paid vacation - how can i pass this up? Advice please?

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Specializes in primary care, pediatrics, OB/GYN, NICU.

I need advice folks since I tend to feel guilty really easily. Here's my dilemma: I'm afraid to ask for three weeks off from my job. We keep hearing how short staffed we are and nobody can take any time off because there have already been too many requests for time off this summer. Well, I've just been offered the chance to "work" for three weeks in August at a very exclusive resort as one of their 4 clinic nurses. My best friend, also an RN has worked there several summers now and loves it. She said we are basically there as token nurses for insurance purposes....we might treat a few bug bites, ice a sprain and do paperwork. When we aren't doing that, we can swim, hike, ride horses....basically a paid vacation. The director there offered me twice my weekly salary here at home, will pay my airfare and license, also private (ritzy!) accommodations room and board. At the end of my stay, I will be paid a tax free bonus (not sure how much). I am actually afraid to ask my boss for the time off next month! I really want to take this opportunity ....any suggestions, advice? Am I being selfish to my coworkers and disloyal to my employer? Please help me think this through - how should I approach my boss?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Stepdown.

I would have to say you are CrAzY if you don't go!!

If you decide not to go, I'll gladly take your place!

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Specializes in Geriatrics and Quality Improvement,.

You didnt say exactly where this place was, and who the contact person was either.. Please, do elaborate. :jester:

Um really though... If GOD FORBID.. you were forced to leave this job tomorrow, would they have a replacement for you in a short period of time? yes. This job you have is not worth passing up opportunities of a lifetime. You only live this life once.

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Specializes in Everything but L&D and OR.

I say ask for the time off. you should not have to tell your boss what for either. If you are do the vacation time, it is yours to take and if you give her enough notice, it shouldn't be much a problem.

We only have one life to live, let's not waste it!!

Christine

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Are you packed yet???;) I say go for it....ask for the time off. Don't let management "guilt" you into passing up what sounds like an opportunity of a lifetime.

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Ask for the time off! Heck, I would KILL for something like that right now! I'm off due to a C5-C7 discectomy and fusion but can do something like that since my disability co. is jacking me around and not paying me right now. If you don't, you're crazy and you'll kick yourself years from now!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Surely your coworkers and managers would jump at the chance if they were you. Yes, it might leave them in a bind, but don't be afraid to ask for what you want to do.

I hope you get to go.

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Lovely opportunity! My advice, start packing ! Don't forget your

sunscreen ! I agree if you have vacation time, you do not need

to inform management of your plans. That is your business.

The question is: Is this a year round resort? Sounds like it would

be fun full time There are places like Canyon Ranch that are

open year round. This may be the start of a new career for you!

Best wishes, what a unique experience for you! Have fun!:balloons::balloons:

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

Zias, this sounds like a neat opportunity.

Just be sure to think through just how much grief this will cause at your full-time job (which I assume you plan to go back to). Do you have 3 weeks vacation time accrued? Is it the practice on your unit to request vacation time at the last minute?

Also ... about the "tax-free bonus." I doubt that the IRS will see it that way - whatever pay you receive, as well as the value of your accomodations, airfare & activities at the resort that you don't pay for out of pocket, will be considered taxable income.

Let us know how this works out! :)

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

I hate to rain on your vacation, but I agree with MLOS.

If you are able to request the vacation time according to institution policy and have enough time to cover your absence, then go for it. But unless you can afford to lose your "day" job, I would not force the vacation issue if it would violate your institution's HR policies.

The notion that you will be a "token" nurse bothers me. If a vacationer becomes seriously ill or injured, do you have the skills necessary to care for that person? I assume this is a somewhat remote resort where you will likely be the only healthcare provider. You must have the experience and confidenct to deal with whatever comes your way.

I had a friend who worked on a cruise ship. Some of the stories she told were truly harrowing: the woman with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy who required transfusions of blood dropped to the ship by a helicopter, the MIs and strokes passengers suffered when the ship was 1-2 days out from land, etc.

Also the notion of a tax-free bonus is ridiculous. There is no such thing.

If this resort is on the up and up, they can contact you in ADVANCE next year, so you can make proper arrangements to be away from work.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I, too, advise caution -- for all the reasons mentioned above.

Life is full of opportunities. Some come our way and we can take advantage of them. Others come our way and we can not because we have made other committments. If it is within your employer's guidelines to grant you the time off, that is one thing. But if it is not, you need to respect their right -- and their obligation -- to not abuse the rest of their staff so that you can go play. Don't expect them to abuse your colleagues so they can "play favorites" with you. No good employer would do that. If we nurses want our employers to be fair and not show favoritism to other people, we have to expect that they will not show favoritism to us when we ask for it.

If you are not sure what the policy is at your hospital, ask politely and ask if there is anything you can do (i.e. work extra before and after, work all the upcoming holidays, work the most unpopular shifts, etc.) to make it possible for them to grant your request.

As another poster said, if this place is legit, they'll need a nurse again in the future. Let them know how interested you are and find out how you can work for them in the future -- when you will have ample opportunity to arrange for the time off well in advance.

Please let us know how this turns out. I'm curious.

llg

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Specializes in primary care, pediatrics, OB/GYN, NICU.

Thanks everyone for the great feedback, tax info etc…

If I didn’t have a friend RN who had already worked there for 3 summers - I probably wouldn’t even consider going, however I DO have much more than 3 weeks vacation time available and I wasn’t even going to ask for paid time off, just time off. Also, I am asking for the time off with 5 weeks advance notice. I checked the schedule for August today and only one other nurse has requested time then, just the 1st 4 days of August. Seems like everyone else wants July!

My “day job” is fast track/ urgent care, so if someone was seriously ill or injured, I feel I have the skills to handle the situation. The hospital/ EMS is 15 minutes away. There are 5 nurses and 1 MD on staff, 2 nurses always on at one time.

I have the summer off - I am in an FNP/MS program - from school and thought it would be so nice to have a change of scenery – since I typically work 3, 10 hour shifts per week, I could also offer to do extra before I leave and also when I return.

I put in my leave request today so we’ll see what happens…….

By the way, one of you mentioned Canyon Ranch? I looked up the canyon ranch web site and they ARE currently looking for a full time nurse educator if any of you guys are interested… it’s in Arizona. Looks geeorgeous!

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