Self Scheduling

[ICNClinicalRN]

Hi everyone,

I currently write the schedule for NICU group, but we are going to trial self scheduling. Would anyone be will to share their policy regarding self schedules and give me any helpful tips as we begin this process?

Thanks!

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

We went to self scheduling 2 years ago and it has worked out pretty good. There are always going to be the ones that think they should get everything, but our schedulers are very good about making sure people follow the rules. Our schedule is done in 4 week blocks. Some of ours are

1. You must schedule yourself 1 full weeked plus another weekend day minimum.

2. You must sign up for one Monday and 2 Fridays per 4 week block. People are rotated off the Fridays if we don't need them.

3. If you work 4 days a week, you may have 8 high priority requests off, if you work 3 days per week, you get 6, if you work 2, you get 4. If there are an overwhelming amount of high priority requests for one day, then it goes by seniority.

Those are the basic ones. When they rotate people from days to other shifts it is done by seniority on a rotating basis, so the same people are not rotated every month. It is rare we have to rotate to another shift.

It works pretty well as long as you are strict with following the set guidelines. Our schedulers are pretty understanding if you have something going on and you need a few more high request days, but it can't be every month. If someone tries to abuse the requests more than one month, then their high priority requests are halfed the next time. People usually learn after that. Also, if you call in on a weekend day, the day will be made up on the next 4 week block, they let you pick the day. If you don't schedule it yourself, they plug you in where they need you on a weekend.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

We do self-scheduling and for the most part it works like BittyBabyGrower. Weekend option people (like me), since our schedule never changes, get automatically put in by the scheduling committee. Everyone else has to sign up for a set number of Mondays and Fridays (I think it is one or two of each per 6-week period). We are moving to all 12-hour shifts soon but currently there are a few people who work 8-hr shifts as well. If you are D/E, then you have to work a certain number of 3-11s per 6 weeks as well. (This will change when everyone is working 12s, though.)

Holidays are handled differently, but if I tried to explain it via written word, you'd be scratching your head going, "Huh?". 'Cause it does that to us too. LOL