So I'm currently working in a surgical onco floor as a new grad nurse and my shift begins tomorrow. I just finished a month of didactics and now we will be sent to our units.
So my didactics went from 8a-5pm and I had weekends off. That meant I had all the time to attend Church every sunday and have some free time. So I was called as a member of the young women presidency in our ward and also was assigned a teaching assignment for the youth. So I accepted these callings because I have always wanted to do these before.
What I am very sad about it is that we start working with shifting schedule this week (just as all us nurses usually do) and ofc, I may not always have the time to go to church and attend to my calling (or teach) every weekend consistently and this makes me sad. I spoke with my bishop about this and he knows I am on a shifting schedule. He said I didnt need to be there all the time.
Im just worried I might get schedules that will require me not to attend church for a loooong period and it makes me honestly sad. How did you deal with shifting schedules and Church callings and responsibilities?
That's great you accepted the calling, I am not in the sameness situation as you, I actually gave up one of my callings during school/work but looking back, I think I could have done it.
Anyways. You're part of the presidency, awesome!!! You have 3 women to look to. You have 1st coun, 2nd, and Pres and sometimes secretary. You're not alone because you'll have people to support you. Work it out! Tell your supports, teaching positions can be rotated, maybe you can teach once a month and assign the rest, get your schedule before hand and let your 1st /2nd coun know. Do what you can and after 2 months, talk with your bishop about your progress and if it's too much or not. If you feel you can't do the job justice and guide yw, then step down, but NOT before trying and NoT before asking for help. Good luck OP!
I totally understand where you are coming from. I am LDS and have loved my callings in the YW. When I first joined the LDS church I was already a nurse, I worried about my work and the injunction of keeping the sabbath day holy. and I worried about how I might put others out or over burden them, by accepting a calling and not being able to participate every week. Let me tell you, it all works out. We do the best we can, both at work, home and church, but we are human, not super human.
President Gordon B. Hinckley talked about this in the June 21, 2003 Worldwide Leadership Training:
"Each of us has a fourfold responsibility. First, we have a responsibility to our families.
Second, we have a responsibility to our employers.
Third, we have a responsibility to the Lord's work.
Go to church when you can, attend those meetings that you can, and don't beat yourself up when you cannot. When you are at work... let your mind stay at work and concentrate on your patients and being the best nurse and advocate that you can be for them.
I do think two calling might be bit excessive (YW and Sunday school for the youth) I have done YW and Gospel Doctrine at the same time and it was super hectic, but I was also well enough along in my nursing career, that I'm done with the every other weekend gig. I would never have taken both of those when I was working Sunday's. There is no shame in saying it's too much, I can only accept one calling.
PS: I work in a community that has a high rate of LDS, there are a lot of us that are nurses... or should I say, a lot of the nurses at the hospital are LDS. There is no guilt tripping from other LDS for working on Sundays, and there would not be enough people to trade and get it off. So we do what we need to to support our families, serve the Lord and stay sane.
In all fairness, I don't think the OP was complaining or looking for ways to get out of working Sundays. S/he is simply asking other nurses in the same situation how they manage. To the OP, this is a loss and s/he is sad about it. No entitlement there. No whining either, just honestly looking for advice.
Thank you so much. It is what happened to me this month of my schedule! I didnt ask or tell my manager anything about this (I never requested a thing or two from him) but surprisingly, I got about two Sundays off and night weekends this month of June. Of course, this may change and vary over the next couple of months and I am very accepting of that, but hey at least I have some free Sundays this June!
Also thanks a lot for all the responses. I wish people didn't argue with each other often tho :/
I cant reply to each and everyone of you. Coincidentally, my manager gave me a couple of weekends night and off even though I never spoke to him about this. I'll enjoy that one for this month :)
Thanks a lot and God bless to AN and all our nurses :)
To whom are you all speaking? The OP? She didn't say anything about not working the Sundays, nor ask for any pointers on how to screw others out of their weekends off, nor state that it's a sin for her to work on Sundays, nor...blah blah blah...
What gives?
Some people here are just bitter and want others to suffer as they have.
You can also switch to night shift. You would be available to attend church and other activities after your weekend shift. But weekends and holidays are the reality for most nurses.
I've done that, gone to the early church service after working 12 hour nights. And let me tell you, I don't think I've ever prayed so hard in church, but a lot of it was "please God let this be over soon so I can go to bed!" After doing it a couple times I decided it wasn't good for my body, my soul or the other drivers on the road.
Specializes in BNAT instructor, ICU, Hospice,triage.
Well, that was a disgusting read!!! I am appalled at all of the horrifying evil responses on this thread. I have been a nurse for 31 years, worked every single scheduled weekend. never once called in or tried to get out of it! So quit attacking us! And the disgusting people on here that attack us for the one and only reason---- We attend religious services. It is really eye opening to see nurses act like this to people of faith. I am truly absolutely 100% disgusted by these responses attacking people because we are not as miserable and hateful as you. No reason to attack us. No reason at all. You do realize that holistic nursing care is the most effective? That means that people that have a spiritual need for healing as well as physical, mental, social etc. Wow!!!! Please do, Grow up, these people that call yourselves nurses. Just because we are sad to miss our fellowship and love and support we receive at religious services does not give you the right to attack us. *fact* There is actually another life outside of nursing, we all don't worship the career of nursing 24/7 like you do.
Good Luck and have fun with your Youth Leadership, it sounds really exciting.
Scheduling and shift work is always hard, sometimes it just takes prayer to help us through it.
It will probably take a few months for you to adjust and find a routine. I remember when I first started out it took me about 6 months for me to find a groove that balanced things I wanted to do. SOmetimes knowing that you have the support of people, especially it sounds like in your church, will really help.
JKL33 said it all- I have no children and nurses in all the 4 countries I have worked do lots of compromises for their kids' schedules- we who do not have kids do not judge them- why are people so eager to judge others when they ask for accommodations to practice their religion? It can be done, OP is not saying doesn't want to work, or doesn't care about patients or other nurses who do not have such needs- stop judging- y'all know there is a way around such needs- be they academic ambitions, religious commitments, kids etc -why is religion so frowned upon by some who are free to not be religious? Be as nice to people as you expect them to be nice to you..
Not sure if this has been mentioned but OP have you ever considered school nursing, clinical nursing or another speciality that would not require weekends?
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Well, that was a disgusting read!!! I am appalled at all of the horrifying evil responses on this thread. I have been a nurse for 31 years, worked every single scheduled weekend. never once called in or tried to get out of it! So quit attacking us! And the disgusting people on here that attack us for the one and only reason---- We attend religious services. It is really eye opening to see nurses act like this to people of faith. I am truly absolutely 100% disgusted by these responses attacking people because we are not as miserable and hateful as you. No reason to attack us. No reason at all. You do realize that holistic nursing care is the most effective? That means that people that have a spiritual need for healing as well as physical, mental, social etc. Wow!!!! Please do, Grow up, these people that call yourselves nurses. Just because we are sad to miss our fellowship and love and support we receive at religious services does not give you the right to attack us. *fact* There is actually another life outside of nursing, we all don't worship the career of nursing 24/7 like you do.
I am glad you are so kind and compassionate, nonjudgemental. I'm glad you're not miserable and hateful. So how come you're attacking those with whom you disagree? "Disgusted", "miserable", "hateful", "evil", "disgusting". You're not exactly presenting yourself as a person of the faith. At least, not any faith that follows Jesus.
Lena1337
1 Post
That's great you accepted the calling, I am not in the sameness situation as you, I actually gave up one of my callings during school/work but looking back, I think I could have done it.
Anyways. You're part of the presidency, awesome!!! You have 3 women to look to. You have 1st coun, 2nd, and Pres and sometimes secretary. You're not alone because you'll have people to support you. Work it out! Tell your supports, teaching positions can be rotated, maybe you can teach once a month and assign the rest, get your schedule before hand and let your 1st /2nd coun know. Do what you can and after 2 months, talk with your bishop about your progress and if it's too much or not. If you feel you can't do the job justice and guide yw, then step down, but NOT before trying and NoT before asking for help. Good luck OP!