Scheduling

[ThrowEdNurse, BSN, RN]

The ED I work in now is the only place I have ever worked as a nurse, so I guess I am kind of spoiled. I expect sometime in the future to change jobs, I mean what nurse every works her whole life at the first and only place every employed? My question is how do you guys get your schedules? We self schedule and it is awesome. It's based on seniority, the nurse who has been on the unit the longest schedules first and then down the line to the brand new nurse. We schedule a 4 week period at a time and must work 2 weekends. This is a Sat/Sun if you work days and Fri/Sat/or Sun if you work overnight. Otherwise you can do whatever you want if it is available as long as you get your required hours in. Most of us agree to work 36 hours a week, most newbies work 40, and many of the older nurses work as little as 16 hours a week. Whenever you want to change the number of hours you are required to work, you just speak to the manager and he usually okays it. Also, after you have been there I think 5 years or so, as long as you are a clinical level at least 3, I think or something like that, you can drop down to one weekend out of the 4 week schedule. I kind of don't appreciate the freedom this allows me until I notice some comments by others. What, do your managers just tell you when to come or what? Must suck to have no say so, right?

[ThrowEdNurse, BSN, RN]

I should clarify you can choose to work a 4, 8, 12, or 16 as long as there is the time available on the day you want to do it. There are spots open say from 7A-7P but if I only want 8 hours I can split it from 7-3 and leave an open 4 hours for them to fill. When everyone is done if the manager needs to he will move people, I've only been moved 1 time and then they post a needs list and we can pick up shifts for extra money. There is a lot of freedom unless you are new and at the bottom of the schedule.

[jenfromjersey]

No self scheduling here. They tried it on another unit I worked on but couldn't make it work because everyone always ended up wanting the same days and there were days NO ONE wanted (like before and after holidays). Became resentful that certain people always got what they wanted and others never did.

Where I am now, you are required to work every other weekend. The rest of your time is scheduled by the manager. We have a request book where you put in the time you want/need off. However, it is not guaranteed that you will get it. We do a lot of switching with each other and begging for coverage. The schedule is made 4 weeks in advance. I usually get the time I ask for and if I don't then I find someone to switch with me. We're all pretty good at helping each other out.

[mmutk, BSN, RN, EMT-I]

Sort of self scheduling here, we self schedule but if the manager doesn't like it she changes it (50% of the time).

[ThrowEdNurse, BSN, RN]

Why would the manager change it most of the time? Does she do it to fill in needs? If so it sounds like you don't have enough staff. I just find it hard to believe that other facilities can't do it when my hospital, with as many problems as it has, can make this system work. It's pretty much the only thing we have control over!!!