The survey responses track the comments and offer support for the position more staff is needed. However, this was in contrast to the belief that senior management did not understand that the nurses work schedule impacts upon family and other obligations. Requests are usually denied. I was told not to count on it because of staffing. I finally received approval the end of May.
Management uses several burdensome approaches to provide coverage for time off requests.
In some cases, nurses are finding management is shifting the burden of finding coverage for time off requests on to the nurses. I am very organized and do not waste a minute of work time. I am almost always on top of everything but find that even with all this I cannot keep ahead of what is required and nearly every week there is a new task assigned to my duties. Some nurses were clear in declaring staffing levels were unsafe. That puts the patients at risk.