Question about RN scheduling

chare · Feb 4

In my experience track scheduling has not been common practice. Nor was it popular in the one place I worked that used it. Apparently it had been implemented by the manager that hired me as self scheduling was implemented not ling after she left.

Personally, I liked it for the reasons you listed.

sfn2008, RN · Feb 5

chare said:

Apparently it had been implemented by the manager that hired me as self scheduling was implemented not ling after she left.

"Self Scheduling" How does that work?

Some of the other benifits from track scheduling that I thought of was the ability of the nurse manager to keep closer management of the four groups. Each of the teams would have a team leader. To introduce new policies or new equiptment the nurse manager needs to meet with the four team leaders first. Then when the monthly nursing meetings takes place issues of the new policies can be discussed.

Also report times are easier as the day nurses are reporting to and from the same night nurse that they spoke to 12 hours earlier.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Feb 13

In my area we call this "block" scheduling and the area hospital's refusal to use it is a big part of the reason I've never worked in that setting in 28 years of nursing. I like knowing my schedule, and having a predictable schedule, If I want to schedule a trip over a year from now I already know what days I'll need to request off. My schedule doesn't change, at least not without my input.

Most important is I don't work those ridiculous rotating shifts. None of that work a couple of days, work an afternoon and double back to days stuff for me. All of our local hospitals utilize the rotating shifts schedule, either days/afternoons, days/nights or afternoons/nights. There's no predictability to the schedule, one week it can be 2 days, 1 afternoon, double back to a day shift, and the next week all afternoons, The next pay rotation it can be something different.

DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 13

sfn2008 said:

I am a retired Travel Nurse (2008) and in my travels I came across a schedule for 12 hour shift nurses. It was brillient. Every nurse knew months in advance what days she/he was to work.

Nurses were possitioned in one of four shift slots. Team 1 day shift and team 2 day shift.Team 1 night shift and team 2 night shift

There was a 14 day repeatable schedule for each team. Each schedule started on a Monday.

first week two days ON two days OFF three days ON

second week two days OFF two days ON three days OFF

Never work more than three days in a row. Always have two days off between your shifts. Know months in advance what days you are scheduled.

If you are absent for sickness or other reasons a Per Diem staff steps in. Also end of year Holidays would need to be considered so one year you get two of the three holidays off, and the next year you get only one of the holidays off.

Question: how many hospitals are using this schedule method? What are the pitfalls of this type of scheduling?

This exact system is used where I work. People like it as they know where they are for the year. They request those extra days off (public holidays in lieu etc.) as and when they need them. The only difference being in France our legal working week is 35 hours hence every so often we're scheduled what's know as an RTT (réduction temps de travail) which is an extra day off once we've accululated those extra hours.