it's that time of the year fellow nurses...heading into early october...
which means (cue the horror music): holiday schedule time!!! :angryfire
that's right, my floor has already put up a list for us to write in our preferences between thanksgiving, christmas, and new years.
now, i'm realistic. i knew as soon as i started working in a hospital that i would be working holidays, and i don't have a problem with that. it does get stressful with the planning of early or late celebrations and my family being 6 hours away from me, but it's manageable.
however, i must say that i do have a problem with a co-worker of mine who has only worked in peds for 5 months. she worked on an adult neuro unit before in the same hospital and hired in the same time as i did, so she has seniority over the new nurses hired in this year (but not over our group that hired in when she did).
she has made it known to some of the nurses on the floor that she will be having her "ankle surgery" the week after thanksgiving, and will be off for 8 weeks. she also said as a direct quote "i'll probably be working thanksgiving then." excuse me, what?!?! more like you will be working thanksgiving. when asked about the timing of her surgery, she said "my parents are going to florida for the winter and i need them to drive me around." apparently, they are currently overseas now and will be home in that time gap. well isn't that convenient!!! the one holiday that 90% of our night shift staff wants off (christmas), you'll be recovering from your elective ankle surgery. let's not forget about new years as well! i seriously had to walk away from the girl before i flew off the handle on her. i'm just pissed about the whole situation. the following things are what i would love to say to her, but i'm too professional to do that in a work setting (maybe i should get her phone number:lol2: )
1)i don't see how there isn't a hospital policy on having elective surgeries between november and january! i guess i'll make a note to have a boob job done next december!
2)i'm sure your ass will be driving 2 weeks after your minor elective surgery, why don't you just admit that you planned it on purpose to get christmas and new years off?
3)very few nurses on this floor like you... your laziness and incompetence have repeatedly been reported to our nurse manager who doesn't have the backbone to fire you. i think it's safe to say that your co-workers are not going to welcome you back with open arms when you return from your mini-vacation.
4) this sort of follows #3. there aren't many nurses who jump for joy at the thought of working holidays. sure, we do it and we tolerate it...but that doesn't mean we like it. the holidays are a time that we want to spend with our families too! show some respect towards your co-workers and go through the process like all of us have to do!
ok, so i'm done now...i feel better, lol. i apologize for the swearing, i'm just so angry:angryfire i wouldn't have an issue if she hadn't been working due to her ankle (she's been working full-time), or if she was having nonelective surgery, or having a baby. all of those situations are completely understandable...her situation isn't.
Working holidays is part of being a nurse. I think we all knew that when we decided on our career. Yeah it may get frustrating sometimes, but I just remember that I may be the closest thing to a family that a patient may see on that holiday. I have 2 small children and don't mind working holidays at all. We just schedule our time around my work. I do have to agree with "nicunana" that I don't know of any elective ankle surgery. I think maybe there is more to it than just that? You mentioned that she is lazy and has been reported many times, maybe that is the real issue?
I worked at one facility where everyone planned their pregnancies around getting Christmas off. We'd be 30% down before we'd even get the schedule up. My family is 1200 miles away and I wanted to know how I could get a week off at Christmas, even once every ten years. I was told "no possible way ever except for maternity leave". Now as a community health nurse, I take every Christmas week off as reward for all the Christmases I worked.
Coming from the other side, I just want to thank all of the nurses that do work holidays. My baby was born on Good Friday and I was hospitalized through Easter. My nurses were great, and I realized they have families too. You are appreciated.
Working holidays is part of being a nurse. I think we all knew that when we decided on our career. Yeah it may get frustrating sometimes, but I just remember that I may be the closest thing to a family that a patient may see on that holiday. I have 2 small children and don't mind working holidays at all. We just schedule our time around my work. I do have to agree with "nicunana" that I don't know of any elective ankle surgery. I think maybe there is more to it than just that? You mentioned that she is lazy and has been reported many times, maybe that is the real issue?
So I googled the phrase 'elective ankle surgery' and came up with several results. After you had mentioned it, I thought well technically it might be 'non-elective.' I'm not sure though, like I said, on what her situation is. All I know is that she didn't schedule this months in advance, and she's been working full time with no problems and bearing weight. When I had mentioned about her being lazy I was referring to her attitude towards taking admissions, not wanting to help others out, things like that.
I wasn't actually complaining about working during the holidays. The only thing I complained about was the fact that a co-worker was trying to cheat out of our holiday system. I mentioned that I am realistic when it comes to working holidays, and I knew when I started working in a hospital. I celebrate the holidays around when I work as well.
I understand your frustration, and I can see where you are coming from. However, as an outsider looking in it really seems like you are making a lot of assumptions about your co-worker (whom it seems you already don't get along with very well) and her situation. You mention she's been working with "no problem" - really, unless you're her you can't know that. I'm sure there are a lot of other factors contributing to this situation aside from just holidays, as there are other factors contributing to how you view her in this situation.
I know you're not happy and I truly have BTDT. But this year our situation's changed, so I'll be working all the holidays gladly. The census is usually down and I'll get overtime.
I know you're not happy and I truly have BTDT. But this year our situation's changed, so I'll be working all the holidays gladly. The census is usually down and I'll get overtime.
I wish our facility offered time and a half around the holidays. I truly believe we wouldn't have staffing issues around the holidays if they did. They give us actual time, I think 24 hours total, but you get it regardless of whether or not you work them. We were almost full last year on christmas no joke, lol
Ankle surgery doesn't seem to me to be in the same league as a boob job!
Anyway, I'd be happy to work the holidays for you or anyone else. Being scheduled to work is a great way to get out of having to spend time with my in laws!!!
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Jo Dirt
3,270 Posts
I've worked every major holiday every year since I started my nursing career more than 6 yrs. ago.
And I'm getting tired of it.
That's my vent on the matter.