Self Scheduling!!

Anniekins · Sep 2, 2004

I work on a VERY BUSY surgical floor...................so I hear we are starting self scheduling in january.

I have no idea how this will work........seems like a first come first serve thing. I hear our weekends and holidays will be filled in and we schedule ourselves otherwise.

Anyone currently doing this? How is it working out?

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Sep 19, 2004

most of the places i've worked at do this- to some extent. the weekends (every other) are filled in already. one of my places has a couple of rules:

you must work at least 1 monday or friday on your weekend off (so everyone doesn't always give themselves 4 day weekends).

there must be x amount of nurses on certain days (ie tuesdays there are a lot of or pts)

there are also 'captains' of the schedule every month. 2 per shift. everyone gets their turn. they basically look at the schedule after everyone has filled it in, and attempt to get people to switch, or make the decision of who to move to even it out.

also, another place i've worked at has a limit of how many requests you can make per schedule. so it is assumed if you put an 'r' on a date, that you really need it off, as opposed to a day you just didn't put yourself on.

it can work. of course the staff needs to be somewhat flexible (and you know how that can be) :chuckle

palesarah · Sep 19, 2004

we're a smaller staff (6 on nights, RNs only) but here's what we do- one nurse is in charge of self-scheduling, she hands out blank calenders for the next scheduling period (usually do 6 weeks at a time) and sets a date for a meeting. We fill in our ideal schedule and give them to her before the meeting, she fills in a master schedule; at the meeting we make changes to fill in light shifts, ensure each shift has a good experience/skill mix (we just lost 3 of our most experienced night nurses). Once we've finished our schedule it goes to the two nurses in charge of the whole schedule, they occasionally have to make some changes but usually what we decide in our meeting is what we work. Only the night shift self-schedules. What we do works well for us, but we are a much smaller staff than you.

LoriA · Sep 21, 2004

Hello,
We are a pediatric, general med surg unit, with 54 beds. Our care model is either 1 RN with 3 patients or one RN and one LPN for 4-6 patients, depending upon their acuity, but the typical assignment is 5 on days and eves 6-7 on nights. No CNA's or PCT's. 12 RN travellers, who are pretty much staff. Been with with us awhile. mix of 8's and 12's, but mostly 12's (7a-7p/7p-7a). Approximately 70%RN's and 30% LPN's. Looking for advice and input on trying to do self scheduling. We have anywhere from 16-18 nurses on any given days and eves. Nights decreases to anywhere from 13-15. Seems like an undoable situation, but want to get more info.
Thanks:rotfl:

We are an 8 bed PICU. We self schedule by putting nurses into 3 groups(attempting to get FTE's approx =). Our sign-up schedule comes out on Monday. Group 1-signs up Mon/Tues; Group 2 signs up Wed/Thurs; Group 3 signs up Fri/Sat. We rotate groups every month. The rules include; charge RN each shift; no one can sign up in the 3rd spot until all 2nd spots are full. We are looking to make weekend teams- so every 3rd weekend you are automatically scheduled. It seems our problems are covering weekends. Full time employees are required to work 3 weekend shifts on days & 4 on nights (nights include Fri/Sat/Sun). Part time have to work 2 shifts/schedule. It works for us. I don't know how it would work for a bigger unit. We also include our nurse techs in our groups. If you need more info, i will be glad to fax you our guidelines.

Thanks LoriA:rotfl:

mhull · Sep 21, 2004

I would be really careful with it. We tried it for 3 months and myself i liked it. I worked the schedule I normally did except there was no work one day off a day. But other people would either schedule themselves not weekends, or no Mondays and Fridays. Hopefully it will work better for you guys.

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Sep 22, 2004

we are an 8 bed picu. we self schedule by putting nurses into 3 groups(attempting to get fte's approx =). our sign-up schedule comes out on monday. group 1-signs up mon/tues; group 2 signs up wed/thurs; group 3 signs up fri/sat. we rotate groups every month. the rules include; charge rn each shift; no one can sign up in the 3rd spot until all 2nd spots are full. we are looking to make weekend teams- so every 3rd weekend you are automatically scheduled. it seems our problems are covering weekends. full time employees are required to work 3 weekend shifts on days & 4 on nights (nights include fri/sat/sun). part time have to work 2 shifts/schedule. it works for us. i don't know how it would work for a bigger unit. we also include our nurse techs in our groups. if you need more info, i will be glad to fax you our guidelines.
thanks loria:rotfl:

how many nurses are on per shift? it sounds like it works well, but don't you have people who can't work certain days or nights? for that reason, it would never work on my unit :crying2:

LoriA · Sep 22, 2004

how many nurses are on per shift? it sounds like it works well, but don't you have people who can't work certain days or nights? for that reason, it would never work on my unit

we have 3-4 rn's per shift. vacations and specific requests are approved if possible. everybody is really good and will cover extra shifts or switch with someone who needs off. i guess the key to any self-scheduling is flexibility!

self-scheduling is a privilege and once you get accustomed to it- you will not want to give it up. so everybody chips in. we are so small and our census is so unpredictable that we use prn staff and oc staff if necessary to cover busy times and vacation. i think returning to weekend teams will also help. holidays are scheduled according to preference and past work record. if you work christmas day or christmas eve night, you have all other holidays off unless you won't to work. everyone else works @ least 2 holidays (thanksgiving day & eve; new year's eve & day; christmas night). there again everyone knows the rules and this works out too. we have done this so long that the nurses would revolt if it were taken away:rotfl: . it can work!

loria