Child care and schedule

[ABQLNDRN]

On our unit, we fill out a "wish list" for our upcoming schedule. In the past, our scheduler has said that she prioritizes who gets requested days off based on the reason for needing the day off. At this point in my life, I have to request Sundays off because I have absolutely NO daycare on that day (and believe me, I have tried to find a daycare provider). My husband has tried to get Sundays off so that I can work them and can't. He is still trying. So, as I usually do, I did my request for Sundays. Now, I am scheduled to work Easter and can't. I have brought the issue up to the scheduler, who says that she didn't give me the day off because other people got their requests in before me. Most of the people who request Sundays off are actually available but just WANT the day off. I know this because they tell me this in the breakroom. The reason I get didn't my request in before them--I was sick with the flu for an entire week, then was off the week after to take care of my daughter who'd had surgery.

I am so upset about this that I am ready to go to HR and our CEO about the issue. I am ready to contact the Union.

I believe our employer should provide daycare if they are going to require people to work on days that they don't have daycare. They should not be threatening workers' employment because of this.

What do you all think? (By the way, I am not suggesting that the "single people" should work all of the holidays and weekends. I'd gladly work them if I had childcare!)

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Having a system that awards requests based on reason only invites discontent and encourages people to lie. It doesn't seem fair others get every single Sunday off, but they picked you to work. On the other hand unless you were hired with the guarantee of having every single Sunday off, you have to expect this type of thing to come up.

I hope something works out for you.

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

Worse case scenerio. You call in sick on Easter. It wouldnt be the 1st time some one did it. The best thing to do in my opinion would be straight forward with your boss. I can not work on Easter, I am sorry, but you know my situation and I can not leave the kids home alone. Let her know if replacement aka temp agency/pool will not be covering then someone will have to, but you will unfortunately have to call in on that day.

Then profusely apologize, offer to pick up somewhere else but the facts are the facts, you can not work on Easter.

Good luck...

Yep. I wouldn't stress out this much over this. If it's work vs kids, the kids win. It happens. We can't always be perfect people.

If it were me, I'd call in sick-but I'd let the manager know that it's coming.

[pirap]

call in

[ABQLNDRN]

I think a lot of people are misunderstanding where I am heading with this post. Maybe I didn't word the orginal post well. I am trying to say this: it would be helpful if the hospital had a childcare facility for its employees. It would allow for more workers to be available more often and would erase a lot of these issues. I am surely not stating that the hospital should pay for it. Believe it or not, there are a lot of hospitals that do have on-site daycare that is open 24 hours for its employees.

This issue is not isolated to hospitals. Many employers have recognized the very issues that I have raised in this post and have, in a gesture of progresive thinking and acting, begun to operate daycare facilites for their employees. Today's workforce has a large population of female workers. Many of these female workers have children. In order for women to work, their children must be cared for. Some working women work M-F, 9-5 jobs and can easily find daycare. Those of us who are expected to be available 7 days a week are not so lucky. Very few daycare providers are willing to work weekends. I am lucky that my daycare provider is willing to work some Saturdays for me, but because she needs at least one day off a week, she does not work Sundays. Therefore, until my husband is able to get Sundays off or I am fortunate enough to find a Sunday sitter, I cannot work them.

There are VERY few employees that aren't in the military that are available 7 days a week. Almost every single employee on my unit requests certain days off every single schedule. I'm sure most of you reading this have requested certain days off because you have had appointments, obligations, or maybe you just wanted to get out of town for a couple of days. How would you like it if your employer simply ignored your requests? Did you enter this job with your arms and calendars open wide for whatever your employer wanted? Or did you enter this job believing in FLEXIBILITY in scheduling? FLEXIBILITY is a big reason many people like nursing!!!

Also, I found my original job application. I did note that I would need Sundays off and they still hired me, so I guess I DO have a contract!

Anyhow, thanks for your opinions.

[ABQLNDRN]

honestly i can relate, we have 4 kids and live in a town with no family, closest member is my 80 year old grandma 2 hours away. my husband has to travel a great deal for work, sometimes very last minute.

i am lucky though to have wonderful friends who have stepped out to the family plate many times for me. do you have a close girl friend that can watch the kids on easter? or what about another police mans wife, they can i am sure empathize to your situation. i know being a holiday and all you would not want to impose your children on another family, but i am sure you have a friend whom you would do it for. people in general are really good and do want to help others.

i think in your original post the talk of consulting a lawyer offended some, i know it did me, my 1st initial thought was "are you kidding?" nursing is a 24/7 job, you know that as well as i, and i am sure you have encountered some who have taken advantage of scheduling.

worse case scenerio. you call in sick on easter. it wouldnt be the 1st time some one did it. the best thing to do in my opinion would be straight forward with your boss. i can not work on easter, i am sorry, but you know my situation and i can not leave the kids home alone. let her know if replacement aka temp agency/pool will not be covering then someone will have to, but you will unfortunately have to call in on that day.

then profusely apologize, offer to pick up somewhere else but the facts are the facts, you can not work on easter.

good luck...

yeah, the lawyer comment was dumb.

thanks for your thoughts!!! i appreciate them!

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

I totally agree, it may be unpopular, but I've seen many nurses struggle with this issue of childcare. Hospital nursing has irregular hours, and conventional childcare often doesn't accomodate many working parents. Single parents and duel income parents sometimes have incredible struggles dealing with this.

One very good solution would be for hospitals to have on site, round the clock childcare available. This would be such a bonus and make life so much easier for so many!!!!

It takes a village to raise a child. I think it's wrong to brush off the problems of other parents who struggle with this issue. I read comments on this thread that are incredibly dismissive and lacking in compassion and understanding!

[bagladyrn, RN]

Keep in mind that in order to give you the day off, someone else, who by now has seen the schedule is going to have to be told that they can't have it off after all. Doesn't seem very fair from that perspective, does it? If you call in, you know your coworkers will be working short (and they already will know you are not sick). This may cause some "attitude" toward you.

It's a little last minute now, but what you may want to consider in the future, is what I did when my son was young: I arranged with another single mom on my unit that we would work opposite holidays and would watch the other's child on the holidays we were off. When we presented this idea to the head nurse she was fine with it as it meant one of us would always be available with no fuss.

As has been said previously, maybe this Easter is one your husband can take off.

[angel337, MSN, RN]

i think you should just be honest with your manager. you can't come in..plain and simple. the hospital will not close if you don't show up for easter. the fact that the scheduler scheduled you on a day that they KNOW you can't work kind of rubs me the wrong way. good luck, i know its hard. sundays are a struggle for me to, but i go between my parents, husband and babysitter. some way, some how it always works out.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

If you got it in the written job offer that makes this a whole new issue. I wish you had said that to begin with.

[rn/writer, RN]

This thread could have gone off the deep end as some do. Some points were over-stated at the beginning, and there were a few misunderstandings and harsh responses. But, instead of continuing to heat up, the thread has actually settled down and become a really good exchange of ideas. If the OP's co-workers/manager could communicate as well, she'd be on her way to having the problem solved.

Thanks to all who have helped to keep this thread on track.

maralenn, I hope you can find a workable solution. Your kids are lucky to have a mom that's looking out for them.

Just a side note--I wonder how many nurse/cop or nurse/firefighter marriages are out there. These have to be among the most challenging combinations for finding reliable childcare.

[hope3456, ASN, RN]

Maralenn,

I totally empathize with you. I had to turn down a job that I really wanted d/t not being able to find childcare, so I totally understand the point you are trying to make - we nurses are at a disadvantage when it comes to getting conventional childcare, basically thru daycare centers. most of them don't accommodate shiftworkers. We have to turn to asking favors of relatives (if we are lucky enough to have some in the area - i don't) neighbors, friends, ect. Sometimes anyone we can find. And then we are supposed to think about 'quality care?'

Alot of hospitals do offer help with childcare issues.....the one I work for contracts with a babysitting agency. I work around my DH's schedule, but when there are gaps I have gotten a babysitter thru this agency for only $4hr. The hospital pays the other $7hr. I had very good luck with the sitters - they were great. It is considered an employee benefit and you get 100hrs per year. i'm sure it is alot cheaper for them to offer this than have to replace a nurse who calls in b/c of lack of childcare.

i don't know where you live but where I am alot of people use craigslist.com to find a occasional babysitter.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

This is a big problem in nursing, and in society generally. We talk about the nursing shortage, and also the problem of single mothers, and one win win solution would be affordable childcare for shift workers! Instead, what I read on these childcare threads by my fellow nurses is "You knew what the hours were when you went into nursing, now love it or leave it!"and "I had to find childcare for my child, why should I worry about your problems?".

What about finding some solutions? The best, and most family friendly, is ON SITE CHILDCARE in the workplace!!! Our society is suffering right now because there are too many latchkey kids who are sitting around the house eating junkfood, playing video games, going online to Mediasites, and getting into sex and drugs. 40 years ago most Moms were home and children were being monitored. Now, people are disconnected from their families, unsupervised, and getting into more trouble. They are also getting fat because they aren't able to get out of their houses until their parents get home!

Not every parent has a good support system. I ask you, why not make hospital nursing a doable option for people? 12 hour shifts are logistical killers for parents. We need to improve!!!!