How does scheduling work for part-time staff?

[Laurabird]

I've been offered a part-time (20 hours/week) job as an ER tech at a large hospital. I have (and plan to keep) a daytime job to make ends meet, but this will be my first hospital job.

To what extent are staff able to indicate preferences about their schedule? For example, it doesn't matter much to me which days I work, but it would be much easier for me to take this job if I could consistently work the same days of the week most of the time. I'd be very willing to work extra weekends if that makes my request easier. Also, since there are casual staff who do the same work as I do, can I "give away" a shift to other staff now and then, or am I obligated to the 20 hours per week one way or another (either by working them or by using PTO)?

I haven't been given an opportunity to talk with my actual supervisor about this, and have a feeling the HR person would give the "official" answer and not necessarily know the scheduling practices of the individual department. I don't want to be pushy about this, since I don't know what the culture is about scheduling in hospital jobs. On the other hand, I want to make sure I can really commit to doing this job without having to ask for unreasonable scheduling accommodation at either of my jobs.

Can anyone give me some tips about this? Any info is helpful.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Moved to General Nursing Discussion Forum.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

It all depends on the facility.

[brownbook]

You are not being pushy. Whoever does the scheduling will greatly appreciate talking with you. They, and you, will be very annoyed if they make the schedule (which is a hard thankless task) only to have you say......wait I can't work those hours or those days.

You must talk to whomever does the scheduling and at the very minimum tell them specifically what hours and days you can work. After you have worked a few weeks you can see how other adjustments to scheduling are made....."giving away shifts." etc.

[One1, BSN, RN]

It depends on your facility. With us, you have to make your 20hours/week minimum or your missing hours to make it to this minimum will be taken from PTO time. Some of our staff work the same days each week, others have different days each week. Ask if there is a weekend requirement, e.g. having to work 3 weekends (3 Sat, 3 Sun) in a scheduling period. Some facilities also require a certain number of Mo + Fri to be worked. Talk to the scheduler in the department.

[Laurabird]

Thank you! This is very helpful.

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

I work PT (2 12s a week) and we do self scheduling. So I actually have quite a deal of say on the days that I work. Of course we still have our weekend obligations and what not. but self scheduling is nice.