Pattern scheduling

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I just got a new job that I start in 2 months, and I was told that at this job they do pattern scheduling, 12 hours, 3 weekends a month. It was a long interview and I didn't think to ask more about that.

Does anyone do pattern scheduling at their facility? I'm looking for an example of what a typical schedule pattern is like.

Thanks!

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

I had patterned scheduling, and I really liked it. I only did every other weekend, though. Mine looked something like this:

Monday - OFF

Tuesday - 7a-7p

Wednesday - OFF

Thursday - OFF

Friday - 7a - 7p

Saturday - 7a-7p

Sunday 7a-7p

Monday - OFF

Tuesday - OFF

Wednesday - 7p - 7a

Thursday - 7p - 7a

Friday - OFF

Saturday - OFF

Sunday - OFF

And repeat. Sometimes I'd do two weeks of days, then 2 weeks of nights; other times nights were covered by permanent staff and I'd work more days.

You'll want to find out if they assign you your pattern and if there's a chance to bid into more favorable patterns as you accumulate seniority.

We don't necessarily do patterned scheduling we're I work, but we can put our preferred schedule in and I put a kind of patterned schedule in following our schedule guidelines (required Mondays, Fridays, and weekend days). I'll group my nights together and then group my days off together so that I work three days then have 4 or 5 days off then work 3 then have 2 or 3 off then work 3, etc.

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

My department has pattern scheduling, the pattern covering two weeks. It's nice in that we know exactly what our schedules will be and we're not subject to scheduling surprises. It also means we know who we're generally be working with each day.

The downside? We don't get to pick what days of each week we get off, and once the pattern is set, it can be tough to make changes to it. Most staff get at least the entire weekend off on alternate weeks, with the 2-3 off days on the other week being kind of random (e.g. work a day or two, off a day, work a day or two, off a day, etc.). Some are lucky and actually get two or more consecutive days off each week.

I just recently was promoted to the position of staff coordinator for our nursing facility. We are a small facility and I am desperately trying to find a place that can help me build a scheduling template so that I can do a better job of scheduling my staff. I am trying to give my nurses every other weekend off, and I am having the hardest time figuring it out.

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