Do you get to take all of your alloted vacation time?

OBNURSEHEATHER · Feb 17, 2003

Originally posted by konni
That seems kind of bizarre, since the busiest times in hospitals (at least at the ones I've worked at) are November-April. In the summer is when things get slow and we get cancelled quite a bit.

See, things don't seem to work that way on our unit. We not any more or less busy in the summer, it just seems that people are less willing to pick up extra time in the summer, and most of our per diems only pick up the minimum time in the summer. It's definately worse for us in the summer.

Heather

renerian, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2003

In the home health jobs I have had we were all so short none of us got any vacation time. I worked 60 to 70 hours per week for over a year and a half. I left home health as I was burned out.

renerian

ratchit · Feb 18, 2003

Originally posted by NicuGal
I have waited for 16.5 years to be able to take vacation when I want, just as the people above me. It is just really ticking me off. And management wants our scheduler to make it 15 on each shift, which is one more than we usually use during this time frame. So, then we will float to the other floors while those people all get their vacations! Can you tell I am peeved! I am sure our NM will take her 4 weeks of vacation and all her comp time as she pleases!

So people who haven't worked there as long as you don't get ANY summer vacation at all? That doesn't seem fair either. I like the system someone else described above- starting with most senior, you sign up for 1-2 weeks at a time. If, after everyone gets SOMETHING, there is more time available, then it starts at the top of the list again. Giving you first pick seems fair, but giving all the summer vacation time to a select few people doesn't.

Floating people to cover vacations or people who call out chronically isn't fair- one place I worked had units that understaffed themselves on holidays on purpose then expected other units to cover them. Grr. Dropping the big changes on you last minute is wrong, too. But if no one with less than 16 years experience gets a summer vacation, I suspect you'll soon end up back at the bottom of the seniority list- I wouldn't work there.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2003

Fortunately, we haven't had any dictated time we aren't allowed to take. During busy times, however, they have been known to refuse vacations if too many people are asking at the same time.

We can save up 500 hours vacation time, which is also our sick time. I never allow myself to get up too horribly high. I have over 300 saved for emergencies, until disability would kick in if I'm out for an extended period of time.

We do have the option at the end of the year of cashing out up to 100 hours, if we haven't called in sick an x number of days.

That's an aweful long period of time not to be able to take vacation. I'm sorry for you! I can't make it longer than six months without an extended period of time off.

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 18, 2003

We can cash out our vacation time at the beginning of each quarter -- as long as we leave 80 hours "in the bank" to be used to cover unplanned events.

And about "the busiest times?" For OB, nurseries, and NICU's, the summer is usually the worst because the birth rates tend to be higher in summer and early fall (all those winter storm and holiday pregnancies). In the winter months, those units whose census are influenced by flu season and the other bugs that travel from person to person in the winter see their census rise -- at least in North America.

llg

ShandyLynnRN, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2003

Originally posted by cactus wren
Gee, I always use up all my vacation(PTO) time to keep paycheck decentwhen i get put oncall...would love to have vacation..not happening

:rolleyes: me too I never have more than 40 hours or so of paid time off... and I save it because inevitably I will have to use it to cover low census time.

We don't get a set amount of time per say.... we just get a certain amount of time each pay period... for me, its like 6.2 hours... it increases with the length of time you are employed there.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Feb 19, 2003

They are letting us have 160 hours per week...that is only 4 full time people per week from May until December.

As for leaving there, why would I leave and end up at the lowest part of the totem pole? It seems that is a big thing with a lot of people....I am in the top 1/3 of the seniority list, have an awesome PERS pension (I'm out at 51 with full benefits and good pay). The issue is that management decides this a few days before hand. Last year everyone got at least a week in the summer. This year I am sure only the first 18 or so people will have the slots filled.

I think a lot of it has to do with that we have 100 nurses in our unit. That is why we VOTED to pick up ET (8 hours a month) so that people could get out. Now they are telling us no. I would think that the ET would be well warranted to keep the entire staff happy. It is only for 3 months out of the year.

It will be interesting to see how this pans out this week!

nimbex, RN · Feb 19, 2003

We only have 11-12 RN's on our night shift and need 5 per night. So EVERYONE is guarenteed a week vacation, no matter where you sit on the totem pole, Everyone picks one week during peek time (seniority then down). Then the requests go around for a second week (seniority down). OUr one rule is that only ONE person off at a time, this will only drop our staffing to 4 and we do mandatory call (all year round), which covers most shifts, bringing it up to a needed 5.

How can vacation be refused if there is only one person per shift requesting?

good luck:cool:

carol

nimbex, RN · Feb 19, 2003

forgot to mention, I have about 5 plus weeks off per year.... I can take it through year.... never all at once, It would block over a month where no other staff could request off and that would be unfair.... I have the 3rd top seniority too.