scheduling

[mrspitt07]

Alright, SO I am an ER nurse in a rural facility with about 12 nurses. I have brought up the subject of changing our work hours that instead of having 2 nurses come on for days, 1 in the middle and 2 at night that perhaps we should stagger our shifts so there is A)more options for work hours and B)Options for better work life balance. We currently have a 0730-8pm shift and a 730pm-8am shift and an 1130-12mid with 1 hour lunch breaks. I suggested that we do actual 12 hour shifts like 6a-6p, 8a-8p, 10a-10p 6p-6a and 8p-8a with 30 min lunches since we work too far to really run errands or do anything productive on our breaks. I am getting a bunch of flack from my coworkers that I try to change everything which perhaps I do but most of my coworkers are either leaving or retiring in the near future but I have like 20 years left here and I want to make it as great as we can. Any ideas of good scheduling patterns? Or ways to get buy in? Most of our staff have a "set shift" like the nights to nights and the days do days and the swing do swing. We have a small crew and I want everyone to be happy but I'm feeling stuck in our current scheduling pattern.

[Pat_Pat RN]

Don't fix what ain't broke?

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

The issue I see with your scheduling is there is no overlap where there is consistent nursing coverage; your current schedule reflects that right now.

I don't run errands during my lunch break; I don't even recall having a job where I would run an errand; with the exception of a job where I worked downtown and if I wanted to pick up something after work I would wait until then, otherwise I would wait on my day off.

[OscarTheOwl]

Do you have the authority to elicit change in the schedule? Or are you trying to rally the troops and present options to management?

I'd think if it was the latter, you are going to have trouble because it seems like you're the only one who isn't happy.