Core schedules...what's your opinion

[4boysandagirl]

I work in a small hospital which is currently in the middle of contract negotiations with a new VP of nursing. Since she started 2 years ago she has replaced 4 department managers with new mgrs from non-union states. One department has had their schedules changed monthly for the last 18 months and moral is very low. We are attempting to negotiate "core scheduling" language into the contract. Any advice or opinions. How many of you have schedules which are predictable (meaning you know now that based on your schedule what you can plan for next year?) and how many of you don't know what your schedule is until two weeks before when it's posted?

Thanks!

[nghtfltguy, BSN, RN]

Wow.. You get your schedule changed all the time?...

I know you stated that you work in a small hospital, and I have no idea what department you work in but you might suggest to whoever does your schedule the idea of "self scheduling".. it is where there is a sign up list for who wants to work what shifts... people of seniority would get to pick the best schedules of course.. but you can all work it out amongst yourselves to figure out who wants to work when... that is just a suggestion.. i work at a place that does that and it works out great.. we have our "set" schedules 2 monts in advance.. only changes if we wanna swap shifts!!

[pharmgirl]

I work 2 jobs, the first where I prn we have a schedule for 6 weeks and its pretty set (unless someone wants to swap). Its pretty predictable which weekends you work and which you don't etc. We work tues,wed,thurs one week. The next is Mon, friday sat sunday.

The other job is a monthly schedule and its a crap shoot. We always work 2 weekends a month but the rest of the days...well, it could be anything. And the schedule there is usually put up 3 days before the last schedule ends. Makes it difficult to plan anything. I wish they had more of a set schedule so you could make family plans.

[Otessa, BSN, RN]

I'm for a track schedule. A, B, C-predictable schedules so you can plan life, daycare, family gatherings.

The whole not knowing 2 weeks before would have me looking for a different job for sure!

[OttawaRPN]

We call them rotations, or lines. On my ortho unit, twelve-hours shifts would be two days, two nights, 4 days off. Eight-hour shifts equally predictable. The nice thing about it is you're always working with the same group (or I suppose that could be a bad thing too.) The only time the rotations change is if the NM sees fit to do so ie) too many new nurses on one line, etc. but she normally gives at least 4 weeks notice.

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

We have master schedules per union contract, however management need only make reasonable effort to maintain them.

So we do have core schedules, but management has the right to change them at any time before the 10th of the preceding month.

The only way to make plans is to request PTO, but that has to be done by the 5th of the preceding month, or trade.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

We had set schedules until the new manager took over. Now it's a mess. We only get 2 weeks notice so it makes it so difficult to plan anything in the future. This next schedule though, management will post for a week and let people make any needed changes. This will be interesting...

My own schedule is self scheduled along with two other nurses, as we share charge. This will be interesting to see how it goes as well. It's fairly new and with the holidays coming up...

[evolvingrn, BSN, RN]

We are switching to 'core schedules' but i think they will be good for 4 months at a time and then they may be switched a bit and then good for another 4 ect....

[DPRN]

I create schedules for my staff for a four week period. Full time and part time staff all have a basic rotation that they can predict their schedule for the next year if they so choose. Schedule requests for vacation days are due by the end of the second week of the current schedule. The new four week schedule is posted by the end of week three of the current schedule. I am creating an eight week schedule right now so my staff will be able to make their holiday plans. By the end of this week, a schedule will be posted to run until January 1 so holiday plans can be made.

[sasha2lady]

Where I work all nurses are on 12 hr shifts and we all have a set track that doesnt change unless nurses swap shifts or theres a call in.

On day shift its way more confusing because they constantly swap shifts and dont tell anybody about it. Night shift rarely does this but when we do, we make it known.

I plan the entire year based on my track. We used to get different schedules a few years ago where we wouldnt know what our days on and off would be til it was put out. I didnt like that because when the ADOn used to do them one nurse would always have her to switch up my shifts to suit her....when I caught on to that..I immediately confronted both of them and was NOT happy....end result that was the end of them messing up my schedule and shortly afterward, the tracks were put into place.

I was also pregnant at the time so when I got agitated, it was usually bad lol.