When is the appropriate time to bring up a planned vacation?

Nurses Job Hunt

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Hi everyone,

I am applying for jobs. I have been a patient care technician for the past 3 years and am applying for RN jobs both in and out of my current health system. As a patient care technician in the three years I have been employed on this particular unit, I have worked 2 out of the three christmases, 2 out of the three christmas eves, and the one year that I did not work christmas/christmas eve I worked new years and new years eve.

I have a trip planned for 4 days to Mexico for a wedding that is over the christmas holiday. I would be out of town for Christmas eve and Christmas day. This trip is really important to me, and as a graduation gift my parents have stated that they would pay for my airfare and lodging for the trip. I would really like to attend, but also want a job really badly and logically know and understand that a job has to come before a trip. I'm hoping I can do both though...

How do I bring this up? When do I bring this up? I would be more than willing to work new years eve/new years day/ thanksgiving, basically whatever other holidays they would want me to work. As a first year nurse, is this just expecting too much/being too demanding?

How do I ask this? and when do I ask this? I have been reading posts and some people talk about bringing this up when people make you an offer, but this confuses me because isn't it HR that makes you an offer not the specific nurse manager?

Advice is appreciated.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

It depends on how they do their holidays. We don't allow vacation over Christmas and New Years and holidays go by seniority.

I would ask HR what their policy is regarding this, but I wouldn't make plans until you find out. Also, if you worked on the floor, ask the UM, but keep in mind that changing to an RN is a new position and what you worked in previous years probably won't matter.

Hope things work out.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

After they have offered you the job but before you have officially accepted it ... that's the time you have the most power in the hiring process and the time most people recommend that you should bring that sort of thing up. I would do it then and emphasize that you received the trip as a graduation gift ... that you would be willing to work ANY schedule over Thanksgiving and New Year's ... and that you would be willing to work the next couple of Christmases in exchange (or perhaps multiple weekends before and after the trip).

You are asking for a big favor here, so be prepared to make a big sacrifice in return. If you show that you understand that, you might get lucky.

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I don't know any way to tell a new or prospective employer than you have no intention of pulling your fair share of the work during your first Christmas with them. You can ask, but you also must be fully prepared to gracefully except a possible no from them. In that case it would mean canceling the trip. If you just won't do that then don't seek employment until after its over.

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Specializes in Med/surg, Onc.

By me we don't cover pto for your holiday. You have to find someone to cover for you. I once paid a coworker additional because I had a wedding when Memorial Day was my holiday. There are no exceptions to the holidays worked.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

When I accepted my "side job", I just straight up told them "I have a family wedding over the July 4th weekend, so if it does happen that my weekend to work falls on that weekend, I am unavailable to work" They told me absolutely no problem. Turns out, holidays are no problem to find people to fill as they are paid at double time! They filled that weekend (because you KNOW it ended up being mine!) and it was not my responsibility at all to find my own replacement.

That said, not every facility will be like that. You may have to offer to work other holidays to make up for missing that one. Be honest whatever you do: it's a family wedding and the trip is a graduation gift.

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Thank you for all your advice. I will bring this up when an offer is being made. I am going to say something to this effect:

"Thank you so much for the job offer. I am very excited about the job. There was something that I wanted to talk to you about- my parents have generously offerred, as a graduation gift, to pay for airfare and lodging for a family wedding in Mexico. The trip is four days, but is over christmas and christmas eve. I understand that this is asking a lot, however I would be completely willing to work thanksgiving, new years eve, new years day, or come up with any arrangement that you deem fit in order to attend the trip. The job is more important to me than the trip, and if I can't go on the trip I will understand- but if there is any way to make it possible so that I would be able to attend, I would be extremely grateful...."

Does that sound okay?

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Specializes in OR/PACU/med surg/LTC.

I was in that position when I got my first job. Got hired in late February and had a trip planned to the Dominican for my sisters wedding. I believe I told them before I accepted and it was fine. I had to make up the extra shifts since I was full time (doing an orientation program) so I didn't officially get vacation time.

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