Policies for Working during the Holidays

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

A reporter is looking for input from nurses regarding the following issues for working during the religious/observed holidays such as Christmas, Christmas Eve, Hanukkah, etc.

  • What hours do you have to work during the holidays?
  • What are the policies regarding who has to work?
  • How do you feel about working on a holiday?
  • What can you expect as a new nurse?
  • Suggestions/tips for coping with working on the holidays.

If you choose to post a comment, please include your degree/certifications, specialty, place of employment (not name but type of facility), years of employment at current job.

Thanks for your input and Happy Holidays!!

Feel free to add any other discussion comments re. working on the holidays.

Edited to add a link to a form for you to submit your responses if you want to do so privately.

Working on the Holidays

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Why don't they include a survey? Not everyone wants to make a public reply.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

In our hospital everyone has to work every other weekend, regardless of whether a holiday falls on your day or not. We self-schedule, but the Supervisor has final say and people are to take turns with holidays, unless they opt out. Some do. All nurses are equal, regardless of tenure.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Our work holidays are Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve&Day (0700 Christmas Eve through 0700 12/26 all counts as "Christmas"), and New Year's Day. So no Jewish holidays, Easter, Orthodox-observed Christmas...the only religious holiday is Christmas. Thanksgiving and Christmas, the 12-hour shift people do have the option of working an 8-hour shift to give them some family time.

Everybody works every other holiday, and the next year it switches--that way nobody works more than one Christmas in a row, more than one Thanksgiving in a row, etc. Also because Christmas is those 48 hours, those who are off are actually off and can travel if they prefer, as opposed to being off on the 25th but then having to report to work at 11 p.m. Christmas night. That's not really having the day off, right?

How do I feel about it? It stinks, but it's life. And I guess I'd much rather work a holiday as an RN, knowing that injured people are depending on me, than work a holiday as a retail employee who doesn't really need to be at work. But then the holiday pay is nice. :)

A new nurse can expect to work holidays...just like seasoned nurses do. I'm not really sure what this reporter is looking for in this question.

How I cope with working on Christmas is to plan another day to celebrate it. I've told my kids, "Jesus wasn't actually born on 12/25 anyway."

I'm an associate-degreed RN, work in an urban hospital ICU, and have been here not quite 2 years.

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1. Work in a large rural/suburban hospital system in PA - acute care - med surge

2. ASN, RN

3. EVERYONE works every other weekend and every other holiday. I work overnight so our holiday starts at 2300 the night before. It works out because I'm home in the AM to watch my kids open presents and can get a nap in before the festivities. It also gives me an out in that I have to get home to take a nap (therefore leaving annoying family gatherings LOL)

4. I've been a nurse for approximately 19 months

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For what paper or journal?

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.
Why don't they include a survey? Not everyone wants to make a public reply.

I created and posted a link above to a form where you can submit your responses privately if you prefer.

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Thanks for the link.

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Specializes in Inpatient Oncology/Public Health.

I have to log in to google which is under my real name to take the survey? Hmmmm.

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.
I have to log in to google which is under my real name to take the survey? Hmmmm.

Another option is to send your replies to me via pm. Your name/username will not be given to anyone no matter what option you use to respond.

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Specializes in OB.

Don't want to have to sign in to another site to reply to an unknown entity so here is my reply if they are able to use posts from here:

I have been a travel nurse for 18 yrs. I am expected and do expect to work every holiday during an assignment. I don't mind doing so as I am generally away from home and family and have few if any specific plans for said holidays. The hours I work will be 12 hr. night shift as that is what I am contracted for.

I work in OB and am an ADN.

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Specializes in Inpatient Oncology/Public Health.

We have Group A and Group B assigned to every other major holiday then the next year it switches. So unless you volunteer to, you don't work both Thanksgiving and Christmas in the same year. I work my usual 8 hour shift. But if you are off the holiday(for me, night shift, it's the night before), you are typically scheduled the night of. We tend to bring food to help ease working the holiday. I am an ADN working inpatient Adult Onc in a large medical center, 7 years experience. It's this way for everyone including new nurses.

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