It's that time of year again, even though the holiday schedule has been out for a year, people are making last minute switches. No big deal except for a co-worker that approached me, after seeing i have Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off.
Started out nice: "I saw you had both days off, are you interested in trading them?" I said "Actually i'd like to keep both days off, my family has been through a lot, my dad's brother died a couple of weeks ago, and i'd like to go back home for those days." She said "Hmm, guess i won't be home for my kids for Christmas." I didn't say anything or do anything. Then after a minute she says "You don't have kids, what do you need Christmas off for?":angryfire
It's a wonder my head didn't explode. First off it wasn't her dang business what i wanted Christmas off for anyway, secondly how dare she make such a comment, as if those days won't mean squat to me all because i don't have children.
I'm sure her kids are important to her, i'm sure she would like to be there on those days, but the fact that i do not have children doesn't mean that things in my life are no less important. Nor should it mean that i should want to rearrange my life to accomodate someone that does. Which i've had to do a few times as a result of her taking 3 days weekends since august (we do self-scheduling). As a result of her doing this, i get screwed out of 3 days weekends 90% of the time. Her excuse for needing 3 days weekends? "Because i have kids." Not "My kid(s) has an appt., game, tournament, etc." "Because i have kids."
In no way am i knocking her because she has kids, or anyone, but it's almost like she expects accomodation from people because of the kids. It's not fair to everyone else. Everyone else manages and they have children. And everyone else at work wouldn't have made such a self-entitling statement about someone with no children having the holidays off, because most people take their turns every year. Just because i don't have children doesn not mean that i don't have a life or that i don't have things to do.
I do have children and very much wish I could spend every holiday home with them, but I chose to be a nurse and not have a 9-5 M-F job. Therefore I have to make some sacrifices. At my place of employment, on Christmas Day, everyone works 4 hrs. I love this myself. This way no one is stuck there on X-mas for 12 hrs. It works well for us. The other holidays, if you are sched. you work, but if you want it off, use vacation or someone will usually always trade days with you, so they can get the holiday pay. Marie...apparently this co-worker needs to learn to make sacrifices, or find another line of work. As if it is your fault she has children
I think this is the best solution. Of course, some people may have vacation plans which may make it a bit rough...so maybe they could arrange with someone else to cover their 4 hours? I'm not a nurse yet, but I have been a waitress for 4 years. The only holiday I have ever been guaranteed off is Christmas. I have 3 kids, and we've always managed to work around it. In fact, last year, my hubby and kids went to relatives house for Thanksgiving, but we bought our own turkey and side dishes and made them the day after so I got a Thanksgiving dinner too! The only issue I have is that I would really enjoy having either XMas or XMas Eve off...I don't need both of them, but I would REALLY like one of them. :-)
It's that time of year again, even though the holiday schedule has been out for a year, people are making last minute switches. No big deal except for a co-worker that approached me, after seeing i have Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off.
Started out nice: "I saw you had both days off, are you interested in trading them?" I said "Actually i'd like to keep both days off, my family has been through a lot, my dad's brother died a couple of weeks ago, and i'd like to go back home for those days." She said "Hmm, guess i won't be home for my kids for Christmas." I didn't say anything or do anything. Then after a minute she says "You don't have kids, what do you need Christmas off for?":angryfire
I have children and I totally agree with you Marie. Congratulations to you for getting the much needed time off.
Specializes in Pain Management, FNP, Med/Surg, Tele.
Marie I am so pissed for you and I wasn't even there when it happened. How dare her say that! Ok so people who don't have kids should not have holidays off too! How obnoxious! This woman needs a rude awakening. Everyone is entitled to their time off and there holidays. Noone is better than anyone else. I do not have kids and I would not give up my time off to someone just because they have kids and I don't. There has to be a better reason than that. Keep the faith.
Marie, you need to be telling her, not ranting to us. Nursing profession is filled with nurses ranting to their friends, family, co-worker but not the person they have a problem with....so disfunctional.
I don't have children either and I resent what that woman said about you not really needing Christmas off. We would all love to have the holidays off. She knew when she entered this field that she would have to work holidays and weekends and some unbearably late hours.
I despise the fact that people with children get soooo many breaks and the ones that have waited for the right man and the right time to have kids are penalized.
But that is a whole nother story. Just chalk it up to the fact that she ate an extra bowl of stupid that morning!!
Marie, you need to be telling her, not ranting to us. Nursing profession is filled with nurses ranting to their friends, family, co-worker but not the person they have a problem with....so disfunctional.
If you have read the whole board, Marie did tell this other nurse. This board is for us to ask question, learn from one another and vent if that is what we need to do. Nursing is such a stressful profession and it is nice to have someplace to vent where someone else will understand what we are talking about. That's one thing that I love about this bb. I think it would be more dysfunctional to keep it all bottled up and not have anywhere to rant.
Marie, you need to be telling her, not ranting to us. Nursing profession is filled with nurses ranting to their friends, family, co-worker but not the person they have a problem with....so disfunctional.
Why dysfunctional? I blow people off at work, why argue with an idiot? When I need to vent I come here. I have friends here who identfy and who are genuinely caring and offer good advice. There are a few such as you who only wish to argue further. I say you're dysfunctional. Get a life!
Last year I was scheduled to work Christmas and was lucky enough to be the one who was next in line to be offered call. I was called about 9:00 and told I needed to come in because one of the other nurses wanted to go home and spend Christmas with her son. I refused to go in. I told the supervisor if you need me for patient care sure I'm there but I'm not coming in for someone else to go home. She said don't you feel bad because her son is 8 y/o and yours are 24 & 16. I said "no". This nurse works 9:00 to 3:00 x 4 days a week doing chart audits. She can arrange her hours anyway she wishes so that she is available to go to school programs, stay home if her child is sick, she is able to take her child to school and pick him up. She is obligated to work one weekend on the floor once every 6 weeks and has to do her share of holidays. I think she's pretty d*** lucky and I didn't feel that I needed to give up my time with my kids only because they're older. I didn't let them make me feel guilty either! I'm over that!
Last year I was scheduled to work Christmas and was lucky enough to be the one who was next in line to be offered call. I was called about 9:00 and told I needed to come in because one of the other nurses wanted to go home and spend Christmas with her son. I refused to go in. I told the supervisor if you need me for patient care sure I'm there but I'm not coming in for someone else to go home. She said don't you feel bad because her son is 8 y/o and yours are 24 & 16. I said "no". This nurse works 9:00 to 3:00 x 4 days a week doing chart audits. She can arrange her hours anyway she wishes so that she is available to go to school programs, stay home if her child is sick, she is able to take her child to school and pick him up. She is obligated to work one weekend on the floor once every 6 weeks and has to do her share of holidays. I think she's pretty d*** lucky and I didn't feel that I needed to give up my time with my kids only because they're older. I didn't let them make me feel guilty either! I'm over that!
GOOD FOR YOU! Some people have a lot of nerve. It's like they've never even remotely considered the feelings of anyone but themselves.
u are being unrealistic to think that all moms should have x-mas off to spend with their children. Exactly who do u think will be working? What about the male nurses? It's not important for dad to be there? And since I don't & can't have my own children y should I have to pick up shifts for those that do? I've been nursing for 13 years & out of the 13 I've had Christmas off once during which time I spent in ICU with my grandfather watching my grandmother pass away. Every other Christmas I always asked my co-workers with children if they would like the day off & typically worked a double shift. It all depends on how u are approached.
If you have read the whole board, Marie did tell this other nurse. This board is for us to ask question, learn from one another and vent if that is what we need to do. Nursing is such a stressful profession and it is nice to have someplace to vent where someone else will understand what we are talking about. That's one thing that I love about this bb. I think it would be more dysfunctional to keep it all bottled up and not have anywhere to rant.
sjrn85
266 Posts
Words to live by: No good deed goes unpunished.