Self-Scheduling

k_cole21 · Jun 3, 2005

We do self scheduling @ my home hospital. We put a blank schedule up, we sign up, it's great. If the schedule is long on a few days we negotiate and fix it. It's worked quite well.

baby&mommynurse · Jun 3, 2005

I love self scheduling. It allows me to work only the days I want as long as I work my committed number of days or if I know I need a specific day off, I can request it. It allows me to be very flexible and it just seems to work out for everyone. Sometimes I'll get scheduled to work a day that I didn't schedule myself, but that's generally not a problem and I can switch with someone else. There is always nurses who want to work the days I don't and vise versa. The only problem is that our managers seems to put out the blank schedule for us to fill out nearly two months ahead and we don't always know what we're doing that far in advance. But again, that's were being able to switch and negotiate with others comes in handy.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jun 3, 2005

The problem we're seeing with ours is that if we're assigned to a heavily case-loaded room, you can't get out to fill out your part of the schedule, so you're stuck with what's left.

pricklypear · Jun 3, 2005

The problem we're seeing with ours is that if we're assigned to a heavily case-loaded room, you can't get out to fill out your part of the schedule, so you're stuck with what's left.

I don't know how many of you there are in surgery to sign up on one schedule - but we had a similar problem. Our solution was to split the staff into groups of about 5 and each group had 3 days to sign up. You couldn't sign up before your group's date came up. This order rotated each month so everybody got 1st shot at the schedule. If you're in the last group, you still sometimes get screwed, but at least you know that next month you'll get what you want. Maybe you could modify this for your area.

RoxanRN · Jun 3, 2005

The problem we're seeing with ours is that if we're assigned to a heavily case-loaded room, you can't get out to fill out your part of the schedule, so you're stuck with what's left.

I love it!! Our 'pencil' schedules (4 weeks) are put out 3-4 weeks before the due date. We usually (99%) get the days we put down, however, the staffing sargeant will call before moving us. Summer schedules (mid May-ish to mid August-ish) are usually put out 12 weeks at a time as the 8-12 weeks surrounding Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.

military spouse · Jun 3, 2005

Absolutely love it! Per diems cannot be changed from what they pencil in. Full-time and part-time can be changed from pencil schedule depending on unit needs. Never seems to be a problem though. Some people love to work 3 in a row and others like dividing it up and those wishes seem to always be respected. I don't think I could work anywhere that didn't self-schedule

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Jun 3, 2005

We self schedule: we pencil in the days we want, put 'R's where we cannot work (not really sure how many requests we can put in). There are 2 Captains per schedule per shift, who are supposed to balance it (and call the per-diems for availability).

I'm only back as staff for about a month now (was per-diem before). And I didn't get one of the days I put down to work . And the schedule looked pretty balanced to me (I saw it the day it went to the NM). Didn't get a call about switching the day. I have childcare issues (as many of us do). I actually had a back-up childcare option, but got someone to switch with me (thank God). Does anyone have a 'set' schedule (ie every mondays, weds, etc)? Do you think it would be too presumptuous to ask for that? Of course, it would include the weekend, but weekdays are tight for me.

Altra, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2005

I don't know how many of you there are in surgery to sign up on one schedule - but we had a similar problem. Our solution was to split the staff into groups of about 5 and each group had 3 days to sign up. You couldn't sign up before your group's date came up. This order rotated each month so everybody got 1st shot at the schedule. If you're in the last group, you still sometimes get screwed, but at least you know that next month you'll get what you want. Maybe you could modify this for your area.

This is how it's done at my facility also - staff are split into 3 groups for first pick at the schedule. Sometimes you're last, but sometimes you're first. Hope it works out where you are. :)

OntCaRPN · Jun 3, 2005

At Christmas and for the summer time, we got together (it's pretty important that almost everyone be there) and started discussing and filling in.

The full-time slots were already done of course. We started with the weekends and then filled in according to wants and wishes and seniority and commitment. It did go very well.

baby&mommynurse · Jun 4, 2005

The problem we're seeing with ours is that if we're assigned to a heavily case-loaded room, you can't get out to fill out your part of the schedule, so you're stuck with what's left.

Our blank schedules are always left out for about a month prior to being turned in, so we can always go back and change it if something comes up. We can put two Rs (request days that we really need off) per pay period and two pay periods are always on each schedule, so we pencil in our schedules for 4 weeks. I've gotten pretty good about planning my activities far in advance! :)

PJMommy · Jun 4, 2005

We also self-schedule and it works pretty well considering we have about 60 FTEs for our unit - plus part-time people and PRN. I'd fight tooth and nail before giving up self-scheduling. The wrench in balancing is always the "odd" shifts. About 90% of the staff work 3-12hr shifts a weeks. But there are a handful of FTEs and all the part-timers who work 8hr shifts. It always seems we are with extra staff from 7AM to 3PM and then run short from 3PM to 7PM until the night-shifters come in.