does anyone get a set day off

Nurses General Nursing

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We self schedule at my hospital and I work 3 12's. After we all sign up we then all go back and have to move one shift to help the needs of the department. I always have done more than one (I have been working here for 1 year). I really try to help the shifts that are empty as much as I can. I usually make at least 4 changes. Most staff only make the required one change. Anyway....I have worked a 2nd job per diem at a pediatricians office for the past 4 years. I work 4 hours a week and work only around my schedule at the hospital. At my per diem job they have asked me to work one full day a week 8 hours, a set day every week. We chose Mondays. It will work best for me because I often work until 3am but I never do on the weekends. So I called my boss and asked her about this and she said she would not approve a set day off. I asked if it was specifically because it was Monday and she said no she would not approve any day off. She said she will not even do this for anyone for childcare. She told me I can just not schedule myself and if I get scheduled I will have to find someone to work for me. OK so here of my issue....more than a few nurses work a set schedule and have off certain days because they don't have child care. Unfortunately I feel like an idiot for trying to do things the right way and call my boss and ask because my friend I work with always has a certain day off and she just requests it every month and the scheduler never gives her a problem. I already feel like my boss does not like me. She is extremely non confrontational and if asked anything or if a complaint is made she does not like you anymore. I just feel stressed out over this. Wish things could be different. I have committed to Mondays at this other job and am sticking with it.

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Why should one person's day care trump another person's per diem job?

The real second class citizens are the nurses who aren't mommies. Everywhere I have ever worked, "The Mommies" ruled.

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I agree. You decided to have the kids. I didn't. I think its bull that I have to pull up the slack. Your kids are important to you and I understand that. But sorry, my life and needs are just as important to me as your kids are to you.

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hehe this thread made me giggle. First, I am a mom....three wonderful children but I definitely do my share. We had a girl we worked with who used her child ALL THE TIME as a reason she needed to be late, leave early, days off etc. You name it, it was an excuse. Even had a conversation with her one day because again she was late. She said it was just the way it was because she wanted to have breakfast with her child every morning. REALLY? Then get him up earlier. LOL

We all do what we need to and I can tell you the only times I have called out have been......OOPS sorry my daughter is in the ER and they are admitting her for an unknown cardiac issue. Sorry my mom is in the ER and they are taking her into surgery and we have been here all night and yup, I think that is it. Are my kids neglected? Nope. Can we function if I am not with them for a holiday? Sure. We just work around everything. On the other side, I always volunteer to do New Years Eve and day because i don't do anything and the "younger" girls want to go out, Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend if I can please have July 4th off (family reunion every year).

And to answer the topic's question? I do have a set day off to work one day a week at my other job. My manager is cool with it, it's a Tuesday so not a day that interferes with long weekends, etc.

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Hahaha, SanDiego! Many hundreds of years ago, when nurses were allowed to smoke in the hospitals, the smokers took excessive breaks. I didn't smoke, but decided that I also needed extra breaks. So I went to our lounge, propped my feet up and was reading the newspaper when the Supervisor came in and asked what I wasa doing. I told her I was smoking.......

I agree - the reasons for needing a set day off are irrelevant. Schedule yourself accordingly, and don't back down.

Best wishes!

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Specializes in Trauma, Emergency.

Preface: I am 26 and plan on having children as soon as I graduate from nursing school- I want a big family! That said...

IMO, allowing set-schedule for people just because they have children is BS. I get kiddos are important, I get that they're the center of their parents' world, but they are NOT the center of MY world, and MY schedule should not reflect the needs of children who are not my own. There are many people that cannot have children, and there are many people who elect to not have children. Their schedules and scheduling needs should not be penalized or made any less important than the schedules of those who elected to have children. People without children often have many important commitments and obligations- right now I am caring for my father. Is someone else's childcare more important that my father getting the care he needs? I don't think so. And if caring for my father includes having to work a set day every week to pay for extra expenses incurred by having to care for my father, then you bet it's just as important to me as someone else's child care is to them.

Sounds like discrimination to me, OP. Doesn't matter why you need a set day off each week- if you need a set day off for ANY reason and other people are getting set days off for whatever reason, you are entitled to equal scheduling opportunities. Everyone gets to have a set day off, or nobody does.

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

I swear if I hear, "What do you need Christmas off for? You don't have kids" once more I'm turning in my license. You know, maybe I want to see my parents, brothers, and extended family on Christmas.

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It never fails that there are those who are on the receiving end of selective enforcement of rules and those who can do as they please, because they are special individuals. When a person's ulcer bleeds enough to cause hospitalization, over being treated unfairly, it is time to seek employment elsewhere.

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Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.

Yes....my whole ER has set days off! I work W,T,F and every other Sat. I am off Sat, S, M,T one week....Sun, M,T the next....always unless I choose to work on my days off.

The other end of the week works when we are off....and are off when we work.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
It never fails that there are those who are on the receiving end of selective enforcement of rules and those who can do as they please, because they are special individuals. When a person's ulcer bleeds enough to cause hospitalization, over being treated unfairly, it is time to seek employment elsewhere.

Maybe it's time for the employer to do the right thing, if employees are developing bleeding ulcers trying to deal with the whims of mgmt.

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