Should I feel bad?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I work for an agency doing private duty nursing. I have two cases, nights on one and days on the other. I am taking my first big vacation at the end of July and I need to take time off. PDN isn't like hospital nursing where you just ask for time off and someone else gets the hours. When I take time off, the parents are left without an RN. I am not too concerned with my nights case because they have a lot of extra nurses, whereas my days case does not. I took a day off in May for my boyfriend's college graduation and it was awful. The parents accused me of not telling them (I gave 6 weeks), told my agency that I work for a competing agency (which is a big no-no), and basically made a huge deal about my DAY off. Because of all this I decided to only take one day off for my vacation. I work W/F for them. I already told them about the W and I am considering taking the F off too. My flight is a red eye and gets in at 6:20 AM on Friday morning, I have to be at work at 8. I can make it but I am going to be exhausted. I always feel bad taking time off but I have been with them for a year and May was my first requested day off. I guess I am looking for some reassurance - that taking time off is normal. This is definetely a part of PDN that I hate, no backup!

Specializes in MDS/ UR.

Wow, I would say boundary issues here. Giving a client that kind of control over your time is way out of line. If you come to work off a red-eye and something goes wrong (G-d forbid) do you think they will overlook it. I would gently urge you to consider the big picture and your own needs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

You are entitled to your time off. You earned it! Take 3 days lol. Stop being a martyr. (I mean that lovingly.) It's not your fault your agency isn't fully staffed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

"if the parents have a problem, they can stay ask md for the patient to be admitted to hospital for the interim. i forget the term, but their is a holiday time allowed for caregivers that insurance companies and medicaid will cover."

that's called respite care, and most chronic care policies have this provision. beyond that, unless you own the agency, you are not responsible for staffing. what if you were ill? they'd have to cover your shift then, and they wouldn't have the luxury of some time to plan for it.

take your time off-- and take some more, because it sounds like you need it. spend some of it looking for another job...perhaps with that other agency? :devil:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Cardiology.

I am telling them tomorrow I am taking the Friday off as well. I KNOW I should not feel bad but they make it difficult to feel anything but! I would definitely look for another case if I had plans to stay with this job but I am hoping to get into a hospital soon. I can't lose the hours and orienting on a new case just to leave a few months later doesn't sit well with me. So for the time being I will suck it up and enjoy my vacation guiltfree :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

Why do we let ourselves beccome victims? We are alll entitled to our time off so why do we make ourselves feel guilty over it? It should be up to your agency to find a repplacement and if all else fails the parennts ccan go with another agency to fill in. I refuse to feel bad because I limit my overtime.The facility I work in is rife with nepotism,favoritism and tjust outright unfair trreatment of us.I refuse to feel bad about not working more thenmy scheduled or taking my vacay or even calling out. STAY STTRONG

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You deserve a break!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.
If the parents have a problem, they can stay ask MD for the patient to be admitted to hospital for the interim. I forget the term, but their is a holiday time allowed for caregivers that insurance companies and medicaid will cover.

Respite care.:coollook:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I think the most challenging thing about private duty nursing is not the actual care we do but navigating the family-boundary-guilt trip issues that are going to come up if you stay with them for any length of time.

I think it took 2 years of stress and basically feeling like I was on call 24/7 without the pay before I didn't feel quite so guilty about claiming ownership of my own life and learn to assert my rights as politely as possible, because the need of these families is real. They will have to find a way to cover the time.You did your part by giving them plenty of notice.

I wouldn't make light of the fact that they told your agency a lie about you working for a competing agency. It shows a willingness to put their immediate needs above your own without regard to the negative consequences you might suffer as a result. I've seen situations get really bad for a nurse if a family has no qualms about doing things like that.

Enjoy your vacation and hope you get that hospital job you want!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Cardiology.

The other nurses on this case continuously go above and beyond which gives them the impression that we all will. Examples: working additional hours without pay, "babysitting" when they've hit 40 hours, driving the patient even though it states it is not allowed in our policies, the list goes on. I have stayed firm. I will pick up shifts at my other case if I have the hours but that's as far as I go. I agree I am entitiled to time off, I just am sick of being the "bad" nurse because I do my job, and nothing more.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
If the agency does not have resources to cover that is not your problem. You are doing what you are paid to do and do not need to make caring for a client your whole life. If the parents have a problem, they can stay ask MD for the patient to be admitted to hospital for the interim. I forget the term, but their is a holiday time allowed for caregivers that insurance companies and medicaid will cover.

Respite-Care

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, cardiology, advanced care.
:no: :no: :no: as others have mentioned, staffing can sub contract to cover, respite care is available, etc. DO NOT let the parents GUILT YOU out of time off, be assertive. if you allow people to treat you like a doormat, they will.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma, Emergency.

your own personal needs aside, you will not perform ANY duty well if you are running on that little rest. demand a little bit of time for yourself because ultimately the more you replentish yourself, the more of yourself you will have to give back to your community. good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment