Would you leave your current position over scheduling issues?

AngelicDarkness · Nov 16, 2015

Yup - I'm kinda in the same boat OP. Don't leave until you have another job first though - it's a lot easier that way.

I'm presently working in LTC as DOC, Charge Nurse and PSW. I understand wanting a normal schedule.

passionflower, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 16, 2015

We are in the same boat. I am going to go PRN and wish I could find an at home job. I think I am done with hospital/holiday/scheduling issues.

Jburk1985 · Nov 16, 2015

Absolutely! !!! I myself just went through something very similar. I work night shift full time and have done that for over a year. The schedule and the shift has definitely weighed on me. I am finally transferring to a day full time hours prn (my husband carries the insurance/medical benefits ). This way I only have to do 1 major holiday a year. 1 weekend a month and my pay is more than my nights. This works for me. I will say this, if you are not enjoying the schedule now, it is only going to get worse. Start inquiring about other positions. It may take you a while to find something so start now. Be picky. Find something you know you will like and where the schedule will fit your life style. You will be much happier! You have worked hard to earn you license and should be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor! Good luck

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Nov 16, 2015

There are tons of nurses leaving my current unit because of scheduling issues. You wouldn't be the first. they aren't playing fair and you've addressed it with them.

LPNtoRNin2016OH, LPN · Nov 16, 2015

I would defintely leave in the situation you described. Honestly, there is no loyalty to employees now so while I do not burn bridges, I certainly do not stay at positions that do not benefit me out of loyalty for my employer. They would have zero hesitiationt to let me go if there were no funds to employ me.

Have you looked at clinic nursing? Many oppurtunities for RNs there like Occ health (I just spent two years in occ health: worked 9 to 5, no weekends, no holidays and that was as an LPN. You also get paid more than typical clinic jobs), family practice, speciality practices, etc. Granted, you will most likely be paid less than the hospital.

I do not understand self sheduling at all. I have never experienced it first hand. It's just whoever hops on first to make their schedule gets to do whatever days they want??

NursesRmofun, ASN, RN · Nov 16, 2015

I'm presently in the process of leaving my current job, which I've had for 5+ years, due to scheduling issues combined with my indifferent attitude. I've accepted an offer for a work-at-home gig with an insurance company and am excited to start next month.

Congrats!

sailornurse · Nov 16, 2015

This is the Never Ending Story! When I was a med-surg nurse this happened all the time. One hospital I was told during orientation that if I wanted a day off to just call in because requesting it would guarantee I would be working it, then would have to Beg someone to switch with me. At another hospital, where we supposedly self scheduled, the "draft" was made out by the day charge nurse. Come to find out, I changed the "draft" (which was in ink, not pencil, that should have been a clue), I changed it because I had class on a holiday. I get a call telling me I can not change the "draft", WTH? Was told I would need to find someone to cover my shift. Told her no have class & I gave boss my availability for the semester as I was PRN & I filled in the holes in the schedule. Well, the day charge nurse & the unit manager took me completely off the schedule and did not bother to notify me, spiteful IMO. I found out when I came in after class to get my schedule. The night charge was there already and informs me that on nights they are using agency nurses due to short staff and to go ahead and pick up any open shifts on nights, so I did.The night charge had ability to approve this and her draft was in pencil, she actually would call people if she needed to make changes, yeah actually communicated with her staff. The look on the day charge one morning as I am getting ready to give report. "What are you doing here? You are not on the schedule." Yeah, I'm not on your schedule. The unit manager had signed off on the schedule not realizing I had picked up shifts on nights, guess she did not bother to check the name. And the night supervisor stepped in, told unit manager & day charge that since I was prn pool, he was going to let me have any shifts I wanted before he would use agency nurse. I did report the unit manager for her mishandling of this.

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Nov 16, 2015

Path of least resistance, squeaky wheel, yeah all of that. You gotta speak up to be heard. Crappy schedule with no hope of change is a perfectly legitimate reason to leave.

However, take a minute to really look at the schedule. Sometimes what seems like a good deal isn't really. Pick some nurse who seems like they have the "good" schedule and follow it all the way through. Would you want to work that schedule? Then pick another. If both of them seem so much better than yours, ask to trade one of them outright see if that goes over. I'm giving your manager the benefit of the doubt that she doesn't realize how crappy your schedule is. If she's not willing to let one of her favorites work your crappy schedule then she is a scummy nosepickin', clique-mongering ho. You have my permission to look for a new job.

I get jealous of a guy who leaves at 6:30pm when the unit is still really busy. I wanna be him. But when I look at his overall schedule he has to come in five days a week and I only work on Thursdays and Fridays. So, I win.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Nov 16, 2015

If you are scheduled over the 6 shifts in 6 weeks, that needs to be taken to HR.

Your manager is walking all over you, you need to be firm with your scheduling needs.

Cannot fathom why you would feel "very guilty" for wanting to leave a floor that everyone else is leaving. Take charge and advocate for yourself.

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Nov 16, 2015

I hate self scheduling. It's kind of like wildlife. The biggest, meanest, and most valuable get what they want. "Valuable" is subjective.

The drones get what's left. If we self scheduled all the time, I'd definitely look elsewhere.

The anger and resentment is caustic. Doesn't usually bother the boss, but it's hard to live with if you're the one getting dissed.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Nov 16, 2015

I left two jobs because of scheduling issues. With one I applied for a part-time position, and was hired per diem. I was fine without benefits, but I only had to be scheduled for one shift every 90 days. They were very understaffed, and full-timers regularly worked 60+ hour weeks, but once I finished orientation I was only able to pick up 1-2 shifts a month. If I'd been able to get a regular schedule, without having to work 60+ hour weeks, I would've stayed.

I left another job because my shifts were constantly being cancelled. One week I had so many shifts cancelled I ended up working 10.5 hours. I can't pay my bills like that.

I'm per diem at my current job, but I have a regular schedule.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Nov 16, 2015

I just wanted some helpful advice. I have been a nurse for 4 years, I've been working at my current job at the hospital for about a little less than a year. I Don't like all the weekends and holidays(does anyone ?) but I REALLY HATE that I in particular get stuck working them more often then anyone else on my floor! We do self scheduling and are required to do 6 weekend shifts in 6 weeks. I always sign up for my weekends but somehow my schedule is always moved. This schedule, I was moved to work every single weekend for 9 weeks straight. And I don't mean 9 shifts, there's at least one but often 2. Meanwhile, we have new grads that just came off orientation who have just 3 total weekend shifts. I brought this to the attention of my boss and she said well I print a report to make sure it's even but I'll check again. I did end up luckily being switched off the Sunday after thanksgiving because I had requested off, but had been scheduled thanksgiving, Black Friday and Sunday. I should work thanksgiving it is my holiday after all, but I had specifically requested off the weekend after because my family is doing thanksgiving with our extended family out of town that weekend.
And it's not just that, my entire schedule is constantly moved while others are not. Since I was given off that Sunday I then come back to work on Wednesday on one, off one, on 3, off one, on 2 aka 6 out of 8 days in a row. I know some people can do their schedule like that, however I am not one of those people which I have said before. I prefer to do 3 in a row or on 2 off 1 on 1 and then actually have a few days off. I do have some health issues, nothing that's considered a disability, so I need to give myself some time to recoup.
I feel very guilty for wanting to leave because our floor is a revolving door and I was very grateful for this opportunity. But at the same time, I see why people do leave. Everyone hates our floor and no one ever wants to be pulled there. It's a handful (but that's nursing) but the scheduling is my biggest issue.
I'm a newly wed, TTC, and I only have 3 days off with my husband in 2 months (he has an M-F 8-4 job)? That's ridiculous! I just don't want to feel guilty or like a failure if I explore other options

This is why I love unions. At my last job, our union contract specified six weekend shifts in six weeks. If you didn't schedule them yourself, management could schedule them FOR you, but if they moved you so that you ended up working split weekends or more than six weekend shifts, you got double time for those shifts. For years, I worked every weekend because the differentials were so good. And then I decided I didn't want to anymore. I scheduled myself for six weekend shifts (3 weekends.) Management plugged in an extra weekend shift here and an extra weekend shift there and suddenly I had 8 weekend shifts -- five weekends. I went to my manager and told her I'd be happy to work the schedule as published, but I wanted my double time. The schedule was changed before I even left the office.

I wouldn't quit the job yet. If the scheduling is your biggest problem, try to work that out first. Sit down with your manager (or whoever does the schedule) and tell them that you're obligated to work three out of six weekends, and that's what you're willing to work. And if they give you a bunch of push back about "Well we have to cover the weekends," and "Who is going to work them?" be prepared with the names of those who aren't working their full weekend commitment. You may have to do this more than once. The second time, point out that you are frustrated enough to consider leaving.

Here's another thought, though. Is management trying to get rid of you for some reason? I haven't seen many people get fired over the years, but if management wants you gone one of the first things they'll do is start shafting you with your schedule. It could be they want you to get angry and walk. I don't know you and I have no idea if this is even a possibility, but perhaps it is something to consider.