Computer vs Paper Scheduling

[RoaminHankRN]

Greetings,

I am responsible for doing the scheduling for the ER staff. The process works ok. The schedules are generated using Microsoft Excel and have a pretty nice format. When the schedule is finally posted, an open hours sheet is posted for the staff to sign up for extra hours not filled. The problem we have is people changing their's or others hours, too many people signing up for an extra shift, or just too much writing on the schedule making it difficult to read.

We have tried to ask staff not to do things and make some new policy changes but that has not worked. We are looking at a couple of options. Putting the schedule behind glass and locking it, using our intranet or one we would really like to do is put the schedule on the server where staff can view it on the computers in the ER.

I like features of Excel that allow you to protect it so people can view only without changing unless they know the password.

My question(s) for those responsible for doing the schedule...

1. How do you post the schedule?

2. Anyone use their intranet for posting the schedule?

3. Anyone place the schedules on a server?

4. Anyone else use Excel? (If you do, can you set the number of rows? Instead of the standard 65,000 or so rows, say only 50 rows?)

Any other suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Thanks soo much

Hank:)

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Ours was in Excel and attached to e-mail to anyone who wanted a home copy. A photocopy was placed in every employees box at work.

The unit photocopy was on the cork board with all shifts taped together. Switches were OK between RN/RN or LPN/LPN as long as a note was given to the NM of intention.

Any gaps were marked at the bottom with [*] and volunteers would put their initials in red ink in the gap on the schedule. The original printout stayed in the NM office.

I don't do excel so I don't know the answer to the line question. Perhaps GOOGLE.com might have it.

The floor below us had a glassed in case (like a knick-knack cabinet) that they posted theirs in. It looked a lot better than ours.

[RoaminHankRN]

Not getting the replies I was hoping for

(Thanks for yours P_RN)

Any other takers?

Hank

[donmurray]

It's a headache! We use a swaps form for shift exchanges too. Laminating the original helps!

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Clear contact paper would help. I never thought of that.