Vacation scheduling

roser13, ASN, RN · May 12, 2015

I disagree with the first come, first served model. Vacation scheduling should be done based on seniority.

Disagree. Should a senior nurse be able to boot a junior nurse out of his/her vacation simply because Senior requested later than Junior?

At my facility it's first come, first served. UNLESS you had the same prime time off last year, in which case your request goes to the end of the line.

FlyingScot, RN · May 12, 2015

Disagree. Should a senior nurse be able to boot a junior nurse out of his/her vacation simply because Senior requested later than Junior?

The way we do it is the date you sign up doesn't matter within the two week priority schedule period in February That way if someone is off they don't get screwed. Approval is given by seniority. After the priority scheduling period is closed then it's first come first served regardless of seniority. I find this enormously fair. The senior staff should get some sort of payoff for longevity. FTR, I'm pretty much in the middle of the pack seniority-wise so I'm not being self-serving.

So far everybody is happy with this arrangement because we almost always get what we want. Of course, we try to be reasonable too. Those of us who are single make every attempt to not schedule vacation during the weeks that the kids are off for the summer unless there's some sort of family reunion type vacation. I generally vacation in September. This year I'm going in August but it's the third week and most kids are back in school or getting ready to.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · May 13, 2015

We give 160 per week with 40 alternate hours. Our summer is Memorial Day to Labor Day week. We can only take 2 weeks in this time, only people with 30 years in can take 3 weeks. The sign up goes from Memorial week to the end of the year.

It is seniority based. The top 10 put in their requests in for the time from Memorial Day to the end of the year. Then the rest are assigned a time to call and put in their requests until the whole list of staff is done. If there happens to be time left then it goes they the list again until it is gone. Most of the time the people who take alternate hours get them as there are always people willing to work extra time ( can't cover with overtime). It works pretty well. Not everyone gets time in the summer ( we have over 100 nurses) but everyone gets something in the time frame. We can also take a day or two, we aren't required to take a full week so it works out that people can pick up a stray day here and there and string their days off together.

joanna73, BSN, RN · May 13, 2015

When you're working in unionized environment, seniority rules as far as vacation requests.

My current position is non unionized, out of scope so requests are generally first come first serve. However.....seniority still plays a role here also.

runsalot · May 13, 2015

Mine is first come first serve. I would hate seniority based as I could never go on vacation I the summer.

BiotoBSNtoFNP · May 13, 2015

I think the seniority scheduling is awful... It is great for the nurses with seniority though, I can't blame them for it. Ours is one schedule for our 3 combined units and only one nurse can be off each week no matter if they are different shifts or not. Aka with over 52 employees and it being seniority based, I get no vacation because no weeks were left when it was my turn to choose. It's an awful system, but management is looking into changing it to keep nurses around.

That sounds horrible. Mine is seniority based similar to PPs where in feb the manager goes around by seniority asking what weeks they want until everyone has selected. Then if people want additional weeks, they can take them after everyone has chosen their first week. If your hosp does it by seniority and there are 52 employees, they should accommodate the number of nurses allowed off so that EVERY nurses, even new ones, get vacation. No nurse should not not be able to take vacation AT ALL bc they are low on the seniority. They may not be able to take it when they want but they should be able to take it sometime!!!

imintrouble, BSN, RN · May 13, 2015

I like first come first served. Unfortunately there are some people that request days off a YEAR in advance.

Editorial Team / Admin · May 13, 2015

I like first come first served. Unfortunately there are some people that request days off a YEAR in advance.

Why unfortunate? Other than prime time (summer and Christmas being seniority based), it's always first come first served. If I know that I'm taking my yearly vacation during an off-season, why shouldn't I put in the request as soon as I know when it's going to be? Our policy allows for requesting up to a year in advance- if I'm going to be shelling out thousands of dollars, I'm going to do my best to make sure I get off during that time.

loriangel14, RN · May 14, 2015

Our union contract outlines the rules. Summer vacation requests have to be in by March 15th. Summer schedule has to be posted by April 15th. Requests are handled by seniority. My floor posts a paper schedule before hand and people pencil in what they are going to ask for so we can try to accommodate one another. One part timer and one full timer can be off at the same time.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · May 14, 2015

Any requests for vacation during "prime time" which is from Memorial Day through Labor Day and Thanksgiving and Christmas are granted based on seniority if the request is put in by April 1rst. Due to that policy no confirmation of prime time vacation time is given until then as a more senior nurse could put in for the same time as somebody else right up until then. After April 1rst it is first come first served. Only one nurse on a shift is granted vacation during the same time, though they will occasionally allow a day overlap that has 2 nurses off. Weekends can be problematic as there is also a policy based on years of service that requires you to cover your weekend yourself unless you've worked there a few years.

It's a little complicated but it works.

zappae63 · Dec 12, 2015

It is important to maintain a balance that respects seniority but also will help retain newer staff. Our unit allow the top 10 staff to pick 2 weeks of their choice within the calendar year. Then lower staff pick 2 weeks.

It goes by seniority to a certain date and or deadline for requests to keep senior staff from bumping junior staff.

The vacation picks then go back to the top of the list.

This way it prevents senior staff from choosing all their desired time 5-6 weeks before others have a chance. it allows less senior staff a chance for school vacation weeks or summer time. (maybe not mid July to mid August, but at least time in June)

We do not allow staff to take full weeks over the winter holidays. Thanksgiving, Christmas or NewYears. No even the nurses who have over 40 years.

Elaine

zappae63 · Dec 12, 2015

it sounds like your unit needs to increase the number of staff off. There is way to calculate. FTE X hours accrued years. (higher seniority accrue more time)

Calculate all RNs on your unit. Then sum then divide by 52. (leave some time for sicknesses if your institution does not have a separate sick time bank)