Am I Being Unreasonable? Please Give Me Your Opinion!

ktwlpn, LPN · Dec 19, 2006

You are NOT being unreasonable.I have never seen this in my years of practice.Part -timers bennies are pro-rated and that includes their holiday requirement.You should not be working all of those major holidays either.Is your facility really short staffed? You should check your policy book.I am betting that your DON is the type to give you all just what you will take..It's a shame you didn't go to the DON before Thanksgiving.You may be threatened with termination if you refuse to work Xmas eve,day and New Years- but if you did so I don't think many of us would blame you....

ABQLNDRN · Dec 19, 2006

I'm really looking for some feedback from other nurses on my work situation. I work as an RN part-time in a nursing home, three 8-hour shifts a week. My benefits, therefore, are pro-rated at 60% of a full-time employee; for example I earn 4.8 hours of holiday pay instead of the 8 hours that a full-time nurse would get. However, I am required to work as many holidays as a full-time nurse works. This year I am working Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Day...and as I said, I only work three shifts a week.
I also work as many weekend shifts as a full-time nurse works. So, during a 4-week period, a full-time nurse works 5 weekend shifts out of 20 shifts (25%). I work 5 weekend shifts out of 12 shifts (41.6%). When I mentioned this to the DON, she seemed not to understand why I think this is unfair. What do you other nurses think of this? Am I being unreasonable? All feedback is welcomed! Thanks.

No, you're not being unreasonable. It sounds like they are trying to hose you.

outcomesfirst, BSN, RN · Dec 19, 2006

We all make choices. Choose to leave, or expect more of the same.

AfloydRN, BSN, RN · Dec 20, 2006

I work reg PT in Cardiac ICU and am required to work every other weekend and every other Holiday. I also work in a Union hospital so that type of behavior would not fly. What Holidays are the FT RN's working?

AtlantaRN, RN · Dec 20, 2006

i'm part time at a hospital, and my requirement is 2 minor holidays and 1 major a year; for full time it's 2 major holidays, and 4 minor.....

aileenve, ASN, RN · Dec 20, 2006

You are not being unreasonable! The facility is; there should be a schedule where the holidays are rotated. For instance, if you work Thanksgiving, you should be off Christmas. We cannot have a holiday off if we were off the year before. Thats the way it is if you work hospital or nursing care facility. Think about looking else where for a job... :madface:

RNOTODAY, BSN, RN · Dec 20, 2006

U N I O N !!!!!

No, its not fair at all. But, I guess, without a union, they can do what they want......

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Dec 20, 2006

I've heard managers argue that they need to split full-time positions to double the weekend shifts worked and holidays. So, yea, it's not fair, but no employer guarantees fair. Find yourself a better deal. Unless you have a union, there is no guarantee things will be fair. You are responsible for working out the best deal for you!

I had a job once where I made per diem rate, worked full-time or part-time (whatever I felt like that month), worked as little as 3 weekend shifts/6 weeks (Fridays counted), had minimal holiday requirement, and never got canceled. Was that fair to the other nurses I worked with that had full-time positions? They in theory would have to work more weekends/holidays to make up for my not working them.

It's not a matter of fair or not fair; it's the deal you sign on for. Nursing is nice in that you generally have the flexibility to move to a better position.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Dec 20, 2006

I worked PT Tues Wed Th for a couple of years. Sheesh, one year Thanksgiving, Christmas and NYD were all on a Thurs.

That's when I got with another PT and we arranged on our weekend a month I'd work Sun and she'd work Sat. She'd work Christmas cause her family had their big holiday on Thanksgiving. It worked wonderfully.

What about presenting this to the DON and try for a 2 nurse full time slot.

Alpha13 · Dec 20, 2006

Well I guess I'll be the only one to say that you are being unreasonable. Priority is alway given to full timers. If it didn't work that way people could just work a shift at 4 different hospitals to avoid the hassles of full time positions (as your benefits are even pro-rated accordingly)

SaderNurse05, BSN, RN · Dec 20, 2006

When I worked at the hospital the part timers did get more of the holidays because they were paid more per hour. They also were not guaranteed their hours and were the first to be called off if there was a census problem. They also got floated first. Not much fun to be part time in my book. That being said, see what other PT people are doing and try to negotiate something more favorable. If it really bugs you find somewhere else that is willing to accomodate your wishes. Good Luck!!