Anybody LIKE working holidays?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Time and a half. No management. Patients/families almost grateful you're there.

Am I the only one that LIKES working holidays? ?

Specializes in kids.

My full time job is in education so a mute point there, but as per diem staff at an LTC, at this point in my life it doesn't much matter to me. Truth be told, if I work, I sometime have friends who will travel here from another state (not my family tho') if not, I mooch off someone else and save myself the travel aggravation. Time and a half is ok too!

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Specializes in ICU, Operating Room, CVOR.

Some of my best work memories are of working the holidays... Like many have mentioned, the patients and families are grateful, the doctors are nicer, and the one's that are not get a little something extra from the supply room in their unit stocking...like an athletic supporter or an enema bag.

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Specializes in ICU.

I actually haven't worked a holiday besides July 4 th this year for almost 2 years. I'm working thanksgiving this year. And with our HH company, that means thanksgiving, the day after and the weekend! I remember my first Christmas morning without my daughter. I worked the night shift , so Christmas eve into Christmas morning. We had a poor guy who was in our ICU suffering for 2 months. His family would not make him a DNR. He coded at 5 am Christmas morning. No family even bothered to answer the phone when we called them to tell them he was coding. He died. By the time we left shift, his family didn't even arrive yet. We all said a little something special that morning to him after he passed.

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No, I love working the holidays. I celebrate Orthodox holidays and I don't like my family anyway? Ha ha. But yes, I too love the OT because I refuse to spend anymore time away from home than my 36 hours so the extra money is aways appreciated. I work nights so management is never here anyway and that is just the way I like it.

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Where are all you people at my hospital?? I hate working holidays!!

I'm trying to convince myself it's not so bad though... I need the money this year :(

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Specializes in Med Surg.

How antisocial am I? I like working holidays because I can get away from the rest of my family that way! shhhhhh!!!!!! ;)

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Sadala said:
How antisocial am I? I like working holidays because I can get away from the rest of my family that way! shhhhhh!!!!!! ;)

And you can always play the "I've been mandated" card to get out of family functions at the last minute!

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Specializes in PACU, ED.

I like working holidays for several reasons. First, I know we won't have elective procedures so I need to bring a book to read. There seems to be a little bit more camaraderie between everyone who is working. Also, I can volunteer to take a holiday for a coworker who has young kids and thereby build up good will which may help me later when I need a day off.

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It's amazing how EVERYONE at work wants to be my friend when the holidays come around. :)

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When you have chosen to be a nurse, you have to be prepared to work during holidays. It may take your time away from family gathering but that is how the life of the nurse is. Whether it is a holiday or not, we have to be ready to help our patients.

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Specializes in ICU.

It's quiet mostly during the holidays at work. Lots of the patients get discharged, transferred out of the ICU, etc. It's not so bad, especially since you get holiday pay. My hospital also gives you a free turkey meal! We also have a holiday party and everyone brings treats in. I work days/evenings 7am-7pm, so I still get to go home and spend time with my family for the evening.

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We don't get paid extra for working holidays, so that's not an incentive. That aside, I don't mind working them. Biggest plus? No upper management. :)

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