Working through the holidays?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2004

Wow! I never heard of that happening. Although, I am realizing that it can and does happen

Fortunately doesn't happen often. We did have one nurse last year say "I should be entitled to have Christmas off because my kids are little." No kidding. Fortunately she got it off without much drama. But her sense of entitlement was a bit irritating. In fact I started a thread about it and it went on and on and on for days. LOL

Energizer Bunny · Jun 30, 2004

You know, even as a mother of three, I agree with those of you that say that having children shouldn't give you priority about having holidays off. You know what you are getting into when you take a position.

movealong · Jul 1, 2004

Almost every nursing job I had included working holidays.

The best arrangement (IMHO) was one hospital where if it was your holiday to work, you worked the weekend associated with it. That way one could really enjoy the holiday. And if you had a holiday off, you would be off the weekend that went with it.

I worked alot of places where moms felt they should be given priority for being off on holidays. In my younger days, I worked alot of Christmases for them. I lived far from my family, so it wasn't a hardship. I became a bit hardened though. Those same mommies would never return the favor.

movealong · Jul 1, 2004

Almost every nursing job I had included working holidays.

The best arrangement (IMHO) was one hospital where if it was your holiday to work, you worked the weekend associated with it. That way one could really enjoy the holiday. And if you had a holiday off, you would be off the weekend that went with it.

I worked alot of places where moms felt they should be given priority for being off on holidays. In my younger days, I worked alot of Christmases for them. I lived far from my family, so it wasn't a hardship. I became a bit hardened though. Those same mommies would never return the favor.

RuthieRN · Jul 1, 2004

All of the hospitals that I have worked at have had the sign up sheet with your 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice, etc. My first year as a nurse I had to work Christmas Day, but most places have been pretty good about either giving you Christmas Eve or Christmas Day off in exchange for working one or the other.

On another note, my Mom is an RN and used creative scheduling for holidays when we were kids. I can not remember her not being there for a holiday although I am sure that she worked many. She is a retired PACU/ICU nurse and would sometimes work the 7p-7a shift on Christmas Eve so she could be there Christmas morning, or would take call instead of a scheduled shift and hope not to be called in. As you become familiar with your hospital's holiday policy, you will find creative ways to be with your kids on the most important holidays to you and your family.

I really like the idea of having Christmas on the 26th or 23rd, I am wondering what I will do when I have children of my own?? -Ruthie

RuthieRN · Jul 1, 2004

All of the hospitals that I have worked at have had the sign up sheet with your 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice, etc. My first year as a nurse I had to work Christmas Day, but most places have been pretty good about either giving you Christmas Eve or Christmas Day off in exchange for working one or the other.

On another note, my Mom is an RN and used creative scheduling for holidays when we were kids. I can not remember her not being there for a holiday although I am sure that she worked many. She is a retired PACU/ICU nurse and would sometimes work the 7p-7a shift on Christmas Eve so she could be there Christmas morning, or would take call instead of a scheduled shift and hope not to be called in. As you become familiar with your hospital's holiday policy, you will find creative ways to be with your kids on the most important holidays to you and your family.

I really like the idea of having Christmas on the 26th or 23rd, I am wondering what I will do when I have children of my own?? -Ruthie

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Jul 1, 2004

All of the hospitals that I have worked at have had the sign up sheet with your 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice, etc. My first year as a nurse I had to work Christmas Day, but most places have been pretty good about either giving you Christmas Eve or Christmas Day off in exchange for working one or the other.

I've never liked that plan...off the eve, work the day, or vice versa. You can never get a holiday completely off like that. Not so bad if it's just you, spouse, and kids but if you have family out of town - it's almost impossible to get to go celebrate with them, especially since many places won't accept vacation requests or allow long stretches of off days to be scheduled near the holidays. One unit I worked in as an agency nurse, all staff had to work "their set" during the winter holidays. One team worked Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Day. The other worked Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve. I was never so glad NOT to be a member of a unit's staff. Morale around the holidays was horrible there - lots of bickering among the staff and registry (registry had to work one out of all of the above days/nights).

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Jul 1, 2004

All of the hospitals that I have worked at have had the sign up sheet with your 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice, etc. My first year as a nurse I had to work Christmas Day, but most places have been pretty good about either giving you Christmas Eve or Christmas Day off in exchange for working one or the other.

I've never liked that plan...off the eve, work the day, or vice versa. You can never get a holiday completely off like that. Not so bad if it's just you, spouse, and kids but if you have family out of town - it's almost impossible to get to go celebrate with them, especially since many places won't accept vacation requests or allow long stretches of off days to be scheduled near the holidays. One unit I worked in as an agency nurse, all staff had to work "their set" during the winter holidays. One team worked Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Day. The other worked Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve. I was never so glad NOT to be a member of a unit's staff. Morale around the holidays was horrible there - lots of bickering among the staff and registry (registry had to work one out of all of the above days/nights).

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Jul 1, 2004

I worked alot of places where moms felt they should be given priority for being off on holidays. In my younger days, I worked alot of Christmases for them. I lived far from my family, so it wasn't a hardship. I became a bit hardened though. Those same mommies would never return the favor.

Not only will these "I deserve priority" mommies not return the favor, but then they also want you to cover their weekends (especially in the summer), because of kids' ballgames, birthday parties, etc.

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Jul 1, 2004

I worked alot of places where moms felt they should be given priority for being off on holidays. In my younger days, I worked alot of Christmases for them. I lived far from my family, so it wasn't a hardship. I became a bit hardened though. Those same mommies would never return the favor.

Not only will these "I deserve priority" mommies not return the favor, but then they also want you to cover their weekends (especially in the summer), because of kids' ballgames, birthday parties, etc.

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Jul 1, 2004

I know it would never happen in "our" world but my husband says they never had trouble covering holidays when he worked as a paramedic. They paid double time and a half. They had to turn people away they had so many trying to sign up for holiday.

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Jul 1, 2004

I know it would never happen in "our" world but my husband says they never had trouble covering holidays when he worked as a paramedic. They paid double time and a half. They had to turn people away they had so many trying to sign up for holiday.