How many days off are appropriate?

[RNathome2010]

Hi,

I'm wondering how other PDNs with regular full-time assignments schedule time off? I've pretty much followed the standards of regular office work -- 3-5 sick days/year, and 2-3 weeks worth of vacation or personal days, scheduled in advance and in after discussing w/the family.

I haven't had any problems with this, and only rarely need to negotiate a day off. But other nurses I've worked with think nothing of taking 2-3 shfits off each month, and often that's not even scheduled. This is very stressful for the family, and it puts more pressure on the other nurses in the home. The agency just says, well their per diem so we can't do anything.

I guess I don't think of this as per diem work. I commited to a schedule, and it's my job to do the work. No, I don't benefits, yes I wish I did. But I don't think it's fair to take that out on the family. I get other perks from this job, and I chose it.

Am I being too conservative? How do you all deal with time off?

[Adele_Michal7, ASN, RN]

To answer the question, I work a case that I have day hours on, 5 x a week. Since I am the only nurse on the case, (and even if I wasn't...) I simply treat it like it is like any other job with a set schedule. If I were to need a day off (doctor appoint or other appoint that I couldn't finagle into the PM hours) out of towners visiting, etc....I call my agency and inform them; I have only had a problem once. I am sure to give as much notice as I possibly can. If it is a short notice request, then I ask, rather than TELL, my scheduler.

With my other case, I do (2) 8 hour shifts on Sat. Sun... This puts me into working 7 days a week. I am a permanent there by default since I pick up every weekend. I have told my scheduler however that no human, myself included, can guarantee that I will be free every single weekend, and to make sure the family is well aware I am "picking up" these hours as a favor. (A consistent favor, but regardless.)

To be fair to them, I treat it as a commitment and only beg off of one of those shifts unless I have a legitimate reason.

In 3 words I can sum up what I've learned about life: it goes on.

[anangelsmommy, ADN, BSN, RN]

I will tell you how my agency works. I was told that I can work as much or as little as I want. I left a job working full time to work per diem. My husband works shift work sometimes 80 hrs a week with turnover (yeah there is that license thing that says he can only work this many hours a month....but) anyway he gets 7 weeks a year vacation and we USE it! Why not? and to be honest, I had a child who died and after that I realized that there really isnt much in this life that I care more about than spending time with my family. making money...yeah you need it but in the end, I dont want someone to write on my tombstone, "she cared more for her job than her kids". I go to work right now and I am basically playing with someone elses kid while the parent lay on a couch and complain that they are tired because they are not following the care plan (another rant). My vacations are planned months -several are a year in advance and I rarely call out for illness only with my clients with compromised immune systems. I feel like this is why I work this job. And I do cover other peoples call outs when I can. If the policy states otherwise than I guess it is up to the client and the agency. I have been removed from a case for vacation. I worked for a client for fill in for years, did mostly weekends, then i started two days a week 12 hr shifts - tough case! I told the AGENCY up front, I these vacations coming up - they NEVER told the client. They kept me but when the vacations were coming up and I told them, they found another nurse and cut me loose. Said I was unreliable - i was ****** because I had known the family for years and not because they let me go but because the agency wasnt truthful with the family!! and it made ME look bad! (different agency). Child since passed. I struggled with even whether to go to the funeral. I did. but the agency said when I left I was not to contact them and I felt like I did something wrong. if they can be let go. but I work other cases no problem. I usually take off the whole summer to avoid conflict. anangelsmommy

[SDALPN]

Here's another thought...

Do you want someone working for you that wants to be there, or one who shows up because they have to?

I don't work because I'm told to or because someone demands me to produce work at a certain time. I work because I choose to. I'm happier and a better nurse because if it. I'm not some drained nurse working a schedule someone else chooses for me. I'm not working a pattern of days that doesn't allow for rest. I'm fully rested and full of energy when I am scheduled for work. I guess these parents want drained, burned out, worn out nurses. I'm grateful for the opportunity to work a job that allows me to choose my schedule. And the parents I work for are happy they have a nurse that can keep up with their kids.

[caliotter3]

I have had the unfortunate experience of being replaced by the "replacement" nurse. One had the backbone to announce to the client that she wanted X amount of my hours and the client passed this information on to me. Talk about cheeky. In other cases, the problematic clients found my replacement for necessary-only call offs to be more desirable, i.e., 'does nothing except be there', 'easily wrapped around little finger', 'syrupy, fake kissup behavior' (all as described by the client). So, I take time to attend to my problems of living and end up without a job. Based on how many times this has happened to me, I know that I can never depend on the agency to have my back in this respect and that if I take a day off for any reason at all, I better be prepared to apply for the unemployment pittance. So much for necessary time off, much less relaxation time off.

[rnrg]

When a parent successfully gives away your established shift hours to another nurse, your problem is with the agency. At that point it is time to find another agency. A good agency won't go along with clients pushing their nurses out the door to new employers.

Im with a great agency. Problem is this is a long contract with private insurance. The agency is going to do whatever they can to keep this contract. The parents are so mean to the office staff. Its seriously becoming a battle of wills. Im tired of being the middle man.

[anangelsmommy, ADN, BSN, RN]

yup, and when I was speaking with someone at the office and just said "well I sure would like to know what happened after so many years of working with the client and suddenly to be let go with no explanation". She said to me, if I left and didn't want to explain to the client, would I want them calling me and bothering me looking for an explanation? She said what if it was something they did that really upset me but I didnt want to tell them? should the agency give them my phone number and have them call me? So I could kind of see her point. Yet I still felt that after that much time and I had given notice of my vacation (of course I am sure it was not passed on) why not put me back on fill in rather than let me go all together? and I love that it was ok for them to cancel a week to go to a conference without even a weeks notice.

[caliotter3]

yup, and when I was speaking with someone at the office and just said "well I sure would like to know what happened after so many years of working with the client and suddenly to be let go with no explanation". She said to me, if I left and didn't want to explain to the client, would I want them calling me and bothering me looking for an explanation? She said what if it was something they did that really upset me but I didnt want to tell them? should the agency give them my phone number and have them call me? So I could kind of see her point. Yet I still felt that after that much time and I had given notice of my vacation (of course I am sure it was not passed on) why not put me back on fill in rather than let me go all together? and I love that it was ok for them to cancel a week to go to a conference without even a weeks notice.

While I agree with the logic presented by the staffing coordinator, it still behooves them to tell you or at least lead you in the right direction without necessarily divulging specifics. That is employer, employee courtesy. Your livelihood was taken away from you and you have a right to know why. The unemployment people sure would want to know if it becomes a matter of inquiry if you apply for benefits. You just can't say, "becausssssse" to them. As for the client family pulling that stunt with little to no notice, you can always expect the client to be self serving and just plain selfish.

[beetlebug424]

If I don't request nights off (and my agency requires that I do so a month in advance) I will end up working every night. Last month I requested two weekends off, because we are only required to work two weekends a month. I had a total of 4 nights off the whole month. None of those four nights were covered. OP are you saying I was responsible I'm getting those shifts covered? What in the world? I deserve time to myself, I'm tired of the office and the parents making me feel guilty because I don't want to work 365 days a year. I am per diem, I am not required to work any amount of hours. I do however have a primary case, it is not my responsibility to see that all of the shifts are covered for that case. That is the schedulers concern. My concern is going to and caring for the patient on the nights I'm scheduled and have agreed to work. I have picked up many shifts and changed plans many times if the family was in dire need. I do my job and I am good at it, does that mean I can't have any time to myself? I came to this thread after working 9 out 12 nights in a row looking for a little solidarity in a job that is very autonomous and I can't believe some of the things I'm hearing.