What can managers do to work on their staffing schedule more effectively?

[Angelfish1234]

My manager spends a lot of her time working on her staffing schedule trying to figure out how to fill out the blank spaces. Any tips to improve this? This is so time consuming!!!!!!!!!

Please, answer!!!! :uhoh3: :uhoh3: :uhoh3: :uhoh3: :uhoh3: :uhoh3: :uhoh3:

[TazziRN, RN]

Our department is small enough that we utilize self-scheduling. The full-timers have a set schedule and the PT's and PD's plug themselves in. The manager tries to stay with this as much as possible, and it usually works out well.

[SarasotaRN2b]

I would definitely use the self-scheduling model. Each nurse would schedule themselves for their required amount of days (i.e. f/ters 3 and p/ters whatever their schedule requires), along with that each nurse could request to days off, and the other two days are up for grabs. I would try my hardest to give each nurse their requests, but if we run short on a day or two, I would have to have the day covered. I would also make sure that it rotates and the same nurse isn't required to change each time. If a schedule is made in advance (RNs can self schedule a few months ahead).

[tracy6fan]

We self-schedule in a computer based program (active staffer). It can set the maximum number of people that can schedule themselves for a shift, let's say 8, and once 8 people sign up no one else can. Full-time people are given 2 weeks to put in their schedules then the part-timers followed by the PRN staff. We can also put in vacation or other time off requests. We love it and it has freed up a great deal of time for the manager.

[traumaprincess]

Even in larger units self scheduling seems to work. And it is something that is usually a huge morale boost for staff nurses. Our nurses, PCTs, and Secretaries all do self scheduling. There is a calendar in the back so you can request days off up to a year ahead (except holidays), you write in the date you requested it and it is a first come first get. We have to work our manditory weekends but we can choose what weekend we want to work. Pretty much anything will be allowed as long as the numbers come out even. Our manager assigned one of the charge nurses to be the one who makes the numbers even. Each schedule a different group of nurses are the "chosen" ones to get their schedule changed if they sign up on a day that there are too many and leave spaces on some days with not enough. It works out well and the manager has nothing to do with the scheduling. Hopes this makes sense

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

We use an internet-based staffing program called ICS Boomerang - it works great. Unsure of the cost, but our large (200 FTE's) ER uses it and likes it too.

[cndrn]

I'm clinical coordinator for an outpatient surgery / PACU staff of 20. I have a "master" schedule...staff have set days/hours and I more or less just tweak it to account for on call and vacation days. Is a little bit time consuming for me but I can get the schedule out 4-6 wks in advance. I can do a schedule in about an hour, sometimes just have to ask a couple of nurses to work an extra day or change their hours once in a while.

[ZASHAGALKA, RN]

Self - scheduling. It works.

Your manager should consider turfing the job out. One of our nurses on days does the schedule for days, and one of the night nurses does it for nights.

We self-schedule and she (the nurse doing the sched) tweaks it.

Obviously, it has to be a person that can be trusted not to 'abuse' the power. But, there is always someone that likes to do this sort of thing - because it IS a form of power and respect.

But my boss rarely works on the schedule; she just approves it.

~faith,

Timothy.

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

I like my husbands company's (paramedic) way of dealing with it since they were forced by the employees to stop with all the mandatory overtime (employees went to another company and they almost lost too many!).

Every three months they must bid of shift bids. Seniority is a reward here to be sure, but a senior staff member can only have that time frame shift 2 times in three years to be fair. So basically you bid for the top three and typically everyone has gotten at least their second pick. They don't have differentials though...that would really kinda mess things up a tad for people that depend on those differentials.

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

self-scheduling

post draft for people to fill in

fill it in arbitrarily then let people grip about it

Give job to charge nurses on rotation basis so they can see how much fun it is (not).

[pickledpepperRN]

We put and "R" for shifts requested off, "P" to work nights and "A" to work days.

We must do our weekend commitment. We can't schedule oueselves if a maximum have already scheduled themselves without getting someone to erase it. (Yup, preliminary schedule is on paper with a pencil)

Often I will change to even it out.

Then a senior nurse on our shift ill finish. If there is a need to ask someone to work on a requested off shift she will ask in person or by phone.

No one puts an "R" on every day off anymore. Your peers will make you feel guilty.

We've done this so long and teach our new nurses so well that changes hardly ever need to be made.

After all that schedule is our life.