Scheduling on your unit

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Hi guys, I was wondering what scheduling is like on the units where you work.

On my floor, I'm just about had it with our system, and people I've talked to from elsewhere wonder why it's like this in the first place. There's a spreadsheet with everyone's name on it, and it's a free for all to claim hours. There's been a lot of erasure lately... ie: people who want to work your shift, so they make it theirs, then kindly schedule you on a day YOU CANNOT WORK. Then when the schedule comes out, it's a great big unpleasant surprise.

Management turns a deaf ear to it. Any time I ask a question or offer a suggestion about how things are done, I'm answered in such an exasperated tone that I just don't want to talk to them ever again. (Techs such as myself are treated like peons... unless they like you lots and lots and lots.)

I get the feeling the person who does the "scheduling" just doesn't want to deal with the task of knowing everyone's availability. All it does it eliminate frustration for the "scheduler", but place all that frustration on the honest employees who just can't bring themselves to steal other people's hours.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTAC, Critical Care.

On most of the Med-Surg floors (at night anyway) our schedule follows 5 on, 2 off, 2 on, 5 off. PCU/ICU do 7on and 7off.

Since I'm in RN school, my manager has me working only Saturday nights. When I have a few days off I try to pick up extra nights.

They once wanted me to work 5 in a row (which I did because she pulled a Jedi mind trick or something on the phone) then work 1 on, 1 off, 1on, 1off, 1on.... (which I did NOT). Night shift mind you!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
There's a spreadsheet with everyone's name on it, and it's a free for all to claim hours. There's been a lot of erasure lately... ie: people who want to work your shift, so they make it theirs, then kindly schedule you on a day YOU CANNOT WORK. Then when the schedule comes out, it's a great big unpleasant surprise.

Do what I do and use a pen when filling out my schedule. It doesn't always stop them from switching my schedule around but it makes it more difficult to do it without my knowledge or participation :)

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
On most of the Med-Surg floors (at night anyway) our schedule follows 5 on, 2 off, 2 on, 5 off. PCU/ICU do 7on and 7off.

EEEK to both! A few weeks ago, I did three 12s then an 8, and I thought I was going to die. Five in a row? Hahahahahahahaha...

As far as nurses go, we work every third weekend (unless we're weekend staff), which means either Sat/Sun or Fri night/Sat Night.

During each schedule (four weeks), we are required to work at least two Mondays (or Sunday night into Mon) and two Fridays (or Thursday night into Friday).

Aside from that, as long as you keep within the agreement of your shift requirement (I, for example, do 6 12's and an 8 per pay period, which is every two weeks), you can schedule yourself however you'd like. Doesn't mean you'll get it, of course...

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We schedule ourselves on a spreadsheet. After i'm done, i make a copy of it. some people try to be sneaky, but they usually get caught and are confronted about it. simple as that.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

Bring this to HR, it is blatantly unfair for others to be able to change your schedule. Since management doesn't care, move over their head. Good luck!

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Specializes in NICU.

WOW, what you all have described sounds like a big mess!

We have SEVERAL "schedule coordinators" for our unit and you either work day shift or night shift.

New hires: every other weekend for one year after END of orientation.

After one year: Every 3rd weekend on a "track" system. So I know ALL of my weekends for the rest of my career. If I need a weekend off, I switch with a nurse for a different weekend but I have to make sure my sat/sun is covered by someone.

We can only trade within the week: Week is Monday-Sunday.

We all put in our schedule request and the scheduling coordinators review it for staff mix, charge nurse, transport nurse, and appropriate number of RNs.

There is no "must work a friday or a monday" but no one gets away with working only T/W/Th either.

Our "vacation request" book comes out six months out. So in June 2010 the book for January-June 2011 requests came out. So if you want more than 2 paid time off days you have to know in advance. It gets pulled once/month for paid time off approval of the requests. If you need last minute vacation it's easy: You take the book to the manager and as long as the max number of vacation days hasn't been given out for a week they can grant it to you.

We are allowed to request days off for class, conferences and so on on each monthly request.

About 90% of our staff works 3 12hr shifts in 7 days.

We have an EXCELLENT extra shift sign up process, computerized and accessible from home. So if I want to sign up for overtime I can log in and schedule myself for any available shift. We have a 24hr cancel policy for these overtime shifts.

I work in a VERY large unit. We have LOTS of managers.

It's organized and I would say that from what I request I usually only have one, maybe two changes on my schedule request when the official schedule comes out.

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Specializes in NICU.

I forgot to say: We have a few older nurses who only work 8hr days and a few older nurses who only work 8hr evenings. Those nurses have been in this unit for so long that they no longer have a weekend requirement or have a 1 weekend day/month requirement. They work 9 8hr shifts in a two week period.

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op, that screen name made me laugh. it sums up my thoughts exactly as i gown and glove up

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Do what I do and use a pen when filling out my schedule. :)

Better idea, sharpie ;)

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Better idea, sharpie ;)

I like how you think! :)

Actually, my unit is pretty good about scheduling--it's a very small unit and for the most part we stick with the same hours. I indicate the days that I absolutely can't work, and tell my supervisor as long as those days are honored I don't really care when I work. That's worked out pretty well: there's only been a couple of occasions that I got scheduled for a day I can't do but I was able to work them out.

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