Seniority and preferential scheduling

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

When I interviewed for my job, I was told that it was mandatory to work rotating shifts (either 7a-7:30p or 7p-7:30a), with a certain number of weekend shifts required per schedule period. The requirement being two weeks of nights and four weeks of days per six-week schedule period. I recently found out that certain nurses do not have to fulfill the night shift requirement, because they have seniority. Our unit director and clinicians work no nights or weekends. Those with seniority also get preference when it comes to vacation schedules and holidays off.

Is this a common arrangement? Is this fair? I am new to nursing, so I do not have experience with the concept of seniority. It should be noted that no matter how many years of seniority you have in my hospital, if you transfer to another unit, you will move to the bottom of the pile. Is it fair then? I personally don't mind fulfilling the requirements but knowing that other people don't have to doesn't sit well with me. I feel that this policy should have been explained in the interview, at a minimum.

5 minutes ago, 1MoreCoffee said:

If I do more, why shouldn’t I get credit?

That's what clinical ladder programs are for. Yours may be called something else.

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6 minutes ago, 1MoreCoffee said:

It is the old guard (like you, perhaps?) that sounds jaded.

Give me a break. If I was jaded I wouldn't still be doing this. Also, your use of the term "old guard" is pejorative.

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Specializes in Oncology.
4 minutes ago, JadedCPN said:

To say that are no more valuable than a new hire appears to show your lack of experience in the field.

You are all describing nurses who are just ‘there’. Where is the value? If they don’t share their knowledge, it means nothing to the department. The only impact is delivered to the patients and that is likely to be sub-par, because the nurse is not rewarded for performance.

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Just now, 1MoreCoffee said:

You are all describing nurses who are just ‘there’. Where is the value? If they don’t share their knowledge, it means nothing to the department. The only impact is delivered to the patients and that is likely to be sub-par, because the nurse is not rewarded for performance.

Are we? How do you know this? Are they? How do you know this? You are certainly letting accusations fly with nothing to support your stance. Who peed in your Wheaties?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
1 minute ago, 1MoreCoffee said:

You are all describing nurses who are just ‘there’. Where is the value? If they don’t share their knowledge, it means nothing to the department. The only impact is delivered to the patients and that is likely to be sub-par, because the nurse is not rewarded for performance.

You are making a lot of assumptions and yes, you come across as bitter already for some reason.

Rewards for seniority versus rewards for performance are two very separate things that are treated, and should be treated, differently. Nobody is saying that someone who goes "above and beyond" should not be rewarded in some way. You are missing that the concept is completely separate from the perks that most facilities give for seniority/loyalty.

It is ignorant of you to assume that care is sub-par, nurses aren't sharing their knowledge or being leaders, etc just because they have high seniority.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
19 minutes ago, 1MoreCoffee said:

Ah, but if I show up, am dependable, do a good job, etc., am I to be punished because I am new? I have a family, responsibilities and yes, a life as well. If I do more, why shouldn’t I get credit? It is the old guard (like you, perhaps?) that sounds jaded. I love my job. I don’t need to look elsewhere. Sometimes the current standard is just outdated.

You are not getting punished. You are simply not be rewarded for having a track record of good performance. The institution doesn't "owe you anything" yet because you haven't served for very long. You are being paid for the work that you are doing now -- and if you continue to do it, you will be rewarded a little more for that positive track record once you have a track record.

If someone is actually giving bad care and hurting patients ... then yes, that person's practice deficiencies should be addressed. But you are assuming that all older nurses are bad nurses ... or that all nurses who are not leaders or stars are hurting patients ... and that's not the case. The vast majority aren't hurting anybody and deserve to keep their jobs, be treated with respect, and reap the benefits of their long-term service.

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"The only impact is delivered to the patients."

Isn't care of the patient the reason and core value of nursing?

How does one measure performance in nursing?

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Specializes in Oncology.
9 minutes ago, llg said:

You are not getting punished. You are simply not be rewarded for having a track record of good performance. The institution doesn't "owe you anything" yet because you haven't served for very long. You are being paid for the work that you are doing now -- and if you continue to do it, you will be rewarded a little more for that positive track record once you have a track record.

If someone is actually giving bad care and hurting patients ... then yes, that person's practice deficiencies should be addressed. But you are assuming that all older nurses are bad nurses ... or that all nurses who are not leaders or stars are hurting patients ... and that's not the case. The vast majority aren't hurting anybody and deserve to keep their jobs, be treated with respect, and reap the benefits of their long-term service.

I don't think I am being punished. Wuzzie stated that not giving perks to senior nurses is 'punishment', so I reflected it back at her. I also did not state, nor did I assume, that all older nurses are bad nurses.

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Specializes in Research, Neurology.
21 hours ago, 1MoreCoffee said:

When I interviewed for my job, I was told that it was mandatory to work rotating shifts (either 7a-7:30p or 7p-7:30a), with a certain number of weekend shifts required per schedule period. The requirement being two weeks of nights and four weeks of days per six-week schedule period. I recently found out that certain nurses do not have to fulfill the night shift requirement, because they have seniority. Our unit director and clinicians work no nights or weekends. Those with seniority also get preference when it comes to vacation schedules and holidays off.

Is this a common arrangement? Is this fair? I am new to nursing, so I do not have experience with the concept of seniority. It should be noted that no matter how many years of seniority you have in my hospital, if you transfer to another unit, you will move to the bottom of the pile. Is it fair then? I personally don't mind fulfilling the requirements but knowing that other people don't have to doesn't sit well with me. I feel that this policy should have been explained in the interview, at a minimum.

The seniority vacation preference at my previous hospital job was one of the reasons I left inpatient. Don't get me wrong, I do think seniority nurses deserve some preferential. They have worked their butts off and have displayed loyalty to their employer. But I learned that there's different ways you can implement seniority vacation requests. At my previous employer, there was one large calendar and one at a time by seniority, each nurse would place ALL their vacation requests on the calendar for that quarter. One nurse could put down as much as 4 weeks off dispersed through the quarter before the lower tier nurses could even look. Then as a lower seniority nurse, it'd be my turn and all holidays were taken, most summertime weeks were gone. We, the newer nurses, were left with random scraps of vacation slots time every single year. Couldn't fly down to see my family for the holidays for years- I personally was fed up with it. On the other hand, my friend at another hospital nearby worked in a slightly different system. One by one, seniority nurse #1 and so on could pick ONE week-1.5 week slot of vacation at a time, then move down the list of nurses. Once the end of the line was done, it would start back up at the top with nurse #1 who would get to pick their second slot. I think this system promoted a more level playing ground where newer nurses still had a chance of getting some slot they were hoping for, but simultaneously seniority was respected.

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4 minutes ago, 1MoreCoffee said:

Wuzzie stated that not giving perks to senior nurses is 'punishment', so I reflected it back at her.

Except that I NEVER said that!

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Specializes in Oncology.
2 minutes ago, Wuzzie said:

Except that I NEVER said that!

'They dependably show up, give quality care and work as a team member that's what good they are. All of those things contribute in a meaningful way. the extras are just that...extra. Some people don't have the skill to teach or lead and that isn't their fault but you think they should be punished? Others may have other obligations like families or elderly parents that don't allow them to spend any extra time at work . They should be discredited? You have an overly harsh view of the world and are beginning to sound bitter. Perhaps you need to find a different job that suits your keen sense of justice.'

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Funny, I don't see the term "seniority" in there at all.

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