Vacation schedule

[ccl&Drn]

I was wonder how other units plan their vacations. At our unit we start in Nov the prior year pick 2 weeks of vacation. The more senior person will get the week over some one with less if they want they want the same week. The about a month later another 1-2 weeks could be pick if you have the vacation hours. Then month later up to 2 more weeks could be picked. There could only be 2 rn on vacation a given week. Say if 2 rn pick the same week, the same rotation,the one with less senority has to find coverage for the weekend or just work it. I was just curious if there is a better way to plan vacations or different perspective on organizing vacations. We have 60 RN working in our department. Thank you

[jeanie]

When I was a staff nurse our hospital policy allowed only 2 weeks during "prime time" mid May to mid September.ICU only permitted 2 RNs off at a time, vacations posted by 12/31 were by seniority, then if time was still open any one could apply.
I have been granted Wednesday to Wednesday vacations, involving my weekend off. Also if your vacation involved you weekend to work, it had to be paid back by working an extra weekend at the nurse managers choice.
I accumulated 6 weeks a year, but could only use 2 in the summer and vacations were also banned mid Dec to mid Jan.
It made it difficult to take all of my time each year.

[cassioo]

at my hospital you can ask for vacation at anytime as long as you have the time "in the bank" you earn vacation hours every pay based on how long you've been employeed is how many hours you get per pay (I earn about 10 hours per pay)Before March most people turn in a list of days they want off for the year. If yours is turned in by before March 1st and nobody with more senority asks for that time off you get it. If you ask after March 1st it's 1st come 1st gets. We don't have any banned times if you ahve the days you get off.