working on Christmas?

fergus51 · Nov 16, 2005

I didn't notice the 8 years part. You've had a good run. I commend you for being able to negotiate what you wanted all those years, and I think that your mother should congratulate you for that rather than criticize you for not getting it off ONE year. I am in awe of that streak! LOL!

sc10sace · Nov 16, 2005

Hi-I am new here, but had to add my 2 cents! My husband is a military pilot and between his schedule and my schedule one of us is always working a holiday! We have three children and we see anytime that all five of us can be healthy and together as a great thing to celebrate. If it happens to be December 26th, then so be it, we celebrate when our whole family can participate! Our kids understand that it is the spirit of the holiday that means the most and not necessarily the date. Spending time with your family is the best gift anyone can have. It doesn't matter when that happens, just be thankful when it does!

scrmblr · Nov 16, 2005

Wow!
We did a thread similar to this just this month and at times it got REALLY ugly. Even so, If you do a search for it you might find some excellent posts in that frenzy that will help you talk with your kids.
IMO, kids prefer honesty. If you tell them ahead of time you and you hubby will be working, they will be able to understand and be prepared. If you ar honest with them, in years to come your kids will be PROUD that mum and dad sacrifice to take care those in need.
I have an idea. Why not make plans with them to celebrate Christmas on the 26th? In the UK and other countries, that day is called Boxing Day. In the past it was the day folks would "box" up gifts and give them to the poor. In the country I grew up in, December 26th is a national holiday. We have a colourful "Junkanoo" parade (like Carnival in Brazil) and celebrate with friends, family and strangers!
Why not celebrate your Christmas with you kids on that day by giving your gifts to them AND by giving a few things to some less fortunate kids.
A new tradition perhaps?

Do you happen to remember the title of the post? I did look before I posted... Just not hard enough.

I really like the idea of Dec. 26th!

I am actually going to copy this thread and give it to my mother. I find it really hard to believe that I made it 8 years without working Christmas either! However, 3 of those years I was in school and only working very part-time and the other years I worked just about EVERY other holiday known to man:rolleyes:

She called me today to let me know (again) how sad it is that I will be away from my children on christmas...Not like I don't already realize that:uhoh3:

scrmblr · Nov 16, 2005

I can't help you here, I'm an atheist and I always volunteer to work Christian holidays.

wanna work for me?

:coollook:

sjrn85 · Nov 16, 2005

Ask your mom what she'd do if she or your father were having an MI on Christmas, and there was no one in the ED to take care of them because all the staff had kids and were at home.

Sorry, this one really fries me. :angryfire

GLORIAmunchkin72 · Nov 16, 2005

Even though you don't seem to mind, your scheduler should be considerate enough to make the schedule "fair" for everyone. At our facility those who work Xmas eve don't work Xmas day and vice versa. Those who volunteer can work all holidays but shouldn't complain about it otherwise don't volunteer. It can be done.

I've been a nurse for almost 8 years. I have always volunteered to work EVERY holiday (newyears, 4th of July, Thanksgiving etc...) just to have Christmas off to be with my family. I am 6 months into a new ER job and they have scheduled me for Christmas Eve AND Christmas day:sniff: My poor kid's are really upset. My husband is also a nurse and is scheduled to work Christmas day this year too.
I had to tell my parent's that we were both working and ask if they would take the kids. My mom was pretty nasty and less then understanding. She said she didn't think it was "fair" to ask that I work Christmas when I have kids. I told her that people still get sick on Christmas and I wasn't the only employee with children.
Here is what I need from you all... Please help me explain to my (never had a job outside of the home) mother why I have to work Christmas. and second...Help me understand why I have to work Christmas:sniff:

tlhubbard · Nov 16, 2005

I have been blessed with the 9-5 M-Fr nursing job (no weekends, no holidays) However, I know the disappointment of having to work holidays, and the less than understanding parents (stay at home mom and a GM employed dad) when I was a nursing assistant years ago.

I tried to celebrate before/after my shift (whatever worked best) Tried to celebrate as close to the holiday as possible (to appease the parents). As far as your children, I know mine would be MORE than happy to get to open presents on the 23rd (since you're working the 24th also), it beats them having to wait longer. Maybe saving a few gifts for some quick opening on the day of before your shift starts.

Plus, do we know that Christ was actually born on December 25th? No. So you may be hitting the correct day by picking another date.

I hope your holidays are happy (if the ED is slow, any chance they will flex part way through your shift)? I know, the ED is NEVER slow when people are driving drunk in the snow. :uhoh3:

Curious1alwys, BSN, RN · Nov 16, 2005

Gotta love parents!!! :rolleyes:

Puhhlleeeaassseeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :uhoh3: As if you need that BS!

No words of support. Sorry for you. :crying2: I am still a student so I still have holidays sometimes. Not anymore though now that I got a job in the ER!:chuckle

Ruby Vee, BSN · Nov 16, 2005

i've been a nurse for almost 8 years. i have always volunteered to work every holiday (newyears, 4th of july, thanksgiving etc...) just to have christmas off to be with my family. i am 6 months into a new er job and they have scheduled me for christmas eve and christmas day:sniff: my poor kid's are really upset. my husband is also a nurse and is scheduled to work christmas day this year too.
i had to tell my parent's that we were both working and ask if they would take the kids. my mom was pretty nasty and less then understanding. she said she didn't think it was "fair" to ask that i work christmas when i have kids. i told her that people still get sick on christmas and i wasn't the only employee with children.
here is what i need from you all... please help me explain to my (never had a job outside of the home) mother why i have to work christmas. and second...help me understand why i have to work christmas:sniff:

i can't believe your mother was nasty about taking her grandchildren on christmas! wouldn't she rather have them than you and your husband anyway???? (just kidding about the second, but not about the first!)

you have to work christmas because it's obviously your turn! mom ought to get that, and if she doesn't, don't worry about it. some parents never seem to grow up, and maybe yours is one of those.

and if you're working christmas, isn't it nice that your husband is working the same holiday? that way you'll both be off together next year! my husband (also a nurse) and i have worked very hard to schedule ourselves this way.

as long as you don't make a big deal of it, your kids won't think it's a big deal. they'll have christmas with grandma on the 25th, but their real christmas with you and your husband on the 23rd or 26th or whenever -- and they'll get two christmases this year. their friends will be so envious! and what a golden opportunity to teach them about fairness and equality, taking turns, helping others and the real meaning of christmas!

you lucky girl, you!

ruby

Ruby Vee, BSN · Nov 16, 2005

do you happen to remember the title of the post? i did look before i posted... just not hard enough.
i really like the idea of dec. 26th!
i am actually going to copy this thread and give it to my mother. i find it really hard to believe that i made it 8 years without working christmas either! however, 3 of those years i was in school and only working very part-time and the other years i worked just about every other holiday known to man:rolleyes:
she called me today to let me know (again) how sad it is that i will be away from my children on christmas...not like i don't already realize that:uhoh3:

there was a thread last year entitled "but i have little children . . . . ."

and this year's thread was "why do you need christmas off? you don't have children."

how sad that anyone (even my 74 year old mother who lives 900 miles away) has to be away from her children on christmas. but it really is your turn! and it really isn't a tragedy!

ruby

steelcityrn, RN · Nov 16, 2005

That Does Not Seem Right That You Have To Work Xmas Eve And Day. And They Wonder Why There Are So Many Open Nursing Jobs.

fergus51 · Nov 16, 2005

That Does Not Seem Right That You Have To Work Xmas Eve And Day. And They Wonder Why There Are So Many Open Nursing Jobs.

In some places, this is actually the only way to do it. My family lives more than 1500 miles away, so if I have Xmas off and not Xmas eve, I can't get home to see them. That's why I worked both last year and get both off this year. I do my share of holidays, I just can't work the eve of or the day of every holiday if I ever want to see my family. It is possible that many others on staff where the OP works do the same thing.