What Is This Type Of Schedule Called and Can I Change It?

caliotter3 · Jul 25, 2018

You can request anything and should speak to your manager to see if there is something that can be worked out. If changes can not be made, then perhaps you can reach an agreement with a coworker that will benefit both of you.

allnurses Guide · Jul 25, 2018

A couple of weeks ago I accepted a Med-Surg position but was told it would be 3 on 4 off but the policies have changed and my manager didn't notify me until the schedule was posted. I've worked this type of schedule before but it was so tiring.
1 week- work Mon/Tues, Off Wed/Thurs, work Fri/Sat/Sun
2nd week- off Mon/Tues, work Wed/Thurs/ off Fri/Sat/Sun
When I worked this schedule as a CNA, it was very tiring. Can I request the 3 on 4 off? I'm also back in school for my BSN and would like to finish it in one semester.

I work something similar but I do 8 hour shifts (psych)

week 1 - I work off Sun, on Mon, Tues, Wed, Off Thurs on Fri, Sat

Week 2 _ On Sun, Mon, Tues Wed, Off Thurs, On Friday Off Sunday

This works out to every other weekend off and every Thursday off. Plus every other week I work 6 days in a row which can be exhausting.

Hppy

Shookclays, ASN, BSN, CNA, RN · Jul 25, 2018

You can request anything and should speak to your manager to see if there is something that can be worked out. If changes can not be made, then perhaps you can reach an agreement with a coworker that will benefit both of you.

Thanks for the advice!

I work something similar but I do 8 hour shifts (psych)
week 1 - I work off Sun, on Mon, Tues, Wed, Off Thurs on Fri, Sat
Week 2 _ On Sun, Mon, Tues Wed, Off Thurs, On Friday Off Sunday
This works out to every other weekend off and every Thursday off. Plus every other week I work 6 days in a row which can be exhausting.
Hppy

Oh gosh, how I would love to be working in psych right now. But ya know the "one year in med-surg" got to me.

Daisy4RN · Jul 25, 2018

I have heard that hospitals are doing this because they can get an extra shift out of you, its cheaper for them than hiring another nurse, temp etc. I would talk to the Nurse Manager and tell her (nicely) that you are unable to do this because of school etc. and would not have accepted the position if you knew that. Who knows, maybe they will make an exception for you. If they don't, look for something else (you don't have to do med-surg for a year), and when you find something the fact they changed your sched., after the fact, gives you an out (if they don't give you an exception); or just start looking for something (without asking for the exception) and you still have an out.

MunoRN, RN · Jul 25, 2018

A 2-week (or more) schedule is the only kind of schedule I'm familiar with in the hospital setting. A schedule that resets at just a week would have everyone either working all weekends or no weekends, ie if you worked 3 on and 4 off, such as Mon Tues Wed then Thurs Fri Sat Sun off. In order to do alternating weekend coverage or every 3rd weekend coverage the schedule has to be different in at least a two week period before it resets, which means you'll likely work more in one of the weeks of the schedule and have other weeks with more time off.

klone, MSN, RN · Jul 25, 2018

OP, are you working 84 hours a pay period, then, instead of 72?

klone, MSN, RN · Jul 25, 2018

I have heard that hospitals are doing this because they can get an extra shift out of you, its cheaper for them than hiring another nurse, temp etc.

That makes no sense. An employer cannot just schedule you for more hours/shifts than what you agreed upon when they hired you, without your permission.

That would be like saying "Okay, I know you four nurses only work 40 hours/week, but we're going to schedule you all 60 hours instead so that we don't have to hire two more nurses."

OP, I asked this already, but are you scheduled 84 hours per pay period? If so, I assume you were HIRED as a 0.9, which is 72 hours. Have you told them that they're scheduling you for too many shifts?

Daisy4RN · Jul 25, 2018

That makes no sense. An employer cannot just schedule you for more hours/shifts than what you agreed upon when they hired you, without your permission.
That would be like saying "Okay, I know you four nurses only work 40 hours/week, but we're going to schedule you all 60 hours instead so that we don't have to hire two more nurses."
OP, I asked this already, but are you scheduled 84 hours per pay period? If so, I assume you were HIRED as a 0.9, which is 72 hours. Have you told them that they're scheduling you for too many shifts?

I worked at a hospital that did indeed change the full time hours from 72 to 84 hours per pay period, it was not optional (if you chose to keep working there). I thought this is what the OP meant.

MunoRN, RN · Jul 25, 2018

I guess I'm confused as what aspect o the schedule they don't like, they were promised "3 on 4 off" but where scheduled 2 on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off which seems to be the issue or is it the total number of hours, or both?

Daisy4RN · Jul 25, 2018

I guess I'm confused as what aspect o the schedule they don't like, they were promised "3 on 4 off" but where scheduled 2 on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off which seems to be the issue or is it the total number of hours, or both?

It is confusing but if you add up the days in the 2 week period it is 7 days on, when before it would have been 6

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 25, 2018

A couple of weeks ago I accepted a Med-Surg position but was told it would be 3 on 4 off but the policies have changed and my manager didn't notify me until the schedule was posted. I've worked this type of schedule before but it was so tiring.
1 week- work Mon/Tues, Off Wed/Thurs, work Fri/Sat/Sun
2nd week- off Mon/Tues, work Wed/Thurs/ off Fri/Sat/Sun
When I worked this schedule as a CNA, it was very tiring. Can I request the 3 on 4 off? I'm also back in school for my BSN and would like to finish it in one semester.

You can request whatever you like from your manager. Now whether your manager will grant your request is another story...

A lot of places have self-scheduling, where you can submit your desired schedule each period...it doesn't guarantee you'll get exactly what you want each time as the floor still needs to be adequately staffed, but it does give you more control over when you work.

Other places--like mine and from the looks of it, yours--haved fixed scheduling. We work the same schedule every period until we leave. This doesn't mean you can't ask for a schedule change though, but if such a change is made (like to the 3 on/4 off), then you'll have that new schedule every period.

You won't know until you ask...

Best of luck!

BTW, the whole "year of med-surg" thing is not required for success in psych. It certainly can't hurt and can even be valuable experience. But it won't make or break your psych career. Also, new grads can and do enter psych straight out of the gate. Something to keep in mind.