Which days should I pick?

[Nurse ABC]

Our unit is going to set days for everyone to work. We have a weekend crew, night crew, and day crew so I have to figure out which 2-3 days a week I want to work Mon through Fri. I'm a little bummed because usually once a schedule I would get an 8 day break but no more. Also, it was really nice to just request certain days off that my kids were off or someone in my family was having a birthday, etc but now we will have to work the same set days each week. The only way this is nice is due to the fact we can know a year in advance which days we have off however it's never been a problem to get a requested day off. I'm also confused on how it will work for me being flex-time. Will I automatically get scheduled just 2 days a week or sometimes 3? They don't know yet. What do other places do? Is it better to work 3 in a row or split them up? Is it better to work 2 in a row or split them up? I'm really stressing because I've always loved the variety of sometimes working them together and sometimes splitting them up, sometimes 2 days and sometimes 3, sometimes a M and T and the next week something different, etc. and having to pick something I'm going to have to work for a year or more worries me because I'll be stuck if I don't like it. Some people have said like a T and Th which would be nice because if you had a really bad assignment you wouldn't have to face it two days in a row, however, it's easier to have the same patients two days in a row. I don't mind working two in a row but three in a row is hard. If I split the 3 up I'll have less days off in a row. Uggh! So just wondering what others suggest that work the same exact days every week think is best and if anyone knows how it works with flex-time. Thanks in advance!!

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

How are holidays handled with this schedule? What if Christmas falls on your day off.....will you have to work in place of another day? Worth knowing.

Bottom line is, whatever days you pick, there will be pros and cons. I work "set days": M-F! So....I always know when I'm expected to work, but that doesn't change the need to take a day off here and there, whatever.

What day is best for you? We can't possibly know that, right? Only thing I'd point out is that since you mentioned you have kids, I'd probably lean toward working T,W,Th simply because you KNOW the kids are off on weekends, and you KNOW that school-age kids are often off for holidays on Fridays and/or Mondays.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Won't they let you trade with colleagues prn? To have a friend, be a friend-- be first in line to help someone else out, and then someone else will help you out prn.

Within the constraints of contracting, why not pick five or six days with a friend and be flexible about swapping them around?

[CaptScrubs13]

Just don't do every other day! M/w/f just is awful because I feel like my days off are just recovering and then going back. I'd maybe do t/w/th like someone else suggested, or split them 2 in a row then 1 later in the week.

My floor has set schedules but if you can find someone to swap a day with you it's never a problem. And if you want to take a day off you just submit your pto request 2+ weeks early .. No issues!

[RNewbie]

I would choose tu, wed, thurs. This would give you longer weekends. Personally, Mondays and Fridays are always crazy so I would avoid those days

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

Mon,tue, wed.... That way you get a four day weekend...

[Caffeine_IV]

3 in a row...get it done.

[Nurse ABC]

The middle of the week sounds good-thanks for the input! I'm hoping not everyone will pick that! We have to rotate and work holidays even if it falls on our day off but with the set schedule who knows for sure if we'll have to work an extra day-probably not since they would want to avoid over-time.

[medic0681]

I agree with Tue/Wed/Thur...sucks that you can't have some variety but at least you have a gig.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

My preference working in the hospital was to work either Mon, Wed, Thurs or Tues, Wed, Fri. We had to rotate weekends every 3 weeks so when it was my weekend, I liked to do Wed, Thurs, Sat, Sun, Wed, Thurs for those 2 weeks. I didn't like doing 3 in a row because I felt like I never saw the light of day for those 3 days and did nothing other than work and sleep.

[kguill975, MSN, APRN, NP]

I would suggest Tues, Thurs, & Fri, only because I loved working that rotation. There are a lot of federal holidays that fall on Mondays, and the kids are out, and so was I, plus it was always nice to have a 3 day weekend. On Fridays, since I got off late, we would rent movies and order pizza. If your kids are old enough to participate in Friday night sports, it may become a little difficult, though.