need scheduling asistance

suzanne4, RN · Apr 7, 2004

Why would your cost be any more expensive, unless they pay overtime for the last four hours........................a great schedule for ICUs are:

Nurse A: Monday, Tuesday on

Wednesday,Thursday off

Friday, Saturday, Sunday on

then Monday, Tuesday off

Wednesday, Thursday on

Friday, Saturday, Sunday off

Nurse B: opposite schedule of nurse A

One of the hospitals where I used to work agency did this and the staff loved it. You got a three day weekend every other weekend, never worked more than three shifts in a row, etc.

Each shift on your unit needs "X" number of nurses to cover. All you are doing

is covering the hours with less number of nurses actually working per 24 hour shift. It may actually save them money by going to this way of scheduling...

I would suggest you make up a mock schedule like this and present it with the numbers filled in, etc.

critcarenurse16 · Apr 7, 2004

I have presented my manager with a proposal but she tells me it would cost too much to 'convert the entire hospital' to accomadate a work 36-paid for 40 schedule. I disagree however-- You would have to work an average of 1.5 hr per day OT to get PAID overtime. We are short staffed now that summer is approaching and the overtime is staggering. They can't see the light! The real issue is some senior staff members are willing to only work 8 hrs. They are less than full time employees by the way. I know a lot of hospitals staff a mix of 8's and 12's. Our facitlity wants us to come in for the extra 4 hrs on a separate day- not nice when you have to come in from 0300-0700. Thanks for your input, I'll give it another go! :)

suzanne4, RN · Apr 7, 2004

You do not need to convert the whole hospital, as long as you have a match up for your opposite shifts..............so as long as there are at least two people for days and two people for the 12 hour nights. Actually works out quite well, what if you are getting a patient back from the OR at 2:30, you have a nurse there that won't be going home in thirty minutes.

You can try that approach............... :balloons:

Agnus · Apr 7, 2004

I have presented my manager with a proposal but she tells me it would cost too much to 'convert the entire hospital' to accomadate a work 36-paid for 40 schedule. I disagree however-- You would have to work an average of 1.5 hr per day OT to get PAID overtime. We are short staffed now that summer is approaching and the overtime is staggering. They can't see the light! The real issue is some senior staff members are willing to only work 8 hrs. They are less than full time employees by the way. I know a lot of hospitals staff a mix of 8's and 12's. Our facitlity wants us to come in for the extra 4 hrs on a separate day- not nice when you have to come in from 0300-0700. Thanks for your input, I'll give it another go! :)

Why must they be paid for 40 when they work 36? Most places pay for the hours worked.

As for salaried pesonel. By definition salaried are not paid by the hour and are there fore not tied to a certain number of hours, or shifts.

Our hospital has people who work 1 day a week , 2 days a week, 3, days a week and even 4 days a week all on 12 hour shifts. We also have those who stager 2 days one week three the next and a number of other combinations that are just too long to go into. Some work 8 hours.

Even 10 hour shifts can be accomodated.

IT sounds like they just don't want to do the work it would take to think out of the box.

Not accomodating staff will cost them more in the long run.

critcarenurse16 · Apr 8, 2004

You said it exactly- they don't want the hassle of the task. And we have lost 23 or so nurses, mostly to traveling. As for paying for 40 hrs and working 36- this would be a great incentive to retain staff and generate interest in prospective employees. But without staffing flexability and our administrations grudge against travel nurses they are cutting their own throats. Many people are unhappy about the overtime and morale is at an all time low. I'm trying to give them options to boost morale.