How to Self schedule yourself ?

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Specializes in TELEMETRY.

Ok, so I work at a hospital where they self schedule. I feel as though I cant schedule myself just right? What are your best self scheduleing tips and tricks?

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

Are there guidelines? We have to sign up for a full weekend plus one other weekend day, one Monday and two Fridays. We only get 4 requests per schedule (days we really need off in a 4 week block). They can move our days if one day is overstaffed and one is understaffed.

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Specializes in TELEMETRY.

The only guideline is one weekend a month a sat and sun... or two Sunday or two sats.

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Specializes in Pedi.

Do you work 12s or 8s? There is no scheduling "how to", it depends on what you prefer. Some people prefer to cluster their shifts and work, say, Sun, Mon, Tues one week and Thurs, Fri, Sat the next (this is assume a 36 hr/week schedule of 12 hr shifts) so they have a good week off in between. Personally, I didn't like working 3 12 hr shifts in a row because when I did that, I felt like all I did was work and sleep. I used to prefer Mon, Wed, Thurs. We had set weekends so I knew I was on every 3rd weekend and on weeks when I was working a weekend shift, I'd try to skip the Monday and work Wed, Thurs, Sat, Sun, Wed, Thurs. It didn't always work out this way, of course, because self scheduling was a joke and all it meant was you were allowed to fill out what you wanted and then the scheduler/manager rearranged it as she saw fit.

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Specializes in TELEMETRY.

I work 2, 12hr shifts. I just seem to still not have enough time. I have friends who say 2 on 1 off is best?

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Specializes in Pedi.
I work 2, 12hr shifts. I just seem to still not have enough time. I have friends who say 2 on 1 off is best?

If you work 2 12hr shifts in a week, I would try to make them the same shifts every week and schedule them back to back so you have a lot of time off in between. When I worked in the hospital, pretty much EVERY 24 hr nurse had a set schedule and they all worked permanent nights. For the most part, they did Thurs/Fri and then had no weekend requirement because working every Friday night fulfilled that. Some work Wed/Thurs and then every 3rd Fri/Sat.

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Specializes in TELEMETRY.

sorry I meant 3, 12 hr shifts, So you think 3 in a row to keep more days in a row is better?

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Specializes in Pedi.

I don't like 3 12s in a row on days, on nights I preferred it. I am very glad I do not work these inhumane hours anymore.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

Once you self-schedule are you stuck with it for infinity, or can you self-schedule for each new one? If you can switch it up with each new schedule, try out different combos to see what works for you.

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Specializes in TELEMETRY.

Yea good idea thanks! We get four weeks to schedule and every month it can vary. This month I'm doing weekends only n one day during the week... see how it goes.

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I like doing 3 in a row, but I also work nights so it's easier to switch back and forth. Also I signed up like this starting in Sept and I think I might like it: week one- sun, fri, sat; week two- sun, mon, thurs; then repeat week one then two. My husband is off Tues/Wed so I don't mind working weekends. But at least every other weekend I'm off fri/sat.

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i like to schedule myself 6 days on, 7 days off. Saves a bunch of PTO, and it reall isn't that bad after 3 nights, you just kinda go numb :D

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