VA 72/80 schedule

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I work for the VA ER in Las Vegas, and our unit is considering the 72/80 schedule. Does anyone have any experience with this? If so, do you like it? What are some of the pros and cons?

Also, how does the AL and SL work when you take leave?

Do you still accumulate leave and retirement at the same rate?

Thanks. Any information will be helpful.

Specializes in ICU.

@NeNeCan you please send me your presentation too ? Thank you. We're trying to implement it here as well. 

-Bronx VA nurse

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Specializes in ICU.

I am presenting in 2wks to ACNS. I can send u all I have. I just need and email. 

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Specializes in ICU.
Rza said:

I am presenting in 2wks to ACNS. I can send u all I have. I just need and email. 

@rza [email protected]

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Solange2016 said:

Nene, can you pleas send me the proposal you guys used for the 72/80 to be approved. We are trying to introduce it here at Temple VA. My email is [email protected]. Thank you so much

 

My email is [email protected]  need information about 72/80

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Specializes in ICU.
icuvanurse said:

@rza [email protected]

I'll send it out tomorrow at work. 

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Specializes in ICU.

I am meeting with mgmt in one week to discuss the conversion to 72/80 AWS. I have gathered as much info as I can find. Our unit has made mock schedules, proposed changes to how we schedule vacations, and ran percentages on sick calls for 8hr vs 12hr shifts.  We converted to consistent every other weekend/holiday.  Hopefully it is enough to convince mgmt this is the way to go. It's already been implanted at 2 other hospitals in our VISN which should help. Anyone who wants my presentation and all the info I have, please lmk. I will help as much as I can. I think the more hospitals that switch to this, the easier it will become for the others. 

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Specializes in Mental Health, Hospice-CHPN, Home Care.

 

I would also be grateful for a copy of the proposal. Sorry I haven't been on in some time. Lots of OT right now. 
 

We actually got to talking about 72/80 last night at work with one of the ANMs. I mentioned that there was a workgroup nationally on recruitment and retention that is pushing for the VA to nationally have 72/80 option for any nurses that would want it. So, an ACOS could not deny it as it would be nationally implemented. Has anyone else heard this?  I actually got emailed some items on it a couple months ago. 

I was told last night that in the unlikely event we would go to 72 hours there was no way that we would ever get the raise to keep us at our current salaries and only work 72 hours. "Because we are paid by the tax payers and they don't want to pay us the same for taking 8 hours a pay off.” Understandable. So I wonder how it will work for the masses if it is adopted. 
 

The service line I am in at my VA had to go to the union to literally push through compressed tours. And the best we could get was four 10s. With current staffing needs that has become two 12s and two 8's. Out of the three units under our service line...mine is the only one consistently pushing to maintain it. One unit only lets those grandfathered in keep them and new hires are doing five 8s and the third unit only allows five 8s. We can't even get the regular three 12s with the every other week 8……The entire rest of inpatient has them...just not our service line. 

This leaves me with little hope for 72/80 but I'd still be grateful to see the presentation. 

I can see nurses literally making VA transfers to get the 72/80 if they start becoming more available. 
 

thanks so much! 

 

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Specializes in ICU.

I just need an email 

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Specializes in ICU.
AugustRN501 said:

 

I would also be grateful for a copy of the proposal. Sorry I haven't been on in some time. Lots of OT right now. 
 

We actually got to talking about 72/80 last night at work with one of the ANMs. I mentioned that there was a workgroup nationally on recruitment and retention that is pushing for the VA to nationally have 72/80 option for any nurses that would want it. So, an ACOS could not deny it as it would be nationally implemented. Has anyone else heard this?  I actually got emailed some items on it a couple months ago. 

I was told last night that in the unlikely event we would go to 72 hours there was no way that we would ever get the raise to keep us at our current salaries and only work 72 hours. "Because we are paid by the tax payers and they don't want to pay us the same for taking 8 hours a pay off.” Understandable. So I wonder how it will work for the masses if it is adopted. 
 

The service line I am in at my VA had to go to the union to literally push through compressed tours. And the best we could get was four 10s. With current staffing needs that has become two 12s and two 8's. Out of the three units under our service line...mine is the only one consistently pushing to maintain it. One unit only lets those grandfathered in keep them and new hires are doing five 8s and the third unit only allows five 8s. We can't even get the regular three 12s with the every other week 8……The entire rest of inpatient has them...just not our service line. 

This leaves me with little hope for 72/80 but I'd still be grateful to see the presentation. 

I can see nurses literally making VA transfers to get the 72/80 if they start becoming more available. 
 

thanks so much! 

 

Resistance to any change is prevalent everywhere. The main argument I use is that we are getting a raise within actually getting a raise.  We are already significantly underpaid compared to local hospitals. This actually helps the visuals that we are getting raises. But since base salaries don't change, the hospital is not losing any money even though hourly rates increase.  

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Specializes in Mental Health, Hospice-CHPN, Home Care.

Sorry! How did I leave out the email. Night shift brain. [email protected]

ty!!

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Hi Rza

This is great information.  My email is [email protected].  Thank you so much

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NeNe said:

I was just looking up information to help implementation of policy for the 72/80 here at the VA in Wilmington, DE. I and another coworker collaborated and researched to have the 72/80 implemented. I am proud to state that it was approved and the medical-surgical unit began it 6/5/2022 to eventually be implemented hospital-wide. If anyone would like more information on how to get buy-in from their nursing leadership team, please feel free to comment and I will send you my personal information to help this implementation be done at your VA. Thanks and trust me with support from your units, it can happen. Basically, we still get paid (we actually got an increase) the same as if we were 80. In order to trade off, we had to state that we all agreed that unless we work the holiday, we will not get paid for it. This was fine with most of us as we came from the private sector and that is what is done with them. I noted that one of the hospitals within VISN 4 (Lebanon) had implemented the 72, and reached out to their HR and eventually got in touch with the nurse managers. They assisted me through the process and myself and my coworker first presented it to the Nurse Practice Council who then supported to be presented to our Clinical Leadership. Again, I am willing to assist and help anyone who wants to get together to present the idea to get everyone onboard. There is no way that we all should not be doing 3 12-hour shifts a week, especially nurses that work on inpatient nursing units. The VA has to make themselves competitive with the private sector because it is a great place to work!!

Hello NeNe!! This sounds Perfect! I have been searching for someone who has any kind of information and would be willing to share it! We to are getting the run around. Please email me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you!

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