Nurses at my facility were just informed that starting on May 1st, we will no longer have the benefit of being off on opposite holidays. The DON has put into effect that nurses only (not the CNAS) will only have 2 holidays off a year............
I am pretty sure the mass exodus will be taking place shortly.......
Do not get me wrong, I am grateful to have a job in this economy, but this seems a little extreme. I plan on writing a nice little email, and explain if they expect the floor nurses to abide by this, then it is only fair that management should be expected to work every single holiday too. (When pigs fly!!)
These changes are puzzling. As one poster asked, what is the reason for this? The one that really doesn't make sense is the switching, unless recent switches have sent some nurses into overtime. In that case, parameters around switching could be instituted, rather than eliminating it all together. This is why nurses need a voice in policy changes. Instead of the dictates coming from on high-- and with it, the risk of employee dissatisfaction--nurses could come up with ideas that fulfill the objectives of the facility while preserving morale.
It is actually the CNA's who switch days/shifts all the time. Nurses in my facility usually don't not do this, but there a couple who are switching days with a nurse whose husband is terminally ill to try to help her out.
This came out of left field and we are at a loss for why. Staffing has always been an issue for years and years on holidays and management is just now doing something.
We have a new DON who doesn't seem to have her departments back so to speak. She is content to let other non-nursing departments steam-roll us. I guess this came from the higher higher ups.
I am sure that she will be at home with her family on each holiday and even enjoying coveted 3 day weekends.
nicenurselpn, LPN
120 Posts
It is actually the CNA's who switch days/shifts all the time. Nurses in my facility usually don't not do this, but there a couple who are switching days with a nurse whose husband is terminally ill to try to help her out.
This came out of left field and we are at a loss for why. Staffing has always been an issue for years and years on holidays and management is just now doing something.
We have a new DON who doesn't seem to have her departments back so to speak. She is content to let other non-nursing departments steam-roll us. I guess this came from the higher higher ups.
I am sure that she will be at home with her family on each holiday and even enjoying coveted 3 day weekends.