Nurses that don't work holidays?

Conqueror+, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2013

Wow. Accusing the OP of being, selfish, immature,whiny etc.. because she asked a question is a bit much. In my 20 years I have learned a very valuable lesson. Don't let anyone dictate your career path. I come from a family of RN's and everybody told me I had to "pay my dues" and work in a hospital when I graduated. Well that was a lie because I wasn't going to work anywhere for almost the same $$ I was making as a CNA through an agency. I found a job as a dialysis nurse and went through their training program (which still exists BTW). After a year of that I became a travel nurse and the rest is lucrative history. I was making more than my mom a 20 year veteran RN by my 3rd year as a nurse. My point is people give you their opinion on what it takes to be a good nurse or a real nurse or whatever "I am the real thing" comparison they come up with. Nursing doesn't have to be some mighty all consuming fire that burns down your life and sits in its place. The martyr look is out. There are options and you can cut your own path if you are smart, creative, and ignore the finger wagging know it alls. I can count the number of holidays I have worked in 20 years. I eventually made it to M/S but for the money and schedule I wanted. There is more than one way to be a nurse and if God and family are most important to you tell him that in prayer and put those things first. He will bless you with a position that won't interfere with them. IGNORE anyone who tells you otherwise. Hang in there.

allnurses Guide · Oct 30, 2013

Thanks Conqueror1 - I was beginning to feel all alone here. I completely agree with your post.

Especially this part:

Nursing doesn't have to be some mighty all consuming fire that burns down your life and sits in its place.

I hope the OP gets to read your post.

destra · Oct 30, 2013

I've been practicing nursing for 20 years. I knew then as I know now that working weekends and holidays as well as off shifts came with the territory. For starters, no one likes to be away from their family on the holidays, but my coworkers are my family as well. We all work together to cover each others holidays. There are alot of creative ways to get coverage and as long as the institution allows it you are good to go. There is always someone who would rather party on NY Eve and work Christmas. That being said, I am finding it more and more common that the nurses just entering the field come in with expectations that they know are just not feasible in this profession. Being a nurse is a 24/7 job, we need to provide coverage and care for our patients first and foremost. New nurses entering the field, please try to be flexible. Get some experience, then you can move on to a position that best suits your needs and the needs of your family. Cheer up! It's an extremely rewarding profession! Good Luck

monkeybug · Oct 30, 2013

I enjoyed it a lot when I worked in the hospital. In fact, if I had to consider all the Thanksgivings I've experienced in the past 30 years, the best ones- BY FAR- were the years that I was working in the hospital. I worked every Thanksgiving for my 5 years in the hospital- by choice. We had a huge potluck every year, there were always relatively few patients and no management. Last year I had to spend the day with my family since I now have a non-holiday working job and by 2pm I was ready to jump out the window. I always worked Thanksgiving and part of Christmas when I worked in the hospital that way I only had to spend one of the 3 winter holidays with my family. Last year I had to do all 3- ugh. Dreading having to do it again.

One of the best shifts of my life was a Christmas night shift. Everyone had been discharged except one feeder/grower baby, and all the pregnant women in town politely refrained from laboring. The unit was staffed with 2 RNs. The heat was not working well in the nursery and in the common areas of the unit, and maintenance wasn't available that night, so we took the baby to a patient room, and we all piled up in the bed and recliner and watched movies all night. Of course the baby was happy, he was held all night! We took turns charting on the baby and changing and feeding.

caliotter3 · Oct 30, 2013

Get the employment you are able to when you graduate. If it is not what you want, while remaining there a reasonable time, continue to look for something that better suits your preferences. People change employment all the time (when replacement jobs are available). There is nothing to say that you have to spend your entire career in a job that has mandatory holidays, if you are that unhappy with the thought of working holidays. Good luck.

vera4130 · Oct 30, 2013

I like working holidays. We send out a lot of the patients, everyone brings food, administration and management (to their shame) isn't there, and I can sweetly tell my husband's over bearing grandmother that I had to work. My family works around my schedule, although it doesn't always work out. My husband's immediate family has learned to plan a little bit better and be both more flexible and more understanding. The pay is nice and I would rather work than have my co-workers be short staffed that night. They also have families - and as much time as I spend with my colleagues, they feel a little bit like family too.

futurenursedd · Oct 30, 2013

My aunt is a nurse and worked in a doctors office before she switched jobs, she never worked a holiday in her life. I was totally turned off to the idea of working holidays also, till I got a job as a secretary in a hospital. It required me to work every other holiday and I was totally upset, but the money was too good to pass up. Honestly working holidays is not even an issue for me anymore. My hospital actually pays you double on holidays so I volunteer to work as many holidays as possible. If it's a big holiday my family and I celebrate it another day or they just go without me. So there are options for you to be a nurse and not work any major holidays, but I know they are hard to come by and the pay is not very good.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Oct 31, 2013

Haha don't you love those mid 20s years where you might have moved from family or single and are just trying to break into the career field. You can work all those glorious weekend and holiday hours and rack up the $$$

I do love it. Plus with the wife working the opposite holidays as me, I volunteer to work them all so I am not just at home alone. Its not a bad thing, I dont mind it at all. But thats why we are here

kegardne · Oct 31, 2013

Thank you everyone for your info and input. I would just like to say that I would be grateful for any job I could get, and I would never complain or make special requests of an employer regarding holidays. I currently work a job in which I do work holidays, and I sometimes get depressed when my family is celebrating without me. I expect to be working holidays as a starting nurse as well, and I only asked this question to find out if there is hope for me to find a job in which that wouldn't be the case, once I gain experience. Looking at the comments, it seems that these jobs DO exist, but I'll just have to work very hard to get one :)

Nishacat03 · Nov 6, 2013

I work mon - fri 8-5 no weekend , holidays or call but ... I work for a federal agency IHS

Outpatient clinic don't give up there are many options as a nurse