They Think I'm Working Christmas??

[jodyangel]

Ok so where I work they apparently don't tell the staff what they're working Christmas because they don't want to hear the moaning...(?). Well that has annoyed me already, but I had calmed down because I'm already working Sunday from 7pm-7am....so thats Christmas YES??

Well I go into work last night and there is the schedule. I'm working Sat and Sun 12 hrs ending Monday am and they have me down for going back for 3-11pm???? WTH??

Now I'm really worked up. Annoyed. Pissed off..you name it.

I ask the staffing coordinator and she says some nonsence about Sunday night not counting and she had to put me on Monday also..maybe I could switch with someone "LMAO".

Now mind you, I've asked all my kids and their families to dinner on Monday. I figured I'd go home, put the turkey in and nap. I'd be fine yea? Well NOT IF I have to go back to work.

I am not cancelling Christmas.

I left a note under the staffing coordinators door stating that because I cannot come back on Monday without any real sleep AND they failed to let us know so we could schedule our LIVES I was not working monday. Thank you very much...

As expected my phone just rang. DON.."Joanne give me a call so we can talk about the schedule." I didn't answer it!!!! I know I'll have to call back..eventually, but shes going to say "Work or be fired."

Thats the way its done there.

[Katnip, RN]

I think people whine entirely too much... if its your regularly scheduled hours you work... it'd be another scenario if it was forced overtime or something, call me crazy but without your employer you wouldnt have a home to go to and have family over for christmas... so missing out one year to give back to your employer and even more importantly your patients shouldnt be reason to cry.. and as far a finding out three days in advance we also get our schedules about 5 days before the next schedule is up due ot the fact that in the past people whined so much i think its a good thing... less whining means less of a headache for me

The point is, the manager did not inform employees that they were scheduled to work a major holiday until 3 days before. People, no matter what industry should be given the courtesy to have a life and to be able to make plans ahead of time. Nurses are no different.

Trying to force someone to work on a major holiday at the last minute is unfair.

The NM will probably get more complaints, not less, for this little stunt and rightfully so.

[TrudyRN]

I admire your strength in standing up to these disrespectful, manipulative dimwits you presently work for.

They tell you 3 days before the most major of major holidays that you are to work it.

Your talents are being wasted, though. You need to become a Senator and/or union official and help lead your fellow nurses.

Or maybe a DON. You would treat your staff right and they would be forever loyal to you.

[jodyangel, RN]

I don't think there are any "rules" about how much time should be between shifts worked. I have worked 3-11pm and come back in at 6:45am..but it bout kills me lol. And sorry but it is differant getting that sleep in the dark night as oppossed to getting the same amt. of sleep in the day. You don't sleep the same and your body is not as rested. I know cause I've done the night shift since sept.

The thing is, as I've looked over the schedule for the rest of the weekend program nurses, I'm the only one scheduled to come back in on christmas. So its not affecting anyone else the same as me. That in of itself doesnt seem right..

[TrudyRN]

I think people whine entirely too much... if its your regularly scheduled hours you work... it'd be another scenario if it was forced overtime or something, call me crazy but without your employer you wouldnt have a home to go to and have family over for christmas... so missing out one year to give back to your employer and even more importantly your patients shouldnt be reason to cry.. and as far a finding out three days in advance we also get our schedules about 5 days before the next schedule is up due ot the fact that in the past people whined so much i think its a good thing... less whining means less of a headache for me

We should all be grateful for our many blessings, job included. But her boss is very disrespectful and the staffing coordinator is very cruel. I've had an SC like that. She, of course, worked Days, Mon-Fri and got all holidays off, was never a nurse, so had no sympathy whatsoever for the fact that it is very, very hard to have to double back, to have to worry about the holiday work schedule, to have to request off and then deal with the pain of nt getting it anyway, of all the other shenanigans that this one can't get vacation between October and December but this other one can - every year.

And your boss giving you your schedule only 5 days in advance isn't very respectful either. How do you plan your life?

And it is not whining to want to be off on the holidays. Especially when one is told at the very last second, especially when it's Christmas, especially when you don't get paid extra for holidays, especially when you will already have worked part of Christmas Day already, after having worked Christmas Eve. Yes, she could still get to a CEve Service and have dinner with her family on 12/24. But expecting her to go in at 1900 and telling her on such short notice is not acceptable. I could feel somewhat better if they only expected her to be back in at 2300 but they still should have told her much sooner.

BTW, are you off 12/24 and 12/25?

[TrudyRN]

I don't think there are any "rules" about how much time should be between shifts worked. I have worked 3-11pm and come back in at 6:45am..but it bout kills me lol. And sorry but it is differant getting that sleep in the dark night as oppossed to getting the same amt. of sleep in the day. You don't sleep the same and your body is not as rested. I know cause I've done the night shift since sept.

The thing is, as I've looked over the schedule for the rest of the weekend program nurses, I'm the only one scheduled to come back in on christmas. So its not affecting anyone else the same as me. That in of itself doesnt seem right..

If you're stayhing there, let them know you will no longer double back, either.

[TazziRN, RN]

To say that if it's one's normally scheduled hours that one should work is ridiculous. So if it should happen to fall that I am supposed to work every Christmas for several years in a row, I should shut up and do it? I think not!! There is a reason why hospitals (the ones run by normal people, anyway) require that each nurse work alternating years on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Both are pretty heavy-duty religious and family holidays, and to I for one would pitch a fit if I was expected to work just because Christmas fell on my regularly scheduled day.

[jodyangel, RN]

We should all be grateful for our many blessings, job included. But her boss is very disrespectful and the staffing coordinator is very cruel. I've had an SC like that. She, of course, worked Days, Mon-Fri and got all holidays off, was never a nurse, so had no sympathy whatsoever for the fact that it is very, very hard to have to double back, to have to worry about the holiday work schedule, to have to request off and then deal with the pain of nt getting it anyway, of all the other shenanigans that this one can't get vacation between October and December but this other one can - every year.

And your boss giving you your schedule only 5 days in advance isn't very respectful either. How do you plan your life?

And it is not whining to want to be off on the holidays. Especially when one is told at the very last second, especially when it's Christmas, especially when you don't get paid extra for holidays, especially when you will already have worked part of Christmas Day already, after having worked Christmas Eve. Yes, she could still get to a CEve Service and have dinner with her family on 12/24. But expecting her to go in at 1900 and telling her on such short notice is not acceptable. I could feel somewhat better if they only expected her to be back in at 2300 but they still should have told her much sooner.

BTW, are you off 12/24 and 12/25?

I'm working 12 hr shifts on saturday and sunday. So I work all thru christmas eve (they don't count it as a holiday) and into christmas am.

[Katnip, RN]

I don't think there are any "rules" about how much time should be between shifts worked. I have worked 3-11pm and come back in at 6:45am..but it bout kills me lol. And sorry but it is differant getting that sleep in the dark night as oppossed to getting the same amt. of sleep in the day. You don't sleep the same and your body is not as rested. I know cause I've done the night shift since sept.

The thing is, as I've looked over the schedule for the rest of the weekend program nurses, I'm the only one scheduled to come back in on christmas. So its not affecting anyone else the same as me. That in of itself doesnt seem right..

In some states, inlcuding mine, it's law that healthcare workers have a minimum of 8 hours off between shifts. It's a matter of patient safety.

[nurseinlimbo]

At what point do you become concerned about patient safety? How alert are you after a night shift. I know a girl here who would go from a night in the hospital to a day shift in community health and think nothing of it. I just think thats negligent, because how can you give your patients the proper care and treatment when you are overtired?

I don't understand why nursing is the only occupation where no one seems to acknowledge that we have families and that children need their mom/dad at home sometimes, w/e and evenings are precious and holidays even more so.

Anyone who is overworking themselves like that is NOT doing it for the patient, they are doing it for their bank account.

[redwinggirlie]

You are already working Christmas. At least in my facility, the night before is a paid holiday as the majority of the hours worked fall on the holiday. Is that not the same elsewhere? Seven hours of your shift are on Christmas Day. Don't work. Don't answer the phone. Call in sick today. AND MOST OF ALL...

Have a Merry Christmas!:balloons:

[mgladius]

That sucks,

Your administrative staff are cowards. We know when the holidays are, it's just too bad the administrators play these games. Prior planning prevents poor perfofmance and these types of schedules should be posted minimum of 30 days out, anything less than that is just ducking responsibility. Loyalty is a two-way street and leaders, even nursing leaders should lead by example.

[Bluehair]

Your facility is being completely unreasonable on every level. Waiting until 3 days prior to the holiday to post schedules is essentially holding you hostage. Claiming that they don't want to hear the grumbles is disrespectful and unprofessional. And finally, asking you to work all weekend before and then turn around and ask you to work 3-11 is putting your health at risk as well as your patients' safety. Why should you pay for their lack of a coherent policy on holiday staffing? I absolutely would not work it, no compromises here.

I couldn't agree more! What are we all taught in nursing school - patient safety. How can it possibly be safe for a patient to have anyone caring for them work 2-12's at night and then double back to a 3-11 - holiday or no holiday? Our unit didn't get the holiday schedule out quite that early, but did get it out in time for people to make plans. How on earth are you supposed to make travel reservations, or get your holiday put together at all with 3 days notice?!

It would be an interesting study to see what would happen to facilities that treated their staff like that routinely if nurse's would just refuse to work there, work only at the ones that treated you like some sort of human being. Those are out there - I've worked at them and am working at one now.