How am I going to get the time off for a tummy tuck?

mom&studentnurs · Sep 4, 2011

I haven't had time to read this whole thread but thought I'd give my advice. I had a TT 3 years ago after having three kids. I had so much loose skin that I could hold it in my arms. It was gross and killed my self esteem. Going back to work on your feet after 4 weeks is unrealistic. The docs say you can workout after 4 and are good to go after 6 but your body is NOT going to be ready for that in 6 weeks. Even at 6 weeks post op I would be hunched over after 1-2 classes a day (sitting) and then picking my kids up from school. 6 months post op I could handle a full day of walking but doing anything with my abs for the first year was painful and would make my stomach swell...which is not what u want to see after having this surgery. Would I do it again? YES! but I was lucky enough to do it while I was not working. So I suggest talking to people who have actually had the procedure done and see what their recovery period was like before jumping and doing this. It's not a quick recovery like the docs want you to think, after all they WANT you to have the surgery. My doc described the recovery period just as your doc did.

Katie5 · Sep 4, 2011

Thanks for all of the info WHISPERA , sounds like a plan. I wish I would have had it done over the summer, but I didn't have the $ then. I start the job next week. I guess I will just have to wait.

Goodness, you just started the job. Not being judgmental or anything but you did not have the dollars over the summer, meaning no cash reserves.

Now you JUST started working and already want to blow the unpaid check plus more. By all mean,s get the tummy tuck but get some reserves first.

Girlygirl69 · Sep 4, 2011

I don't mean to sound crass or rude but why don't you try it the old fashion way (that's my suggestion). You could save yourself money and see results in 3 to 6 months if you stick to a plan. What makes you think a tummy tuck is the answer ... I know 2 nurses who had tummy tucks and 1 year later; well you guessed it. The discipline has got to come anyway to insure success.

The question was how can I get he time off to have the procedure done, not should I have a tummy tuck done.

pixie120 · Sep 4, 2011

Again - I believe your comparison is flawed. Plastic surgery is a step beyond wearing a nice blouse and slacks and straightening your hair...or whatever you do to feel good about your outward appearance with temporary enhancements. It's a permanent, expensive, and potentially dangerous surgery. To me, that indicates an extreme insecurity regarding the part of the body being altered. Otherwise, I can't imagine why someone would do it. Insecurities normally come from judgment from or comparison to others. While some of the increase in plastic surgery can be attributed to higher availability and lowered costs, some of it must also be attributed to the idea of meeting an ever-rising beauty status quo. I'm sure there are outliers, but I don't see many confident women with high self-esteem and positive body image going under the knife.
I can only speak from my own anecdotal experience, but several of my friends have had plastic surgery. They all had an issue with the body part that was modified beyond simply wanting to feel better about it. (The exception being a friend who had a nose job while getting surgery for a deviated septum because they were already putting her under anyway. She would not have gotten it done otherwise.) In a few cases, the surgery did not help the underlying issue. And I'm not making judgments - these were their own spoken feelings on the situation. I used to want to be a plastic surgeon and shadowed one for a semester in high school; I changed my mind when I saw how the industry preys on the insecurities of the women who sit in those offices and promote an ideal. This probably plays a large part into my viewpoint, and I will admit that.
But we have reached an impasse, and I will kindly bow out and stop threadjacking. Thanks for the conversation.

WHat is everyone's feeling (nurse wise) on breast reduction surgery? I have considered it for many years, but I recovered a few in the extended stay ambulatory treatment center, and to be really horribly honest, it looked like the butcher, I mean surgeon, was Jason? Maybe since I was brand stinking new nurse I thought it horrible, but nurses? What's the consensus? worth all that surgery? ANyone had it done? Happy? wish you hadn't done it? done it sooner? Is this a thread jacking if I swing the conversation? LOL.

leslie :-D · Sep 4, 2011

Is this a thread jacking if I swing the conversation? LOL.

yes, your question would be hijacking a thread.

it takes the focus off of the op's question and redirects the thread to you...which wouldn't be very considerate.

you're welcome to start your own thread.

if it's going to be about breast reduction, you'd post it in an's central.

leslie:)

BrazoriaLVN · Sep 4, 2011

Can you tell your employer you have to have a hysterectomy or something so they will be empathetic and give you time off?? How about a doctors note stating you cant work??

So she should lie to get the time off? Ridiculous.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Sep 4, 2011

This is no time for elective surgery.

Establishing yourself in nursing should be your first goal. :rolleyes:

mazy · Sep 4, 2011

This is no time for elective surgery.
Establishing yourself in nursing should be your first goal.

Very well put and pretty much says it all.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2011

I've been at my workplace for 10 months, and even though I am part time, I still wouldn't dream of requesting 2 weeks off for anything. You need to work for a year or more before being entitled to that kind of time off. Considering the economy, I'm surprised that the OP would consider such a request. Where are the priorities? Most employers do not take kindly to new employees requesting time off of that length, except for emergencies.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Sep 4, 2011

I just started June 27th and I have already accrued 32 hrs in PTO. Although I work full time hrs I was technically hired at 2 days a week so in about another month I would be able to request 2 weeks off and it wouldn't be an issue. They just want you to have enough PTO to cover your normal hours and you have to give 6 weeks notice.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Sep 5, 2011

Every place I have worked in 20 years does not generally allow for 2 weeks off until at least the 1 year mark. Yes, the hours continue to accrue, but you don't take them until a year. Perhaps it's different some places, but there are policies for that kind of thing.

Aside from that, isn't it more important to build a foundation before leaving for what would likely be more than 2 weeks?

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Sep 5, 2011

My place of employment isn't like that. We don't have to wait to use our PTO, if it's there we can use it. You just have to give notice for scheduling.

I wouldn't request 2 weeks off (which if your one 12's is 6 days or 4 if part time) at the beginning of a new job. But I would do it 6 months in if it wasn't going to cause any problems or break policy.