Block Scheduling

Kate RN · Mar 17, 2004

We have a staff of about 55, various flex schedules. Some have 8's, 10's & 12's. Some work every other weekend, some every 3rd. We are a contract hospital. Our staff has expressed intrest in either block scheduling, self scheduling, or a combination of both. Does anyone have any experience with these?

I see that no one answered you initially. We are wanting to change our staffing method and block is what we think we want to try. What did you end up with, and how is it working. We have a smaller staff, there are less than 20 of us in the ED , work the same kinds of shifts (8,10, 12) , but we are not a contract hospital so what we agree upon among ourselves is most likely exactly the way it will be done. Our manager has said as much. This is an earned attitude though. And a good thing. Please let us know what happened! (Fact is I found this bulletin Board because of this thread. I will return for other things but this is why I came.)

K

RNLex · Mar 18, 2004

We are a union hospital also, staff of about 22, they do self scheduling. For me as a manager it doesn't always work out - way for them to request their days off. I put the six week schedule out blank, rule is they have one time to fill in the required amount for each day, all do every other weekend. If not acceptable that one time, then I do it.

CmRenstrom · Mar 18, 2004

I see that no one answered you initially. We are wanting to change our staffing method and block is what we think we want to try. What did you end up with, and how is it working. We have a smaller staff, there are less than 20 of us in the ED , work the same kinds of shifts (8,10, 12) , but we are not a contract hospital so what we agree upon among ourselves is most likely exactly the way it will be done. Our manager has said as much. This is an earned attitude though. And a good thing. Please let us know what happened! (Fact is I found this bulletin Board because of this thread. I will return for other things but this is why I came.)
K

We never did go to block scheduling. As you can see I didn't get much info. on the topic. Our staff is even larger now so I am not sure if it would still work, and we have more staggered start times. I'll be interested to see if anyone posts anymore info. to this topic.

nowplayingEDRN · Mar 18, 2004

Where I work, we use self scheduling. Our nurse manager puts in the numbers at the bottom of the schedule and then we all fill ourselves in accordingly. I am relatively new to the concept but it seems to work fairly well, except when everyone is trying to avoid working with 1 staff member that always seems to be contary and difficult to work with and then what you see is the low man/woman on the totempole, the one at the bottom of the dog pile gets stuck working with the difficult co-worker....*sigh* I think it helps keep moral up to do self scheduling, but you must keep in mind that the nurse manager has the final say and can make any adjustments that she feels necessary for the final draft. I don't know if this helps you any or not....we are a unionized facility and are scheduled for 13 hour shifts (2 30 minute meal breaks equals out to a 12 hour work day and shifts overlap so that the incoming shift can do change of shift tasks such as crash cart checks and equipment stock checks).