This is a question about vacation time usage, and whether this is an unusual situation, or par for the course. I work in a 99-bed nursing home, and only one nurse is allowed to be on vacation at any given time. (i.e. I work evening shift, and I cannot be on vacation if a day shift nurse is on vacation.) Since there is low turnover at our facility, many nurses have accrued several weeks of vacation, which is carried over into the next year.
Each January, we submit our vacation requests for the whole year. It is usual for most nurses to take more than one vacation period during the year. I submitted my request for two vacation periods; one was granted, and one was denied. One of the other evening shift nurses is scheduled to be on medical leave for 6 weeks this summer, as well as taking a one-week vacation. Since he will be out, no other nurse can take time off during that period. That's a huge chunk of time being taken by one nurse!
I spoke with the DON and told her I do not think it is fair to penalize every other nurse because one nurse is on medical leave. I suggested hiring an agency nurse to cover, and naturally she said they "can't afford it." This is February, and the medical leave isn't until August, so they have plenty of time to come up with a solution, in my opinion. I guess it is just easier for them to send my vacation request back to me with a big "DENIED" on it, than to work at solving the scheduling challenge.
Naturally, this is affecting other nurses as well. Any opinions or suggestions? I would really appreciate some feedback.
(And, for those of you who are wondering, we do not have a union. I am sure if we did this would not be such an issue.)
They can always call an agency to come in and cover. If they are too cheap to call agency then I don't need to work at their facility period. I need my vacations. I always ask for my vacations 6-8 months in advance. If I am "denied" they have to make an important decision. I explain to them that I have already paid for my non-refundable airline tickets and that I cannot afford to not take the trip now. When they understand that they will get a 2 week notice then they change their minds and OK my vacation time.
Just putting it out there....that facility might not have any agencies under contract. That is why I asked if it was a corporate or independant facility. I work in a rather small facility with a high staff turn over. Our poor scheduling person has to beg corporate for the permision to call agency staff. Yes...beg. How crazy is that?
I still think you need to get the other staff involved. I can't beleive that they all think it is okay for this to happen. Maybe I'm living in some warped word.
When is the DON taking vacation? (not saying that she doesn't deserve one, but just wondering)
Blackcat99
2,836 Posts
They can always call an agency to come in and cover. If they are too cheap to call agency then I don't need to work at their facility period. I need my vacations. I always ask for my vacations 6-8 months in advance. If I am "denied" they have to make an important decision. I explain to them that I have already paid for my non-refundable airline tickets and that I cannot afford to not take the trip now. When they understand that they will get a 2 week notice then they change their minds and OK my vacation time.