Self Scheduling

ERNurse752, RN · Feb 21, 2002

I'd like to know more about it too...my workplace gives us our schedule, and mine always SUCKS!!!!

mopsi · Feb 21, 2002

We have it where I work...Most of the time eveyone just puts down their days they want to work and the next person goes accordingly..On a conflict the people usually work it out..If not they both just put in for the day and mgmt. decides like they usually do..It is a whole lot better than just being scheduled if everyone is fair..If someone wants to be a PIG and pick the primo stuff and to heck with everyone else there's usually some comments made to that person..PS....It's usually the same person who got to the scheduler and got all their requests in and poop on you...I think you'll like it and at least feel a little more control over things..Gee What A Concept In Nursing!!!

Huganurse · Feb 22, 2002

I loved it when I worked at the hospital. To make it fair, we rotated the picking process so that everyone would get a chance to go 1st. We always worked things out between ourselves if we needed a day off that wasn't available by the time it was our turn to choose days to work. Rare conflicts were solved by senority.

live4today, RN · Feb 22, 2002

Once worked at a university hospital where the Nurse Manager allowed her staff to do "self scheduling". It was great! No one fought over this day or that day, and all was well! :) If a nurse absolutely had to have a certain day off, we were to check that day by using "red ink" instead of penciling that day in. Then, when the Nurse Manager printed out the schedule, it was up to her to allow that day off, or not. She always did a great job IMO! :)

amy111 · Feb 22, 2002

We started self scheduling on my unit about a year ago. Basically, we have divided the staff RNs into three groups. A & B are full/part time. Group C is casual part time staff. Groups A & B alternate first sign up every other month as well as the staff rotating within the groups themselves. This ensures that the same people are not the first to sign up every schedule. We work a combination of 8 and 12 hour shifts. Staff signs up according to their assigned shift- days are day and evening, nights are night and evening. Our schedule runs 4 weeks. The sign up sheets have 5 lines for each shift. The staff signs up according to their rotation and each staff member must contact the next person to come and sign up. Everyone is required to work 2 full weekends unless they have a signed agreement with another staff member to work their w/e.

It has gone very well and nearly everyone gets what they want. The unit manager approves requested time off before the sign up goes out. The second week of sign up, the schedule is re-evaluated by the staff and shifts are evened out. The UM then makes final changes if any and posts it as the final schedule.

SouthernPride · Feb 22, 2002

Thanks alot yall. I appreciate it.

mamabear · Feb 23, 2002

Self-scheduling is another example of a great idea that works in theory but not in practice. We allegedly have self-scheduling where I work, but it's always tilted to the advantage of the suck-ups.

babynurselsa, RN · Feb 23, 2002

We use self scheduling where I work and for our shift it works wonderful. We are a small group that is fairly close. If a person needs a specific day off they will mark it and if it is really important they will even state why they want off, kids ballgame, birthday, whatever. As we all fill in for our nights then we just fill the schedule in as needed. Occasionally the girls that finishes the schedule may have to make a few changes but is not usually a problem. Now our day shift on the other hand is not nearly as successful with it as far as I can see. They are a cliqueish sort and some of them don't like to work with others, which leaves some days with frightening staffing, such as 2-3 core staff when they need 6. I think it has to do with the desire of those involved to want to make it work for EVERYBODY

Teshiee · Feb 24, 2002

Pros

1. Allows you to place the shifts you want.

2. Gives more control over your life because many of us are moms and we love attending our babies special functions and so forth or just working out day care issues

3. It may minimize call ins. Lets be real many of us will call in sick if we need a day and didn't get it. Especially if it was something you had to do.

4. You can plan things accordingly

CONS

1. The schedule is put out so far in advance you are forced to pick days that may conflict with future events.

2. If there are too many people on a certain day and not enough on one you may be bumped and usually the nurse with the seniority gets it.

3. The finalization of the schedule may have changes and you arent told til the final schedule is out and you may not be able to accomadate certain shifts resulting conflict and some bad feelings with the scheduler.

4. Power struggle with the scheduler may deny your request and give perefential treatment to other co workers.

Just some good and bad. I keep a calender book with me and write my days in pencil when I put it on the schedule I ink them in when it is finalized because you never know. It is a good idea to let the scheduler know of some day care or college issues that you may have so there may not be any conflicts. For the most part I got my days with an occasional bump. As long as I am notified I am okay but if it conflicts with a day of importance oh well either move on or I will have to call in sick. Fortunately the scheduler we had was great in giving our shifts we requested

luv l&d · Feb 24, 2002

we have done self scheduling for about 4 yrs now. we are a big unit with about 50 nurses for the day and night shifts,12 hr shifts only. full time, part time, perdiems, travelers. we also have a night shift that rotates for 6 weeks at a time(some of them are straight nites, but some do 6 weeks days and 6 weeks nights) our time sheets are made out for 6 weeks. regular staff, then perdiems, then travelers get the schedule. we can request off certain days and it is first come, first serve. senority counts as to who gets the schedule first. if we are short on some days and over on others the scheduler calls and plays"lets make a deal" works fairly well for us, but it does involve some time by the schedulers. holidays are rotated and vacations are limited to 2 weeks in the summer. only 2 people on each shift are allowed to take vacation at the same time. and weekends are 4 per 6 weeks, any combo works.

Huganurse · Feb 24, 2002

It seems when this doesn't work is when it is not fair and not done properly. We were not allowed to mark a day to work if it was already staffed. You had to pick another day.