Having to work Holidays:(

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Oct 16, 2004

Well my facility is rather stingie on money..like so many others...so my poor LPN's get to work holidays because to pay a RN double is too expensive. I feel bad for them because that isn't fair!

I have been fortunate to not work major holidays for this reason..and I too have kids. But my hubby usually works those days too (paramedic) so they always seem to get screwed up anyway! This year we have both requested holidays off in advance that we really need off (like Christmas and our Anniversary which we still have yet to spend together!!!!!!!)...He will get it off, me is iffy because I will always be the low man on the seniority totem pole (the nurses there have worked there 10+ years...me 2!).

But most people I know work around this by celebrating on a different day, especially AFTER their paycheck comes in after the double pay! LOL!

chemoqueen, BSN, RN · Oct 16, 2004

Would your older children be upset if you "moved" xmas day up a day early? I did this two years age for my son.

First off...yes I love being a nurse...but I hate having to work the major holidays
This year I have been assigned X-mas Eve...which would be okay if there were only the 14 and 12yo, but the 4yo will not be able to wait until I get home X-mas Morning...he is up @ 5am...I work 1hr away and my shift doesn't end until 7am..I would much rather work Thanksgiving, X-mas day night, New Years Eve, whatever, but I hate X-mas eve
Call me a cry baby....but does anyone else love their job, but really despise this aspect of it??

JacelRN, BSN, RN · Oct 16, 2004

Could you trade with anyone? I just traded to work Christmas Day instead of Christmas Eve?

Hope you work it out for you and your family... :idea:

JacelRN

altomga, ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN · Oct 16, 2004

Could you trade with anyone? I just traded to work Christmas Day instead of Christmas Eve?
Hope you work it out for you and your family...
JacelRN

The kids would be upset, plus to me it just wouldn't feel the same...the adults always do X-mas on the 24th so the 25th is all about the kids..the 4yo of course believes in Santa and he would DEFINATELY wonder what was up if we did it on another day (with countdown calenders and other people he is around, etc.) I am going to try and switch though..our holiday assignments just came out!

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Oct 16, 2004

I simply told my kids that I asked Santa to visit my in-laws so we could celebrate on another day, or when we get off work (normally my hubby works that day)! That helped a great deal! Especially since we already have to do re-arranging with my step daughter visits. My son is very cool about it, and said "its because Santa knows you give gifts all year!" What a cutie pie!!!!!!!

Energizer Bunny · Oct 16, 2004

I guess I would be upset too, but the facts are that we all know what we are getting into by going in to this profession. When I took a job with a halfway house for women, I knew that I was going to have to work some holidays and we had to work around it. My kids were 2 and 4 at the time and I was pregnant with another. I know now that I am looking at having to make adjustments....I chose to go to school to be a nurse, so I am going to have to suffer any consequences, such as working holidays, weekends, etc.

EmilyCCRN · Oct 16, 2004

I was raised on a "we'll celebrate Thanksgiving the following Tuesday" schedule because my parents are (retired) police Officers, so I'm sort of resigned to the fact that I'll be working all hours and all days when I graduate. Interestingly enough, one of the major reasons I decided not to accept my admission to nursing school the first time (back in 2000) was that I was tired of "working holidays" and the job I had just taken was Monday-Friday, 0800-1700, and holidays off (with pay). I stayed at that job for almost five years, and I felt like I kind of got that out of my system and I'm ready to work holidays when I get out of school. :)

P_RN, ADN, RN · Oct 16, 2004

We started the Dec 24 thing years ago when my "switching buddy" passed away. I'd work all Thanksgivings, she'd work all Christmases and since we were both PT we also split our weekend-her Saturday, me Sunday.

Anyway one year I pulled Christmas to work....the kids were in their preteen ages maybe 9 and 11.....anyway we did the Eve thing....it was awesome...no worrying about missing Church, no hurry up and get over to Grandma's for 1200 dinner, plus we could shop if needs be or go to a movie.

Then on Christmas, Daddy and the kids did the Grandma thing. I went to work...usually to a sloooooow floor after all patients don't want elective surgery over a holiday.

We all brought a covered dish to work and the interns and residents joined us for Christmas day. Most of those boys and girls were hundreds if not thousands of miles away from home....it felt really good. Hey I'm 60 to me a 22yo surgical resident can be a "girl" if I want to :)

Even to this day my kids tell people that where they come from Christmas is at least a 2 day celebration. It worked.

fergus51 · Oct 16, 2004

I don't think anyone likes having to work holidays. My dad was also a cop and we would wait until he got home. I don't think it's too much to make a 4 year old wait for you. You can always get your husband to do what my mom did: keep him up really late the night before and he'll sleep later than usual. Some of my favorite memories involve staying up late with mom and my brother on Xmas eve watching Xmas movies and eating sweets (I love shortbread!).

MandyInMS · Oct 16, 2004

Yep...sux working holidays..think I'll just skip Christmas this year..scheduled to work Eve,Day,and day after when my son was Santa age we would do it a day early sometimes,depending on my schedule..we'd all go to Mom's and I'd sneak off ,run home,and set up Santa, so when we came back home Santa would have visited while we were gone...one year my son asked why Santa came early for him and not the neighbors kids..I just told him 'cuz he was special and Santa wanted to make SURE he got his Christmas wishes.

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Oct 16, 2004

My DD, who is 9 now, always had to wait for me to get home. Santa would leave her stocking in her room, but she knew that I had to be home before she could open presents. I don't think it is too much to ask of your little one...just put some fun stuff in the stocking :) When you work like we do, your family has to give too :)