Vacation - We need to find our own replacements

[StNeotser, ASN, RN]

We have been told if we want to schedule vacation we will have to find our own replacements without the use of pool or the replacement nurse going into overtime. It's apparently been pretty difficult for the staffing office to do so now they are putting the responsibility on the nurses themselves.

We have also been told that we can no longer cash in our unused vacation hours and if our vacation hour bank goes over a certain amount we will not be able to accrue any more hours.

I think this stinks - why should we have to do the scheduling job too on top of everything else if we want time off?

I was just wondering if anyone else here has the same policy?

[Be_Moore]

No, that's complete ********. PTO is yours to use freely, and scheduling is not in your job description. Your facility should take care of staffing. How are you supposed to find replacements for you while you are gone without people going into overtime? And if you can't cash it in, but can't accrue more, I call ******** again. I'm no JD, but something smells borderline illegal here. Very gray area.

[TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN]

Oh heck no! If we have a difficult patient we don't have the option not to care for them because it's "hard". Its our job! It is the staffing office's job to do the administration work for vacation scheduling. I'm sorry if it's "hard" but too bad. They need to do their job and we'll do ours!

[David13, MSN, RN]

I agree with the other posts thus far. It appears the staffing office is trying to get out of performing an admittedly difficult task. You should not be held responsible for finding a replacement. Your responsibilty should be to request time off in a timely manner, and the staffing office either grants or denies it based on pre-established criteria.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I agree - this is not your responsibility. Just say no.

steph

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Wow...they've got you coming and going. It will be incredibly difficult to take a decent vacation, but if your PTO builds up, you're going to sacrifice that.

Seriously, this must be someone's harebrained idea that cannot possibly stand up to scrutiny, especially from a legal standpoint. As someone else mentioned, your PTO is yours and you have the right to use it.

What's your facility's grievance policy? Who do you file a complaint with regarding staff policy?

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

and yet....while you surely can say no, they surely can give you some consequences...so, who can you go to, in your organization, to talk about this (and locally, outside the organization)?

[LLLLiiiFFEsaveer]

I don't know guys?

I do think it is each individual nurses responsibility to make absolutely certain so that departmental needs are fullfilled so far as staffing the place goes... And I mean that!

I...

[roser13, ASN, RN]

"I do think it is each individual nurses responsibility to make absolutely I do think it is each individual nurses responsibility to make absolutely certain so that departmental needs are fulfilled so far as staffing the place goes..."

I couldn't disagree more. There are staffing coordinators and managers whose duty it is to ensure adequate staffing. A staff nurse is on the job to perform patient care according to the facility's policy, not keep an eye on the whole place.

In fact, the very idea of every nurse for him/herself, trying to change/trade hours with co-workers gives me the willies. Who's going to keep the master plan of who's working for whom?

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

This is a disaster waiting to blow up in everyone's face.

1. Is vacation time offered as a benefit?

2. How long must you work to take a vacation?

3. What are the state laws governing such things as vacation, sick time, and such?

Has any one group, like nurses, only been effected? Can office people, housekeepers, or kitchen helpers take vacation without finding replacement?

I agree that this situation seems to be borderline illegal. Need some legal advice and would even speak to the BON regarding this, maybe they have some answers.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

This is a disaster waiting to blow up in everyone's face.

1. Is vacation time offered as a benefit?

2. How long must you work to take a vacation?

3. What are the state laws governing such things as vacation, sick time, and such?

Has any one group, like nurses, only been effected? Can office people, housekeepers, or kitchen helpers take vacation without finding replacement?

I agree that this situation seems to be borderline illegal. Need some legal advice and would even speak to the BON regarding this, maybe they have some answers.

Exactly~

steph

[Keepstanding, ASN, RN]

are you a member of a union? if so..call them.....now !!

praiser :heartbeat

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