self scheduling

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2003

We have a sign up sheet where people sign up the days they want to work. It usually works out well, but some days are more popular than others. Then there are people who don't want to work weekends, or Saturdays, or Fridays and a bit of resentment occurs.

It's nice because I don't like working Mondays (bowling night) and I don't like working three 12-hour shifts in a row. Sometimes we get bumped to other days, but basically I get what I sign up for.

It gets cute when we are "self-scheduling" around the holidays. Usually about one or two people sign up to work a holiday and 15 people sign up the day after.

I think with clear guidelines about weekends, etc. it can work.

RNinICU · Mar 22, 2003

We have a form of self scheduling that works quite well. Everyone fills out a six week schedule for themselves and gives it to the unit manager. We are given guidelines regarding the number of weekends and off shifts we have to work, and are allowed three specific requests that cannot be changed. The UM can alter the rest of the schedule to make sure the unit's staffing needs are met, but everyone usually gets a schedule very similar to the one they made for themselves. Holidays are tougher, but at the beginning of the year we sign up for the holidays we want to work, so that most people are satisfied with their schedule.

cactus wren · Mar 22, 2003

Last place I worked the ICU was self scheduling. It was a work in progress, but after awhile, we had a rotating schedule that each of us liked. And, althoughi could project what days I would be working a year from now, it was open to changes..say if someone needed a paticular day off. This was a small ICU, so not a lot of people to please. Don`t know how well it would work if there were a lot of folks.

JNJ · Mar 22, 2003

I used self-scheduling when I was nurse manager of a huge ER many years ago. It was very, very successful after some initial teething problems, with high staff satisfaction ratings, and saved me a lot of aggravation.

We set ground rules in consultation with all nursing staff e.g. so many weekends, evenings, holidays per month, year etc. We set change issues (i.e. change with similar level of staff allowed without NM approval, but must be in writing, signed by both parties etc). Other changes, requests absolutely not encouraged after finalization of schedule.

I used to post the master in the office area to be filled in in pencil by staff, sorted according to experience/qualifications etc to ensure appropriate skill mix. It was not acceptable, at first, for anyone to fill in the whole schedule for themselves; only the essential days could be filled in at first. Over time, things settled down so well, we all just wrote in the whole month, knowing instinctively what others needed/wanted.

We ran two months at a time with the schedule 'sealed' (in those days by a sheet of plastic, but something much more sophisticated could be done now!) about two weeks before it was due to start and we kept this process running.

We had a system for flagging days on which it was essential to get that schedule (limited # per RN per month).

It took us a while to get it right - and I now know the key is in setting the ground rules in consultation with all staff before the start. Also you'll need to sound out anyone who has been there so long they believe they have a right to the schedule they currently have.

Hope this helps you all.

webbiedebbie · Mar 23, 2003

After I finish orientation, I will be able to do self scheduling. I've done this in the past with another hospital. Not all units do this though.