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Discussion

How Do I tell my current job that I need time off for 1 month to work as a camp nurse

I've been working in adult med/surg for 7 months, but very much miss pediatric nursing (i worked as an aid throughout school and had my senior practicum at a Children's Hospital. I recently got offered a position at an overnight girls camp as a RN for 4 weeks. I really want to accept the job, but I need to discuss this with my current nurse manager. I currently work 32 hours a week and will need to take 4 weeks off. I don't want to use my earned time because 1. I don't have much if any and 2. I'm not going on vacation, i'm going to work. I need advice on how to ask her for this LOA. My unit is always understaffed and I feel bad leaving but this is something I really want to do. I want to work in pediatrics, not adults. Should I just quit? Or switch to per diem? What should I do if she freaks?? Thanks

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    I would just submit a written request for a leave of absence "for personal reasons" and see what happens. I work with someone who has just made two trips overseas for almost two months at a time in less than six months and she still has her job. I guess it depends on the employer whether or not you can keep your job.

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    • Expert

    Oh, and BTW, if you miss peds patients, why not go to a home health agency and pick up one or two shifts a week working with a peds patient? Excellent way to keep you in touch with the little guys while keeping your main job. Give it a thought.

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    caliotter3 has offered you some good advice but I would also say you should be prepared as to how you will respond if your manager says no. I can say with some degree of certainty that this request would be met with an absolute "no" at my institution. Of course they can't stop you from taking the other position but they can tell you that your job will not be there when you get back. There are other avenues to working in pediatrics besides a children's hospital, so you could always take the job at the camp and look for something permanent to begin after the camp stint is over in the mean time.

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    • Expert

    I think it is VERY unlikely that your current job will simply let you take a month-long break to work somewhere else while they hold your job for you until you get back. They need a reliable employee who will fill their needs to work at the job they have to offer. So make sure you ask in such a way that you won't jeopardize your relationship with your Manager. Also, be prepared to hear "No" as the answer. Have a plan B in mind.

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    If you were able to switch to per diem, you'd still have to work a couple of shifts during the 4 wks, right? I don't think it is likely your manager is going to approve your leave, even if you mentioned personal reasons intead of the pending job.

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    I have to echo what the others said. Especially if it is during the summer when the most vacation hours are taken. This isn't a personal leave, nor a medical leave, this is a leave to do another paid job,not a volunteer position. There are several of us from my unit that go to work at a ventilator dependent camp for kids and we have to use our days off or vacation time, which is granted by seniority. My guess is that you are going to be denied. Even if you change to PRN, you have a set amount of hours you are obligated to sign up for and work. You are going to have to decide between keeping this job, or quitting and working at the camp it seems. You can always ask and see what happens.

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    You cannot realistically expect your current employer to give you a month off in the summer .. to work elsewhere.

    If it is feasible to change your status to Per Diem before this.. that would be your only alternative.

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    Gee, I'd like so many things that it's hard to list. Asking your employer to give you a month off in the SUMMER is very misguided and no matter what you need the time for, it trivializes the opportunity they gave you when you ask off for a month in the SUMMER. Per-diem sounds like one possibility (if you can afford to never be called in again). If you want to work in peds and you're not independently able to support yourself, bide your time there for a year and apply for a peds job. You might have to put on your big girl panties for this one.

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    I've been at my workplace for a year and a half. I wouldn't dream of asking for a month off. You've been there 7 months? Don't expect the time to be approved. Most places can't cover the shifts with the staff working OT.

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    How do I tell my current job that I need time off for a month?

    Same way that your current job will tell you that you've lost your marbles and need you to be at work.

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