How to cope with lack of Vacation time in the USA

[madwife2002]

I would like to pose a question about the lack of vacation time we get here in the USA and how everybody manages or copes with the never ending working weeks.

I am from the UK as most know and before I left to come to the USA I had 8 weeks and 2 days vacation time allowed in a year, and 6 months sick time should I need it. I got this wheather I worked or not.

Now I have to work to earn paid time off, so every month I earn 12 hours paid time off that includes

Vacation Time

Sick days

Days the hospital calls you off because of too many staff on duty

The days you are sent home early because the census is low

Family problem days ie funerals, sick children etc

I only get 12 hours paid time off if I work 36 hours a week minimum. I work long days so I am told that because I have four days off a week well thats great LOL. So I work every sunday monday and one other day in the week.

I am tired, exhausted, fed up with working whilst I am sick with colds. In the summer well it is's great the weather means you swim all day.

In the winter well it is cold, windy, miserable and you cant sit in the sun and recouperate.

So apart from going to the gym what do others do?

I have visitors coming in march and I am desperatly saving up to have 3 days off with them so I can have a week off work.

[scattycarrot, BSN, RN]

My husband (american)and I (English) are seriously considering moving back to the UK once he has finished his time in the USNavy. We were stationed there for 3 years and my hubby fell in love. For me, I am happy to go back for lots of reasons and excellent vacation time, is one of those reasons! Unfortantly, the cost of living is in the UK is a major consideration.

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

Vacation time, sick time, etc...works the same way in Holland as it does in the UK. Their tax rate is around 50% and they don't get tax refunds. Gas is over $8.00 a gallon. The cost of living is alot higher, most everyone rents because homes are not affordable.

Somebody has to pay for it. So in the end....it doesn't seem like it, but it's about the same difference. Our system is just structured differently.

[tencat]

Maybe nurses in the US would stay in the profession if they had more time to decompress and relax......Three weeks a year isn't really enough.

[scattycarrot, BSN, RN]

Maybe nurses in the US would stay in the profession if they had more time to decompress and relax......Three weeks a year isn't really enough.

No, its not enough time but then, experienced nurses aren't staying in the profession in the UK either despite the better vacation time. It seems that wherever you are nurses do not get the respect, support, working conditions or treatment we deserve. WE need to combine systems! US pay and UK vacation time would a happier nurse make!

[Belinda-wales, RN]

No, its not enough time but then, experienced nurses aren't staying in the profession in the UK either despite the better vacation time. It seems that wherever you are nurses do not get the respect, support, working conditions or treatment we deserve. WE need to combine systems! US pay and UK vacation time would a happier nurse make!

Exactly- if you think that nurses are happier in the UK with all the Vacation time you are mislead-nurses are leaving in droves and are very discontented- I would like more vacation time would'nt we all but it is swings and roundabouts whatyou lose in one you gain in another.

[suzanne4, RN]

Years ago before the 12 hour shifts came into being, we were given just two weeks of vacation per year when we started. Once learning how to play with things, you could manage at least a ten day vacation every three months to someplace warm and exotic, or at least exciting.

And even now, still find it easy to group days together to get more time off in a row as needed without having to use any vacation time.

With three 12 hours shifts per week, you can work them at the beginning and again at the end of the two week period and still have a full week off without using any vacation time. You just have to trade with other co-workers when necessary. Usually quite east to do except for major holiday weeks in most cases.