UGH!!! Low Census Issues!!

[spitfire99]

OK, so some of this is a vent but I just have to ask how your PACU is handling low census days. We are a staff of 5, covering the PACU, 24/7/365. Most of us work 12 hr shifts with a couple working 8 hr shifts or a combination there of. All of us are half time with the exception of 1 who is FT in PACU, another nurse has a half time job in our outpt surgery center (making her FT overall). Our current staff configuation is 2-12 shifts (8a-830p) and one 8 hr (930-6).

So...here's the rub. To date, we have maintaind an LCD log, you put in your hours lost and then keep a running total. The charge RN then reviews the schedule, looks at who has lost the most hours and decides on who gets an LCD day (the one with the fewest hours lost). Problem is...we have 2 RN's who "can't work" additional hours; ex. it is the 12 hr RN's turn to be LCD, but then the 8 hr nurse says..I can't work late or I can't come in early...blah, blah, blah. And then b/c she can't work, is LCD as the 12 hr RN is willing to work! Then the 8 hr shift RN (who took the LCD b/c she couldn't adjust her schedule) complains about losing work. The same 2 RN's won't sign up for 12 hr shifts as it's "too hard" or it interferes with their personal life i.e. the beach, etc. Another RN, when in charge, allows favorites to work and LCD others, whom "she" perceives doesn't need to work (me!). UGH!!! Our manager has come up with an elaborate system based on percentage of hours worked vs. percentage of hours scheduled. Makes a ton of sense if you have nothing to do but review payroll!!! I/we have tried splitting shifts but then we get the I can't come in early or I don't want to work late...UGH!!! Pulllease!!

And of course the full time person believe she is entitled to ALL of her hours b/c those that are part time "don't need the work!" Oh, and the FT gal who splits her time between the PACU and the otpt surgery center believe her hours lost at the outpt center should count in our LCD log????

Can you see the mess?? So...I'm looking for your rules/formula, etc to determine LCD days & how you handle RN's who do not want to work different hours than scheduled?

Thank you in advance...

[stronginchrist]

Maybe try giving a suggestion to the charge nurse of people who are actually willing to work and mention to her the people who are not interested in working longer .

[johndough]

My mom works 12 hour shifts although it's not in the recovery unit. She does get LCD from time to time, so if she works 3xweek, it will leave her with 24 hours of work in one week and if she get LCD next week it's 24 hours of work again.

She got another part time job which requires her to work 2xweek at 12 hours shift. If she does not get LCD, she work 5xweek at 60hours, which is hard. Even with this, she could still get LCD 1x from her full time work, and another LCD from her part time work, which would still give her 36 hours/week.