self schedulint

Nesher, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2006

We use a system that while not perfect is OK. The first draft everyone puts in their hours. It is a 28 day schedule. We are allowed to make 4 "R's" or requests on any one 28 day period without having to ask for vacation time. So the first draft gets typed out and comes back to everyone for revisions. The idea is that you at this point make changes to help even out the numbers needed for each day. For each draft we have about 10 days or so to work on it. after the seocnd draft it goes away and the final tweeking of the numbers to assure adequate staff are done by one of the assitant nurse managers - so it is to our advantage to make sure it works well and she doesn't get to move folks around.

I suggest you look at other units in your hospital for more guidelines to see what others have been doing.

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Jan 30, 2006

one of the places i work at does self scheduling with team captains: two per shift assigned by the nm, and it rotates each month. there are no specific # of 'r's, but people will put in the reason if it is a really important reason (wedding, graduation, school days, etc.) everyone fills in the grid, we know how many are supposed to be on each shift, and we try to balance it ourselves. the captains are ultimately responsible to balance the #'s. depending on who it is, the captain may approac or call people to negotiate switches. ultimately, though, the nm has the final say. but if it is balancesd, she doesn't really alter it.

nursemaa · Jan 30, 2006

We use a system that while not perfect is OK. The first draft everyone puts in their hours. It is a 28 day schedule. We are allowed to make 4 "R's" or requests on any one 28 day period without having to ask for vacation time. So the first draft gets typed out and comes back to everyone for revisions. The idea is that you at this point make changes to help even out the numbers needed for each day. For each draft we have about 10 days or so to work on it. after the seocnd draft it goes away and the final tweeking of the numbers to assure adequate staff are done by one of the assitant nurse managers - so it is to our advantage to make sure it works well and she doesn't get to move folks around.
I suggest you look at other units in your hospital for more guidelines to see what others have been doing.

I use this method too. We don't usually have any trouble, except occasionally everyone wants the same day off so there's no nurse on the schedule! I then give that day off according to seniority, making sure we have our complement of nurses scheduled that day.

RN34TX · Jan 30, 2006

My unit does self scheduling very well.

It is similar to the posts above, and there is one day nurse and one night nurse who basically oversee the draft as it's being filled in.

After it's close to being completely done, the designated "schedule charge" nurse goes around the unit saying:

"OK people, there are 10 nurses scheduled for tuesday the 4th and only one nurse scheduled for wednesday the 5th. Either you start voluntarily working it out or I'm going to have to move people. If that doesn't work...then we're going on a matrix!"

The constant threat of being put on a matrix motivates all of us to work it out amongst ourselves.

We love self scheduling and will fight being put on a matrix to the bitter end. You have to have a staff that values and cares about each others preferences, school schedules, birthdays, spouse/children's events, etc. and if the staff cares about each other and not just themselves, then it works and it works well.

Those units who have nurses who only care about their own schedules and personal lives regardless of their colleagues needs, cannot do self scheduling and must be placed on a matrix. Sad but true.

perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2006

We get to do self scheduling and I like it. It works out usually pretty well with the first draft, since everyone has their set weekends each month that they work and so the pattern kind of goes around those. If that makes sense. Each group works every other weekend. By the way we do 12-hr shifts at my hospital if that makes any difference.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jan 30, 2006

i've been doing self scheduling for years in three different hospitals. in each one, there were rules. everyone has to work a certain number of weekend shifts, everyone needs to work a certain number of fridays (our busiest day!). you have to fulfill your quota of night shifts, and the holiday schedules are posted years in advance. we have 7 holidays here, and everyone works every other holiday. this year, i work ny, memorial day, labor day and christmas. next year mlk, independence day and thanksgiving . . . no screeching about whose turn it is to work christmas! if you follow the rules, they generally don't move you around much. of course, we do computerized scheduling, and they open up 12 spots for each shift -- once those 12 spots are filled, no one else can sign up for that day or shift. we have three "teams" of nurses, and each team gets their chance to sign up first on a rotating basis. it works pretty well!

ruby