Soooo...I worked Thanksgiving and Christmas last year. I have both off this year:p Our ER has tried really hard to be fair in who works what. Usually the newest staff work Christmas. That means that whoever was last hired is automatically on for Christmas. (which is why I worked it last year)
I had never worked Christmas before and it nearly broke my heart...But, after posting something here, I waaaaay got over it:D I recieved many replies that basically said "Christmas is any day you make it" I actually enjoyed working Christmas last year. Lot's of actually sick pt's! My family had Christmas the day AFTER and it was really fun.
This year in our unit was difficult. Here is the scoop. Two nurses were hired at exactly the same time. The Christmas shift was filled by nurses who volunteered to work except for one slot. So, our poor director had to choose one nurse to work. The first new nurse has "little kids" ages 2 and 3. The second new nurse has a husband who has been in Iraq for the past two Christmases and a new grandchild to see. The first nurse (with "little kids") was scheduled for Christmas. :chair: ohmyholycow...She pitched a FIT. Crying and throwing things in the break room about how "she has little kids" It was a scene. She went down the schedule and realized that many of us have both holidays off and really went crazy.
Anyhow...What do you think was "fair" She managed to throw enough of a hissy fit that our director posted the position as "open" and another nurse actually wanted to trade for Thanksgiving... I just thought the nurse throwing a hissy was ridiculous.
OK, as a mother of an 8,6 and 4 year old, I would just like to say I can't stand the "but I have little kids" tantrum. I would never be so obnoxious as to think someone without children does not deserve to enjoy the holiday as much as I do.
What we have done in the past when we have needed to work Christmas (my husband works holidays, too) is write a letter to Santa Claus explaining that mommy or daddy has to work on Christmas, and could he please come to our house the morning before Christmas. (We don't say after because we wouldn't want to make them wait that long!) Santa has always managed to come on whatever day we needed him to and we never lost out on a great time! (One time Santa even came on Christmas eve afternoon while we were out! :)
OMG! That is great!!!!!! My kids are spread out (13, 8, 4, 2) and if I ever have to work Christmas that will be what I use for the little ones (the big ones can suck it up)!!!! I agree with Tazzi. You get Mommy of the Year!!!!
Shame on that nurse manager for caving to such an infantile tactic. She's now reinforced that if you want something, all you have to do is pitch a big fit and you'll get it.
I hope this woman's co-workers all refuse to accommodate her in the future She deserves no consideration, since she showed none. The "But I have little kids" rant is ridiculous. You chose to have kids, you chose to be a nurse. Deal with it...it's your responsibility to make it work not your manager's or your co-workers'.
very well put. i work in an ambulatory center now and no weekends or holidays, but i can remember when i worked those days...and it seemed like those were always the best days to work...as the census was down and everyone was in a great, happy and celebratory mood.
At our facility we get DOUBLE time and a half!!!!!!!!!! I have had two people offer to work thanksgiving for me which of course I declined. I will be happy when I get that big fat check.:roll :)
For the first 15 years of my nursing career I worked every Christmas Eve
3-11 and Christmas Day 7a -7p so that the nurses with children could be home with them. When I did have a child I was scheduled off for both of those days for the five remaining years I worked at that facility. I did not ask to be off - the nurse manager scheduled me off. Nurses with less seniority complained about it but the manager informed them that I had worked my share of the holidays while most of them were in grade school. (that always made me laugh). Now I am a faculty member (with all major holidays off) but remember those days very well.
Specializes in Critical Care, Cardiothoracics, VADs.
As someone without kids, I never minded working Christmas and having New Year's Eve off! Fortunately this year I work at a private company and get both off!
This is the exact reason I chose to work in an office. I love nursing, but I love the holidays with family. I know everyone cannot do that and I am glad they dont or who would treat the sick on holidays? Im just saying it works well for me...
For the first 15 years of my nursing career I worked every Christmas Eve
3-11 and Christmas Day 7a -7p so that the nurses with children could be home with them. When I did have a child I was scheduled off for both of those days for the five remaining years I worked at that facility. I did not ask to be off - the nurse manager scheduled me off. Nurses with less seniority complained about it but the manager informed them that I had worked my share of the holidays while most of them were in grade school. (that always made me laugh). Now I am a faculty member (with all major holidays off) but remember those days very well.
Too bad nurse managers like that have largely gone by the wayside! "sigh"!
Specializes in vascular, med surg, home health , rehab,.
I liked the idea of holiday teams. I worked thanksgiving/new year last year and had christmas off. The requirement being 2 of 3 holidays worked. This year I am on Thanksgiving and christmas, 12 hr days. Fine, except people who were off christmas last year are getting both off this year. Skeleton crew remaining happens to be the only 2 of us, because "well you dont have kids so you don't need it off". Last year had a nurse demand I worked christmas for her because "you dont have kids" . I might have done, of even split a shift, but for the attitude. All I think most of us need is fairness and that this "I have kids" crap stays out of it; i mean some of these people using this have teenagers for gods sake. Besides you work in a hospital its 24/7. Don't like it, plenty of other options.
Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.
I don't think throwing a hissy fit is appropriate, particularly in a career like our's, because, um, didn't you realize that hospitals are open on Christmas? I do wonder why they don't ask for volunteers first before making the schedule, though.
Tazzi, Tweety and CVICURN2003 - wow you guys, thanks for the :redbeathe !!!
By the way, on the topic of "well you don't have kids", my best friend who is a nurse without kids, actually had another nurse tell her that she didn't need to take a summer vacation because she doesn't have kids and can take vacation anytime! WHAT???!!! You can't make this stuff up!
:)
WHAT???!!! You can't make this stuff up!
CVICURN2003
216 Posts
OMG! That is great!!!!!! My kids are spread out (13, 8, 4, 2) and if I ever have to work Christmas that will be what I use for the little ones (the big ones can suck it up)!!!! I agree with Tazzi. You get Mommy of the Year!!!!