HELP!!! Has anyone done this? Advice needed

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.

Hi. I've been at my job for almost 16 years. I have a better job offer at another hospital because I will be able to work fewer weekends and holidays.

At my current job, I've had to work Thanksgiving and Christmas for 16 years and I'm tired of it! The holidays are all by seniority at my current job, not rotation, which is totally unfair.

My dilemma is, most of my co-workers are like a second family to me and it would be hard to leave. Also, going to work is so easy because I've been there so long. Change is hard for me.

At the new job, my salary would be the same, actually a little more! And, like I said, fewer weekends and holidays...also the same type of unit as well.

Has anyone changed jobs after so long and lived to tell about it?!

Thanks, and please give any thoughts or ideas.

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do your co-workers know that you would like to take turns having Thanksgiving or Christmas off - maybe they will agree to make some changes that include your wishes too?

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At my current job, I've had to work Thanksgiving and Christmas for 16 years and I'm tired of it! The holidays are all by seniority at my current job, not rotation, which is totally unfair.

My dilemma is, most of my co-workers are like a second family to me and it would be hard to leave.

Apparently they're not family enough to want you with them on the holidays.

You ought to have SOME seniority by now.

I'd go. But then, change is NOT hard for me.

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.

Unfortunately at my work we have complained about not rotating holidays and it doesn't help because the rule of seniority is in our union contract and we have to have a petition signed and voted on for any change. Believe it or not, I'm low on the seniority list for the evening shift, I'm in the bottom 10-15 nurses. I would be ok on nights, but not enough to get both Thanksgiving and Christmas off.

The nurses never leave my unit and the same ones get the same stuff off every year.

Good point, that they really aren't family enough to care, except for a few who understand.

I think the new job does sound better.

Also, my current manager let a nurse with 3 years seniority cut back her hours due to school when she wouldnt' let me do it...so I've had enough.

thanks for the input!

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Specializes in Hospice, Med/Surg, ICU, ER.

As they say... Don't let the door hit ya in the azz on the way out.

They obviously don't care much about YOU or they work out some kind of swap; contract or not.

Also, you'd better believe that the facility would can you in an instant if they felt the need to.

Sometimes, the grass IS greener elsewhere.

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.
As they say... Don't let the door hit ya in the azz on the way out.

They obviously don't care much about YOU or they work out some kind of swap; contract or not.

Also, you'd better believe that the facility would can you in an instant if they felt the need to.

Sometimes, the grass IS greener elsewhere.

I'm beginning to agree! I've had 2 nurses in the 16 years I've been there work for me on Xmas and Thanksgiving, but that's it.

It's all about seniority. It's always hard at that time of year because I get really angry. The new job requires one holiday, either New Years, Thanksgiving or Xmas....I know which one I want! Also, might not have to work that either because a lot of nurses like to work because they pay double time and a half for holidays!!!! My current place is the standard time and a half.

The new job treats their nurses better, in my opinion.

What are your holiday requirements? Do they rotate??

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Specializes in Hospice, Med/Surg, ICU, ER.
I'm beginning to agree! I've had 2 nurses in the 16 years I've been there work for me on Xmas and Thanksgiving, but that's it.

It's all about seniority. It's always hard at that time of year because I get really angry. The new job requires one holiday, either New Years, Thanksgiving or Xmas....I know which one I want! Also, might not have to work that either because a lot of nurses like to work because they pay double time and a half for holidays!!!! My current place is the standard time and a half.

The new job treats their nurses better, in my opinion.

What are your holiday requirements? Do they rotate??

I'm still a SPN, but previously as an EMT and a hospital vampire, we rotated the holidays - usually the family people had Christmas off, the single people New Year's eve off.

I have worked in several businesses as a supervisor for round-the-clock operations. We always have had some kind of rotational system; ocassionally even voluntary. I can't imagine a union that would contract such inequitable conditions. :(

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.

Welcome to the hopital where seniority rules, and the people with the most don't really care.

I love my job, just not the unfairness of it around holidays. I agree with seniority for other things, but not this.

Excuse the ignorance, but was is SPN? A student nurse? Wasn't sure.

Kim

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

Everywhere I worked holidays went by rotation, with flexibility to switch with someone if someone else agreed. I work nightshift. I always work christmas eve into christmas day, and get christmas night into the day after off. That is what I preferred, so I wouldn't have to sleep during the day at all on Christmas day. I slept the early afternoon of Christmas eve. Sure, I was sleep deprived, but I feel I got the best. I never had a problem getting someone to switch, since most want Christmas eve into Christmas morning off.

I like the idea of those with seniority getting more off, but it should be within reason. Maybe they getting one extra holiday a year off, or only having to do every third holiday instead of every other. I don't like the idea that those with the most seniority get everything off. That could make someone else go 30-40 years w/o a holiday off, just b/c one nurse has an extra year on them.

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At our facility, holidays are worked on a rotational basis. You have a "holiday partner" for which you work one holiday, they work the other (on one, off one). The following year, it is switched around. You can offer to switch or work two holidays in a row. Sometimes we even have too many nurses on and so we take offers to have nurses come off the holiday. Our vacations and other things are done by seniority, but working holidays, everyone does their fair share.

JS

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.

It sounds a lot more fair where you two work. My unit has a lot of power over lower senior people, it's very sad honestly.

After 16 years I can guarantee I will work Thanksgiving, new years eve, and Xmas day or eve...I work evenings.

It stinks.

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I did it more than once and lived to tell about it each time! After over 10 years in one department and I left and went to another department in the same hospital. Then 7 years later left that hospital entirely and went to a sister hospital across town.

I am still friends with many of the people I worked with. We go out to eat once a month or so and get together for fun!

As the old Girl Scout song says,"Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver but the other's gold." :monkeydance:

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