Why not more options for scheduling?

[wjf00]

I had a per diem job and my regular staff job. The per diem job paid significantly less than my staff position ($5./hr less) in addition the staffing ratios were worse at my per diem job. In fact the only reason I kept it was because I love to work 4 hour shifts. A new manager arrived and decided to harrass the Per Diems so they would be forced to work 8-12 hr shifts. Without 1 second to think about it I left. Now it seems to me that having an RN working 20-30 hours of 4 hr shifts would be significantly better for staffing than yet another vacancy. Why is it Hospitals are so rigid about scheduling? Why not 4 hour or 6 hour shifts? Why always 7-7, why not some 3-3 or 11-11 shifts? Maybe a nurse manager can answer for me, because I just don't get it. Scheduling would be more difficult I grant you, but wouldn't you have a lot more staff to choose from if you gave more flexibility? Has any unit out there tried different more flexible schedules? Did it help bring on new staff that appreciated the flexibility?

[austin heart, BSN, RN]

I worked in an ICU that had some great shift options. We had lots of people with kids and families with special needs. For your hours we could either work 2/12hrs and 2/8hrs for a full 40 or do 3/12hrs for 36. We also had a wide range of shifts. The standard 7-7 12hr shift, the 3 shft split ups for the 8hr shifts. But we also had a 3a-3p shift and the flipside 3p-3a shift. I worked the the 3p-3a shift and loved it. I could sleep late, then get a 12hr shift with a few night hours dif pay and it would still be dark outside when I got off to make it easier to go to sleep. I loved it!

[sjoe]

"Why is it Hospitals are so rigid about scheduling?"

1) because "it's always been done this way"

2) because the schedulers aren't sufficiently trained to use the many varieties of scheduling software available

3) because the schedulers don't want "mere nurses" telling them how to do their jobs

4) because they have no imaginations

5) because they are not willing to risk any fallout that might ensue if something "goes wrong." the current rapid nurse turnover (averaging 26%) is routine, so that does not count as something "wrong"

6) because schedulers do not have the courage to stand up to upper management and insist that new scheduling guidelines be offered

7) because NURSES don't have the courage to get themselves organized and DEMAND the changes they desire and gripe about endlessly

8) and so on.