So Frustrated I Could Cry..

1 Well actually I did cry :-( My Dad's 75th birthday party is coming up in a month, he's been planning this party for the past year. The party falls on my weekend to work (the party is in another state), I submitted my request for time off as soon as my parents had the date set, which was a little over a month ago. About the same time I submitted my request one of the other two NOC nurses put in her resignation. After a couple weeks of not hearing anything back from my scheduler I sent her message letting her know how important it was for me to be off that weekend because it was for my Dad's b-day and since we lost my older brother 6 months ago I couldn't miss a family function now. Didn't hear anything back from her. Than the other NOC nurse put in her notice, leaving me the only full time nurse on that shift :-/. I could to work last night and had a denial note waiting for me. It basically said "due to the current staffing issues I cannot approve your request for time off" I am so angry. There are only two on call nurses I can ask to work for me and one of them has already told me she is busy. The other nurse is my last hope. I don't even know what else to do and I cannot imagine having to tell my parents that I won't be coming.. :-(
If it's in a month, could your parents move the party to a weekend you are off? If not, could you go visit your parents the weekend before or the weekend after? It sucks to not get the time off you need--I'm always switching with other nurses who were denied time off--but maybe you could look at it this way: you can be with your dad around that time, but just not on "party day."

Whether or not 2 nurses quit ( gee, I wonder why) has no bearing on your vacation. Are you never to take time off until they find and train new nurses? You've earned the time and it is yours to take.Call in sick ,or sick and tired, or sick of the bs.

No job is worth that. There are other jobs out there. Quit and start applying for them (not necessarily in that order.)You are not a thing. You are a human being. An employer that treats you like a thing instead of a human being does not deserve your respect.

I would start job hunting. When you find another job, resign and calmly tell them the true reason why.If you think you will not be able to find another job, then I would find a way to be "with" your family while still fulfilling your committment to work. Perhaps you can schedule a break and "skype" into the party or something?

I can understand that your manager has to staff regardless. I recommend you go to HR to see if there are alternatives before I make a decision to leave. You are right, it is really important to you and I hope it can be worked out.Good luck!

I would have a terrible migraine that weekend and have a doctor's note ready to prove it.

Quote from blondy2061hI would have a terrible migraine that weekend and have a doctor's note ready to prove it.

Check your policy at work before just calling in on that weekend. I know our policy is that if you call in sick on a day you were denied off, it's a write up. I realize it feels unfair to be denied the time off, as you've expressed how important it is to you. But I guess I've been doing this long enough to understand the department's needs are considered first when it comes to scheduling. Yes it sucks. I know.

Could your parents move it to another weekend? I think this situation sucks donkey feet. I'm really sorry.

Call in.

Quote from LadyFree28THIS.Go enjoy the party.

Well, you still have one nurse to ask but make sure you honor a request should that nurse have one to ask of you.Unfortunately, it likely won't be pleasant for you if you just call off -- be ready to go (or start already) job hunting when you get back. People generally are not kind to others who call off especially when there are staffing issues. It looks like you aren't down for the team and this happens regardless of profession. With nursing being a 24/7 profession, no one is likely to be all that nice about your situation, especially when you already have current staffing problems.It sucks but requests are just that -- requests. They can be honored or denied for any reason and they have a pretty good reason. I come from a place where staff is consistently short (by design of the business) and it's very frustrating to have to deal with lots of requests and people calling off when they are denied (we can't really do anything about this because it's a "sick" request and it could cause legal problems down the road). But, that's how it goes -- it does cause drama, however and people who do this are generally not welcomed back very easily.I'll cross my fingers that the other nurse covers for you. Good luck!