, and the request was approved in writing I just wouldn't go to work. That is a staffing issue, it isn't your fault. If the person who granted your leave knew that it was going to make the staffing low then you should not have been granted leave. Go and have a good time, and don't worry one minute about it.

[GardenDove]

That doesn't happen where I work. The more I read this board, the more grateful I am for my place of employment.

[Bluehair]

My manager has been known to use agency to help cover the schedule for scheduled time off. Vacations, time for family/social events, etc. are our life. Work is supposed to help make that happen, not prevent it. If you have written approval for the time off, take it. Have yet to see a hospital shut down because a nurse took vacation.

[Bluehair]

That doesn't happen where I work. The more I read this board, the more grateful I am for my place of employment.

Me too! Sometimes we don't know how good we have things 'til we see what others are going thru!

[Simplepleasures]

Requested in writing, approved in writing, and put in MONTHS in advance. I don't take week vacations, I just need either one or two days a month for school activities for my kids. I can't not answer the phone, because they'll tell me the day before my scheduled day off that I can't take the approved day off. I'm a relatively new nurse - does this happen everywhere??

Do you have a union?

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Oh yes, first time we went to the UK. Paid for tickets in February.

Come June a couple of days before vavation time started....."uh you can't have the time off because......"

and I don't remember the because, I was thinking how fast I could get across the table and jump her."

So I said OK you'll have my resignation right after lunch.

Not another word was spoken and when the date came she actually gave me the day off before we were to leave.

The next vacation to the UK, she came to ask me NOT to work up to the last minute and to have a good time.

[AtlantaRN, RN]

i try to switch days with my coworkers...that way, even if they call me at home...too bad/so sad...

You HAVE to have a life too.

linda

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

If its approved in writing you arent required to answer your phone. Maybe the refusal should be in writing too. Calling at the last minute to tell you that you cant have a day off you requested and they had approved isnt your problem. How would they know you just werent home. I would be so out of touch they wouldnt ever get me on the phone if my facility did that to me. Actually im out of touch when they call wanting help because they are short too, not my problem ,, hire more people.

You have to make them understand somehow you do have a LIFE and a FAMILY that needs your attention too. Do they pay you to be at their beckon call? NOPE,, so dont be.