nursing and vacation time

GeminiTwinRN, BSN · Apr 8, 2008

Well, asking for and getting vacation time off in July is probably not a problem. December is another story. At the hospital where I work, we are not allowed to ask off from Thanksgiving thru the New Year. That's not to say if you asked for the first week of December off (which really only encompasses 3 days if you're working 12's) you wouldn't get it though. It's just unlikely that you would get any time off during the holidays in December.

Sort of strange that you would base a career around 2 weeks of vacation, but hey... whatever. :)

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Apr 8, 2008

Where I work, vacation is allotted by seniority. So anyone who hasn't been working for the employer for a LONG time isn't likely to get July under any circumstances, and only the first week or two of December would be even remotely possible. I got lucky this year and got two weeks in July only because I had to select three more vacation shifts and there were three in the same week in July that were still available. That week dovetails with my scheduled six days off to give a total of two weeks. I nearly fainted.

HealthyRN · Apr 8, 2008

With staff nursing, it can be very difficult to get vacation during the peak seasons. The hospitals that I worked at awarded vacation by seniority. This meant that for at least 3 years, the only vacation a new employee can take is during less desirable times- March, Sept., etc. The last hospital that I worked at did not allow vacation to be taken from Thanksgiving to New Year's.

Now, however, I have a position that does not require any direct patient care and I can take vacation whenever I want! By the way, I do understand how important vacation and time off is and I think it's great that you are considering this.

Montessori Mommy · Apr 8, 2008

The last hospital I worked for gave us six weeks paid leave a year. It was very clear to me early on that I was never going to get to use the time when I needed or wanted to use it, because it went in order of seniority. If I can't take time when my children have vacation from school, around the holidays or in the summer, then what's the point??! I ended up working at another hospital per diem so I can self-schedule to work when I want to work - basically when the children are in school. Over the summer I'll pick up some evening and weekend time, when my husband is home with them.

hygienejunkie · Apr 8, 2008

oh really?? you can actually work the hours and days you want to work?? THAT WOULD BE PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i live in michigan...i've been looking for a dental hygiene job for almost three years (oversaturation of hygienist) and have nothing:(((( it's really sad...i do alot of subbing work..and i find even when i sub my hand and neck hurt pretty bad...and, i'm sick of scrapping stuff off of peoples teeth:)))

so, how many hours do you work a week???

Montessori Mommy · Apr 9, 2008

Per diem is when you don't get benefits, so you make more hourly - at most hositals. I can do this because my husband has benefits. My goal is to average 20 hours a week, and to pick up a few shifts each month at the hospital where I used to work full time. The only problem with per diem is that you can get called off if the census on the floor is low. I'm very blessed that I work for "extras" for my family, and don't rely on the money to make ends meet.

Best of luck to you!

Matka · Apr 9, 2008

For vacation time, do hospitals consider religious reasons at all? Say, if you are Jewish and want/need to take Passover off, or if you are Catholic and want to take Good Friday off, for example.

Ksenia

CABG patch kid, BSN, RN · Apr 11, 2008

I'm not sure about the religious question. I think as long as the hospital has ample staff they can give the religious holidays off to those that request. I'm not sure what they do if there isn't enough staff but I remember reading a similar question here that said something like if you are helping the sick/needy during the holiday its okay because you are needed (not sure if that makes sense).

mcbismark · Apr 11, 2008

... I remember reading a similar question here that said something like if you are helping the sick/needy during the holiday its okay because you are needed (not sure if that makes sense).

It definitely makes sense.

If you have religious issues with working certain days there are 2 avenues to look into; your rabbi or priest (insert: minister or whatever) and your work supervisor.

Mark

november17, ASN, RN · Apr 11, 2008

For vacation time, do hospitals consider religious reasons at all? Say, if you are Jewish and want/need to take Passover off, or if you are Catholic and want to take Good Friday off, for example.
Ksenia

I know for the major holidays we do a rotating schedule like every 3rd holiday you work. So I already know that I have to work Easter in 2010, and in 2013, etc. As far as the minor holidays I'm sure you could request it off if you give enough time in advance. I'm sure God wouldn't mind if you didn't make it to church because you were busy taking care of sick people though. As far as being jewish and the saturday sabbath, I'd guess that it would take an understanding manager to get that one off each week (if you worked in acute care). I don't think it would be too huge of a problem depending on where you worked though.

jladha · Apr 4, 2012

Hi i am to looking career change to Nursing as well, i am really interested in Nursing which i read online is all perfect for me, except when it comes to time off. I understand that vacation times differ from person to person and based on your experience as explained in these in depth replies so far, which is great. I have one question

If your entitled to 4 vacation, are u allowed to take it all at once throughout the year (obviously not in December), or are u more likely to be forced to take 2 week maximum off until it accumulates to 4 weeks? Usually in other careers u can take all your vacation all together for a minimum of 3 weeks so that u are able to travel out of the country and enjoy, i do not know if nursing would be the same?

Please share your experiences of how likely are u to get long vacations at one go, also if thats not the case can u always get approved for unpaid leave of absent?