Wedding vs. Nursing Schedule

[NurseRN83]

Hi all!

While I am new to this username I have been a member of this site since 2005 (just changed it since I realized my other name gives me away a bit...)

I am a new grad (May 2011) who passed the boards in June. I was lucky enough to secure a job through networking and am one of only two people from my ASN program who are currently working. I secured a job in adult home health and work 40 hours a week. I am choosing to turn down the fantastic benefit program that my company offers in order to remain a "per diem" nurse, mainly because I am allowed to take off as much time as I want with a 30-day notice. If I were benefitted, I would be required to work every other holiday (I work every holiday with my current schedule anyways), and every other weekend (I work every Sunday with my current schedule), in addition, I would not begin to accumulate paid time off for six months after my "grace" period is over. I do not abuse the privilege of taking time off, and the only days scheduled off are the ones I informed my clinical director about upon hire (two total that I was unable to have another nurse on my case switch with).

My concern comes down to this: both my best friend and I are getting married next summer. She is getting married in Florida which complicates things a bit. There will be two bridal showers, two bachelorette parties and two weddings for which I will need time off. While I have worked to try and schedule these events on my day off, it's not possible for everything.

The only day this affects is my Sunday shift. I take my work responsibilities very seriously and do not have any days schedule off aside from an upcoming weekend that was planned before my employment. I don't want to leave anyone high-and-dry so I was planning on discussing this with my clinical director 6 months in advance of my wedding and asking if I could drop my Sunday shift, allowing enough time for another nurse to be trained to pick up the shift. Do you think the home health company would be amenable to this? I also want to allow enough time for them to figure out who will fill in on my honeymoon since I plan on taking about 2.5 weeks off. I know this may sound a bit extensive, but truthfully, a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event and I really do not want to compromise this with my work schedule if at all possible - you only live once, right? That being said, I'm not an irresponsible person who would just go off on a whim and negate my responsibilities. I'm trying to find a common ground.

So, I guess I'm asking, am I being reasonable? I feel as if dropping my Sunday would be the best bet as it would prevent the individual I care for, and her family, from ever-changing scheduling, etc. over the summer, and would allow me to celebrate my wedding fully. Has anyone else encountered this situation in the past? I'm afraid they won't allow me to drop Sunday or that they will drag their feet trying to find a replacement to fill in...

Let me know your thoughts, I want to make sure I'm dealing with this in the best way possible even though we are about a year out from the event...I'm also a new employee so I want to deal with this delicately as I really am grateful to be employed.

Thanks

[noahsmama]

If I understand it correctly, you're turning down the benefits package -- a significant financial hit -- in order to have the right to take off as many days as you want with a 30 day notice. So, take those days off and don't feel guilty about it!!!

It's your employer's job to figure out how to fill the holes in the schedule, not yours. You're required to give them 30 days notice, so be sure to do so. As a courtesy, you can give them somewhat more notice if you want to, although personally I don't think I'd give them 6 months notice -- maybe 2, or 3 max. Again, this isn't your problem, it's theirs, and you are paying for the privilege of having time off when you want to, so take time off when you want to!!!

[NurseRN83]

Yes, I weighed the options heavily...but with the impending wedding, I chose against being benefitted so I had more of a bargaining chip in regard to taking 2.5 weeks off for my honeymoon and for asking for Sundays off...I felt that I would not have as much of a "right" for those things if I were a benefitted employee...

noahsmama - I never saw it like that, but I'm happy for the perspective you provided - that I am "paying" for this privilege - your right! I'm turning down about $4200 in free money to have this privilege! Thanks!

[focusedvalpn]

i kinda skimmed through this kinda long so sorry if this is not that helpful, but if you and your friends wedding is next year put the request in now. then six months from the first date remind your don about it. That's what i did for my wedding despite the fact it didnt happen because of the hurricane when had here i was the first to put in the time so i had it off if i needed and i was able to reschedule with time off. but if at six and the time leading to it they cant find someone to fill that spot then you have your alternative. Plus the sooner you let then know exactly what you need the sooner the can hire more prn closer to the date to cover you and you have less chance of scheduling stopping you or making compromise. i find that if you are dependable and are a team player the more they will compromise with you.

[merlee]

I would think that 3-4 months is plenty of time to let your employers know that you need time off. Put it in writing that you need a certain specified amount of time off for personal business.

Best wishes

[focusedvalpn]

but when it comes to vac time i take what i want when i want but i do give notice ahead so im first in line. like now i have my vac for jan and may in and approved because i was first in line

[79Tango]

2 Weddings, 2 bridal showers, 2 bachealorette parties + Honeymoon.. You must be marrying an MD with all that time off!

[RNOTODAY, BSN, RN]

If I understand it correctly, you're turning down the benefits package -- a significant financial hit -- in order to have the right to take off as many days as you want with a 30 day notice. So, take those days off and don't feel guilty about it!!!

It's your employer's job to figure out how to fill the holes in the schedule, not yours. You're required to give them 30 days notice, so be sure to do so. As a courtesy, you can give them somewhat more notice if you want to, although personally I don't think I'd give them 6 months notice -- maybe 2, or 3 max. Again, this isn't your problem, it's theirs, and you are paying for the privilege of having time off when you want to, so take time off when you want to!!!

what she said!!! your taking a position that allows you to do this... so why fret? You are pr diem, not FT.............tell them when you will be off and whwn u will return withing the 30 day time frame and dont feel one shred of guilt....realy, this is the beauty of the position you took!!!!!