Spouses scheduling conflict

Nurses Safety

Published

Specializes in CCRN, ATCN, ABLS.

What happens when spouses work in the same hosp. (different depts) and scheduling does not work? We have 2 small kids and no family around, are put to work the same night/weekend day or late shifts and are told "can't help you, find someone to switch" So far no luck with anyone (who wants to give their halloween night off?? We are both working!! Manager/leadership not helpful at all in this instance. (When I was hired I was told "anytime we make a switch we try to call people to see if they are going to be able to fill it". Schedule comes out Wed, for next Sunday (6 wk block). Is this common?

I understand the reasoning of "staffing the unit", and patient safety, but, what about safety at home??

Is there any recourse to take?

Wayunderpaid

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Specializes in inpatient rehab (general, sci, tbi, cva).

I met a couple this week working on my unit, and they are travelers. They tell the agency which days which person will work, so they always have one person home with kids. They have one day per week when they are home together.

You may want to investigate this and sell yourselves as a package deal. It would really be good for a job share position (2 people work a FTE).

Good luck!

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

As much as I sympathize with your plight, I don't know how your managers can improve it. It is not feasible for a manager to have to check with another department in order to schedule an employee, just as your co-workers can't expect your manager to coordinate their schedules with their spouses who work elsewhere.

If you both work the same shift, it may be necessary for one of you to change, or one work M-F and the other work a weekend program.

The previous poster suggests a novel solution, if you are both RNs, to job share a full time position, and perhaps pick up additional hours that meet your scheduling needs.

If all else fails, you may need to seek out other employment where you have set schedules or can self schedule.

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Worst case scenario is too call in ill for one of your children.

It may look funny but you do have to assure the safety and well being of your kids.....

Smart managers are family friendly....

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Specializes in L/D, and now Occupational Health.

I know it wont help with this situation, but PRN is also a great alternative. My husband and I have 3 small children, daycare is CRAZY, so I worked PRN. I could choose the day & the shift I wanted to be on I could sign up for 4, 8, or 12 hours if I wanted that way I could work around his rotating shift schedule and we didnt need daycare. The down fall is no bennies and your hours are not guaranteed so you would need to be on a buisy unit or PRN in more than one if you really had to have full-time hours.

Good Luck !!

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Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.

In this instance, you need to go to your managers. Once one of you knows your schedule, tell them....THIS IS MY HUSBAND'S SCHEDULE. DO NOT SCHEDULE ME ON THESE DAYS/NIGHTS, I HAVE CHILD CARE ISSUES. Make them understand. If that doesn't work...call in. The needs of your family far outweigh the shortsightedness of your organization. Just be sure to notify them as soon as you are able to about potential issues - and never, ever let them make you feel bad for putting your family first.

vamedic4

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Specializes in ER.

Jeepers, has anyone ever heard of a babysitter?

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Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.
Jeepers, has anyone ever heard of a babysitter?

Sure but how many babysitters do you know babysit overnight?? Not many, and if they do, they're not at all cheap. Plus, if I haven't known you for an extended *read - looooonnnnng period of time or I'm not related to you in some way..there's no way I'm gonna leave my kids with you while I work. Maybe that's just me.

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I understand the kid issue...but at the same time it really isn't the manager's problem. Just like it isn't the responsibility of the other co-workers to switch their schedules around to accomodate holidays and school recitals etc... Working opposite schedules might have to be the answer or one of you going down to part time or PRN.

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Specializes in CCRN, ATCN, ABLS.
Jeepers, has anyone ever heard of a babysitter?

Daycare Mon-Fri 6:30-6:00 pm

Friends/neighbors watch our kids when we are working opposite shifts back to back for a couple of hours (7a7p wife 7p-7a husband or viceversa)

My difficulty is accepting a schedule when I have shared spouse's schedule with management and we have identical off-shift days, when it is nearly impossible to ask anyone to care for your kids (nor do I want to, imagine, your kids are in school 5 days a week and then on sunday, 12 hours of baysitting). Mind you, this is the same hospital.

Thanks for the encouragement

Wayunderpaid

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I understand the kid issue...but at the same time it really isn't the manager's problem. Just like it isn't the responsibility of the other co-workers to switch their schedules around to accomodate holidays and school recitals etc... Working opposite schedules might have to be the answer or one of you going down to part time or PRN.

I think its better if coworkers work together to help each other meet their needs. After all we are supposed to build work teams.

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Specializes in ER.

Bleah.

Give and take and switching schedules is great for special occasions, but not every week of every schedule. It's not my responsibility to schedule around someone else's childcare.

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