Holiday Rostering

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I am looking at different ways to allocate staff holidays on the neonatal unit where I work, which has approximately 35 nurses. At present nurses self-roster their annual leave on a holiday rota, which notes how many staff of each grade can be off at any one time, to ensure that the nurses remaining on duty are acceptable across grades. The rota used in on a "first come first served basis" which I know is not ideal. The school holidays in July & August are a real pain as nearly everyone wants 2 weeks off & there are only 6 weeks to fit them all in! The only other method I have had experience of, is putting in forms & applying for holidays, but this is also "first come, first served." Does anyone have any suggestions/experience to help me in my quest. Thank you!

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Specializes in Critical Care/ICU.

Totally off topic but I kinda like the term "rostering" for staffing. It implies a team which reminds me that the US is playing a World Cup qualifer right now vs Trinidad/Tobago. (ESPN2).

Begalli

On our unit, every nurse is comitted to work every other Thanksgiving. Then, we are scheduled to work with Christmas or New Years, not both. Christmas and New Years rotates every other year. For example, it was my turn to have Thanksgiving off this year and it was my turn to work New Years. Next year I will work Thanksgiving and Christmas and have New Years off.

It's not that difficult to make a trade to suit your needs (staff [or roster :) ] of >100). Also, you can request a vacation during these holidays and it's usually granted based on how many other nurses also request it and on senority. I've never had a problem. Other holidays throughout the year are just like any other day. If you want to work you schedule yourself. If you don't want to work, you can request it off. It all depends on staffing on that particular day.

All of vacations (holidays) are scheduled per senority which is per our union contract. BUT, if a senior nurse had a prime vacation spot last year, she/he will be moved to the bottom the the list as far as senority goes for the next year's scheduling of the same time slot.

I don't know if that helps, but that's the way we do it. We have MANY more nurses on our roster though and usually 14-21 nurses on at a time on any one shift.

GO USA!!

p.s. England vs Holland is on right now as well. :)

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