Fixed or Irratic Scheduling?

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

Our unit and hospital in general has gotten very irratic and unpredictable in scheduling. Even my weekends are not consistant. They have a strange policy of posting a schedule so people can sign up for empty shifts, then pretty much totally revising it, mostly to accomodate the loudest complainers.

I've made the decision, after this last schedule, to go per diem. I'm tired of dealing with all this unpredictablity. I keep getting stuck with the crap rotations. I'm having to work Dec 22, 23, 24, and 26 after having to work Thankgiving and the weekend following it. I'm only a 0.525, but I'm getting stuck working for a bunch of people who requested huge blocks of time off around Christmas. The schedule was changed radically after the first version was posted, and they stuck in Christmas eve, then by the time I got to work it was too late to complain.

I can never predict my schedule, there is absolutely no pattern. Not so the last place I worked, where I followed the same pattern every month. I've decided it's not worth it, that I'll go per diem and that will give me more flexibility. I also plan to pick up some agency shifts, the agency that I signed up for a while back and never worked for has been calling.

I emailed my manager and HR and today I'm putting in the paper work. I'll still need to work those shifts, but in two weeks my schedule will be more in my own hands. Wish me luck!

[littlepeach]

our schedules are fixed. we pretty much keep our same rotation. nobody is allowed to ask off on major holidays. work one year.....off the next. any overtime is offerred first, and cleared before actually placing it on the schedule. sounds like you're getting screwed.

[caliotter3]

I agree with your decision to go per diem and get around this craziness. Sign up sheets and then they change the schedule at the drop of a hat? No way. Fixed schedules is the only way to go. Then only mutually acceptable adjustments, as few as possible. Fair is fair. This other method allows those with the biggest mouths or who are on the "goody" list to always get over on the others. Makes for a tension and resentment filled workplace.

[kukukajoo, LPN]

fixed schedules seemed to work best when I was in childcare. we would leave it up to the worker to swap their own shifts/get own coverage if they needed a certain time off. Saved me a lot of BS doing the schedule and held them accountable and left no surprises. Staff was hesitant at first but it worked so much better than the free for all you are describing and saved me countless migraines.

Vacations were submitted in advance and I did find coverage for that time once approved.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I would be upset as well. I see almost the same at my hospital, where sometimes, nurses get half weekends off, or something weird like that. Per diem would be better, I suppose. But, will you lose benefits?

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

I'm not getting my benefits through work. I'll get a 15% increase in my hourly wage, in lieu of benefits such as vacation and sick time. I put in the paperwork in yesterday. I don't like the way they schedule this will be better for me.