Nurse requests summer off

[rcoast911]

An unmarried nurse works 3 12-hr shifts per week, with everyother weekend off. Last year she worked nearly everyday in the winter, covering for coworkers winter vacations and book offs. A loved coworker was she. Last February, she requests for all of her scheduled weekends off for June, July and August (approx 12 days). The love is gone.

The nurse manager was so furious with her for requesting such a large amount of time off, that she almost refused to approve it. The explaination was that if the time is approved, due to the low staffing levels (of course),if some of her married coworkers request the same days off (remember, its just every other Sat and Sun) they would be denied. This girl was stunned that management felt it necessary to berate her and bully her for asking for time that she had accrued. They would rather her take 4 full weeks off instead of her scheduled weekends.

According to their contract, the only limitations to time off is no one may take the week between Christmas and New Years Day. Really, if you have the time accrued, and you ARE the first one to request the day, why the bitterness?

[maire]

Some people can request the world and receive it because they are favored by management, others request two sheets of toilet paper instead of one and they are fired. Just the way favorite people are treated versus the riff raff.

[GitanoRN]

Once again it saddens me to hear that the favoritism in the nursing workforce is well and alive. Unquestionably, I'm truly sorry that the manager didn't recall the generosity of this nurse, when she worked all of the holidays for her colleagues. Undoubtedly, this falls under "Lateral abuse".

[MissMelissRoths03]

That's very frustrating. You would think that if you do your job, go above and beyond, and rarely take off that you would be rewarded later but, for some reason, this often doesn't happen especially in the healthcare industry. I've found that it really is a bunch of politics.

[jacqueline66]

It is awful that there are no rules that would prohibit this in your facility. I once had a nurse practitioner take the entire summer off to HIDE her income from Medicare/ Medicaid review of her disabled husband so she could get passport service for him. I am certain that with full-time salary & a "trust" for her assets, that is considered fraud. Very difficult to get managerial support when her sister was DON. Sucks, HUH!

[NURSEDETROIT]

Ah, the old unwritten "rule," rears it's ugly head in yet another venue. . .Cronyism, as it relates to "friends;" then it's cousin, "nepotism." "It's not a matter what you know, it's who you know." Despite the efforts of some HR departments attempts to eliminate all of that, i.e., online apps; it continues alive and well. Then, there are many who know just how to work the system to their benefit. Not saying that this either right, ethical, professional, or should ever be sanctioned by the powers that be; the reality is, it exists. . .and no, it isn't fair or just. If your not one of the favored few, you loose. Irrespective of what it should be. Forget about any managerial/administrative support; for if it was not allowed/tolerated; it wouldn't happen in the first place. Some places, it is worse than others. . .