But I have little kids!

fab4fan · Oct 11, 2003

Well, I don't celebrate Xmas, which is why I used to work the holiday (and others) every year, so people with kids could be off. But after several years when that was not reciprocated, I finally said "the heck with it" and started taking my holidays.

In my mind, whether or not you celebrate the holiday isn't important; if it's your holiday and you want to be off, then take it.

allnurses Guide · Oct 11, 2003

Originally posted by Rena RN 2003
:chuckle

this thread is a riot.

has anyone ever not been inconvenienced by being asked to work when you aren't scheduled, regardless of the time of year or holiday?

we have a set holiday schedule. you are either on A, B, or C so that you work one winter holiday and one summer holiday once every 3 years. i don't get upset when someone with children asks me to work for them no more than i would get upset at a person with no children. i either answer yes or no and leave it at that. how else is a person to get a day off if it's not by asking around? and why should they not ask? there may just be someone out there that doesn't mind taking that day so that they can be with family.

.
i work with nurses that have been in the field 20+ years as well as new grads. i have yet to ever hear anyone of them say they "deserve" to have holidays off.

i guess it takes all kinds though.

Good post Rena . . . . why get upset with people who have to say no on their day off because they scheduled their kid's dentist appointment on that particular day because they knew it was a day off? I work part-time and my in-laws watch my son at their ranch. I give them my schedule ahead of time so they can plan their doctor appts, etc., on the days they don't have Danny. They are my only option as I won't use daycare (just my own belief) and I work part-time for a reason. I don't want to work FULLTIME. I want to raise my kids myself. I will not feel guilty because I have to say no. And I say yes when I can . . .like today I said yes to being on-call for OB tonight.

We do what we can . . . otherwise, put your family first.

steph

fab4fan · Oct 11, 2003

I think the point is more that some people feel that they should never have to do holidays/off-shifts/weekends by virtue of the fact that they have kids, and those who don't have kids should be the first ones assigned to these shifts.

Usually, if I needed to be accommodated, it was another single person w/o kids who helped me...all the married with kids were "unavailable." Funny how I was one of the first people they came to, though, when they needed to be off.

My rule: If you always say "no" when I ask, then you get "no" right back. If you're willing to be flexible, so am I.

featherzRN, MSN · Oct 11, 2003

I am childfree by choice and always will be-but that doesn't mean I don't want to go see my family on the holidays. People without children still have families. :) I don't celebrate the religious aspect of Christmas, but I still love the holiday and want it off if at all possible. Rotating is the only fair way, kids or no kids. I could care less about New Years eve. :)

nurseygrrl, LPN · Oct 11, 2003

We go by seniority at my place of work. I feel this is REALLY unfair. The same people get Christmas EVERY year. They even take your day off from you if it falls on one of the major holidays (this happened to me last year) and give you an alternate day. I think rotating is the only fair way. I have a young daughter, but I don't feel that entitles me to have holidays off.

RNKPCE · Oct 11, 2003

stevielynn

I agree with your not feeling guility about not working extra or switching with some one. I work part time for a reason. My mother in law watches my kids too. If I switch it not only affects me but them too and that is not fair. I work PM's so there are often plans made on my day off that would be difficult to switch, or my husband might have plans too in the evening. But I have never once been late for work in 17 years and have had many years with no absences. So I am very dependable on the days I am scheduled. I also have only missed work once for a sick kid because my husband is able to come home from work early and be with my kids when they are sick if I am scheduled to work.

mother/babyRN, RN · Oct 11, 2003

You are allowed to rant...I remember going through that..Also was the same with mandatory overtime, as though I was thrilled to stay..No one deserves the time off. ( and I have little kids)..It should be fairly distributed on a rotating year basis..You do one one year and one the next, and too bad that there are kids involved..Suck up...I do..I don't expect special treatment because I have children.......

EastCoast · Oct 11, 2003

Originally posted by mother/babyRN
..Suck up...I do..I don't expect special treatment because I have children.......

I have kids too and what i''m reading in this post is that it's not that these single people are 'against ' nurses with kids as a poster implied rather they are tired of the sense of entitlement, as another reader implied.

If side deals are made and people get it off by mutual switches good for them. But please stop thinking that it's 'not fair' that you are on a designated holiday and complaining. Find someone to work for you and make it a good deal for them. I've worked a quite a few christmases to get the 4th of july off b/c it is a huge holiday in my family.

Also, at our facility i have never seen a person scowl b/c somebody brought their kids to the unit to say hi to mom or dad during their shift...christmas or not. Be creative. Treat your kids like everyday is a holiday.

allnurses Guide · Oct 11, 2003

I don't think this is a question of the people with kids being the only ones inflexible. This happens with all sorts of people. Like a woman who wants every weekend off because her husband works out of town and she can only see him on the weekend. Fortunately she found another nurse who agrees to this schedule and who then works every weekend. But the rule is full time nurses have to do every other weekend at our facility and you know that when you sign up.

And seniority does stink when it comes to holidays. Rotation is the only fair way and then make deals with other nurses if you really want the day off.

I almost got called in for an OB but she just delivered.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 11, 2003

Originally posted by sjoe
So what does your union have to say about this?

What does your union have to say?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 11, 2003

Originally posted by fab4fan
I think the point is more that some people feel that they should never have to do holidays/off-shifts/weekends by virtue of the fact that they have kids, and those who don't have kids should be the first ones assigned to these shifts.

Exactly what I was saying. A co-worker actually said that. Not that she wants every holiday, but that she is entitled to Xmas off because she has little kids, that she should be given preference based on that fact. She seriously thinks that.

It's extremely hard being a working parent. I understand that. Family comes first and foremost. I understand that. But she should also understand that when she was hired, we are going to be open Xmas Day and there is a possibility of working that day, if not this year, then next. You can't have every Xmas off while your kids are little. Sorry.

Now in everyday scheduling, we all have needs that can and should be accommodated. We have a nurse that on her weekends can only work 8-hour shifts because of her child. I have no problem with that. We have students that need special schedules. I have no problem with that. I like my Mondays off to go bowling every week.

Employees needs, families and lifestyles should be a consideration. But on major holidays, there needs to be a fair system that isn't based on whether one has small kids or not, because as was said we all have lives.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 11, 2003

Originally posted by SC RN
Yes, I want Christmas off. My ex-husband has rights to our child on Christmas Eve Day til midnight and I have him on Christmas Day. In exchange, I'm willing to work Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Years Eve and New Years Day. Heck, thrown in Easter, 4th of July and any other holiday, too. I'll work them all.

And it's not single or childless people that I think should work Christmas. I think that people who don't think it's a special holiday, or those that don't mind working because they celebrate on Christmas Eve. Or split the shift with me! It's the 12 hours that kills me on Christmas.

So, yeah, I want Christmas off. This year, I was fortunate to get it off but I'm working almost all of the other holidays. No complaints from me. I'll cover anyone's needed time off anytime I'm able. I'll come in (like I am doing today) at 3pm to cover the last four hours of someone's shift who needs to study for a mid-term. I'll help out wherever I can. I just want Christmas off.

That's a great attitude and I'm glad that you got the time off and hope it's a special day. :)