Modified self-scheduling has to go (IMHO)

[edogs334]

Every hospital at which I've worked- both as a tech and now a nurse- does modified self-scheduling. Meaning that you put in the days that you want to work (within the scheduling rules) as well as the days you want off and you may or may not get any or all of them. I'm sick and tired of having to work different days every week and not having regular days on/days off- all because different people want various days off each week. Why can't nurses just have set schedules (with weekend rotation if they don't already work a weekend day/night) and then plan their lives around those work days? Before everyone starts saying "well, nursing isn't a M-F, 9-5 profession," I've worked for ambulance companies (24/7 operations) where employees work the same shifts every day of the week and swap with colleagues if they need to take a day off. Furthermore, employees can go to the company scheduler and request a different schedule if they are going to do something like go back to school. I just don't see why hospitals can't have a similar scheduling system. It would be so much easier than having to work different days of the week to accommodate each others' needs for days off. For a single guy like me- it would be much easier to have a regular life outside of work.

[edogs334]

i agree with you that modified self-scheduling has got to go, but i don't think set schedules is the way, either. where i work, we're using scheduling software. if we need 13 nurses on a friday dayshift, they open 13 slots. 9 slots on a sunday night, etc. they sold it to the staff by promising us that we wouldn't always get what we wanted, but when we walked away from the computer, we'd have our schedules. instead, we spend an hour signing up for the schedules we want, and then the manager shifts everyone around so that when the schedule is actually published, it has very little resemblance to what you put in.

true self-scheduling using computer software (i think you're talking about nightingale?) would definitely be nice. the latter half of your reply basically describes what goes on in my unit- sometimes you get most or all of what you want, and other times you get switched to random days to cover for people in school, on vacation or going to soccer games. and my unit has been short-staffed lately so it's just going to get worse.

[sarapRN]

Our unit currently has a set block schedule, and are looking to possibly go to self scheduling. Just wondering what units that take call do with an ever changing schedule. Any info/comments about signing up for call/self scheduling would be great! Thanks =)

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

our unit currently has a set block schedule, and are looking to possibly go to self scheduling. just wondering what units that take call do with an ever changing schedule. any info/comments about signing up for call/self scheduling would be great! thanks =)

we've gone through several different iterations of the call issue. what seems to make everyone the happiest is signing up for call at the same time as you sign up for your schedule, since call has been more of an issue than the schedule. that way, if you want to take a few days off, you arrange them around your call. the way we used to do it, we'd get a nice stretch off, and then when the call schedule came out we'd have a call shift smack in the middle of it.

[mjmcca]

Which is my exact point. That's why they call it modified self-scheduling, because it isn't really self-scheduling. Management (or whoever they designate to write the schedule for that six week period) ultimately decides who gets which days- which puts the final schedule beyond the employee's control. And it's pot luck as the whether other people can switch with you for the days you want off so you can keep the set schedule you want.

Your employer wouldn't make these changes unless staffing was not evenly spaced out. You cant have 7 people on one day and 3 the next.

We had a small unit only 8-9 nurses with a maximum of 4 staff needed each shift but we almost never had enough people to put 4 on. My manager would not accept a schedule unless it was evenly balanced, meaning there could not be 4 people on one night and one person on the next 2 people the following ect. Our worksheet would be posted for everyone to see and change and if no one changed it it would be done for them so staffing was balanced. We would try to accommodate requests but if every day off was a request then it would be like none of them were a request. The only exception was Christmas and New Years. If we had 8 people on shift 4 had to be on each holiday even if it left other days that week unevenly staffed.

I came back to work after a lengthy medical leave after a bout with pneumonia. I didn't care what days I worked. I had one request to be off to go to a pulmonologist's appointment. Guess what day I had to work, but I honestly think that was just spite on the part of the person who was fixing the schedule at that time.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

We just re did our schedules to include the last like 4 new people that have been hired over the past 1.5 years. We were just getting put in where they could while everyne else had a master Schedule so they finally made a new master schedule. I don't have a set schedule weekly but I have a set schedule in 6 week rotations now so I do know my whole schedule for as long as I work here with the same master. I just print out the Master and know what week we are on and I have my schdule. I was hired at 2x a week and they way it worked out is in the 6 week rotation I have 1 week that I have 7 days off and 1 week I have 9 days off in a row. That is really awesome although in winter season I will always have extra shifts to pick up and I can always try to pick up extra shifts on other units also during our slow season. Everyone approved the Master and it has worked out well.