NURSING GOVERNANCE

Scheduling can certainly get complicated quickly. Does your hospital have core schedules (set schedules that rotate) or do people pick their own? For holidays our floor posts the list of each holiday and we rate which one we would want off the most- the holidays taken off last year are taken into consideration as well as seniority. At my hospital if you've been there more than 10 yrs you don't have to work any holidays. Also, are their people wanting to work weekends? Here, some of us are in school and it's easier to work the weekend and be off all week- oh.. is it 12 hour shifts? Hmm... as far as PRN- have a rotating schedule. Summer vacation is always fun- what about posting a large calender and seeing what people would like off- that way if someone is taking vacation- others can see the holes that can be picked up. Working with a small group of people should be better than dealing with 10 RNs per shift- however, I would think it would require some flexibility and understanding from those working on the unit that teamwork would be essential.

we staff 5 for our ten beds so take that into account. We work 3 12 hour shifts with one call a month.

we have a mandatory every other weekend unless you get a buddy to share... I'll do every saturday and you do every sunday.

Mondays and fridays have a 4 total through the month... for example, on my weekend to work, I work fri, sat, sun, monday... and my weekend off I get all four.

people that complain they can't work three in a row are scheduled for friday and monday on there weekends off because there is no other way to schedule it and meet requirements.

Don't even think of sun, mon, tuesday... trying to screw your peers results in your being moved unless you have a buddy to cover that friday and saturday (usually those that like the shift diff).

Know that in holidays, your track will be changed due to requests

Know that only one person may have the week off, we keep a calander and it's first come first served... but in a conflict of 7 days request, the prior requests will be considered (the experienced nurse who never works christmas eve in 7 years and a first request 2 years in for it as a priority request). Noobie wins

We pick holidays, turkey day, christmas eve, day new years day and eve and rate them on a scale.. one being the most important... one, the priority is granted, if there is a conflict and eveyone has one for the same day, the prior year is looked at... if you had it off last year, it's your turn now, and the other person gets it

Doing this.... not all the new people are screwed, they retain longer and whats fair is fair.. no employee should state they don't work........ Nope.

In a magnet facility, a team of people we respect each others needs, and know that our needs may not be met this time, but will the next..

the consistancy is the key, despite those starch opposers who try to intimidate others

thanks zookeeper3 and ivorybunny...all information very helpful. Teamwork is essential....