anyone have experience and success scheduling health care staff into regular set schedules?

Question

There is a managerial distaste for this but I've seen it done w/o hassles once one is committed to the idea of it working and being a win-win situation rather thn apower/control issue...staff is more satisfied due to ability to plan and rather than rearrange everyone each time to fill "holes" you simply plug in the regulars in their places and then work on the holes(OT shifts/agency/prn's/volunteers) The difficulty of shortages is here,but why punish/alienate/drive away dedicated staff?

yes Ive heard of the programs but the managers use them as they wish and still people are bounced around alot. They have difficulty dealing w/all the variables of health care stff as well-different qualifications skilllevel mix etc.

Great attitude, but still requests shouldnt be viewed negatively, its an emp asking for how can I have my life and be a valued employee asking for help in doing so.Once the emp gives up their life for work, you dont have agood employee, they are unbalnced it will come out in sick calls etc...I also have worked in self schduling unit. It was a big staff, still worked but here were too many restrictions and it could be unfair when some got to the schedule beofre others,even though its not supposed to matter it did. Still even with requsts, if a set schedule is available people will go for it on the whole as they know when they are off and can schdeule aroun d it. If things hange they can apply for a change but not every month to completeley change it. People need predictability often in the job, people who dont will work PRN or agency etc and fill those holes.

Answer 1

Many of our nurses have set schedules, full time here is 3 12's. We are required to work every third weekend but many people get around this by working every Saturday or every Friday night (night staff) instead so they don't work the entire weekend.

I've worked here two years and we self schedule. There's only been once that I didn't get what I wanted. Extra shifts are easy to come by (but not required) and we get doubletime for them. When it's busy they offer double, when it's slow they offer the day off. I like my hospital but it's my first hospital job so I know it's a lot different in other places.

Answer 2

I am a nurse who has often worked in management positions that have included scheduling. I always loved this scheduling idea. Easy for staff and easy for me. However, you cannot imagine the amount of complaints and requests that schedulers get. I really don't know why there is such a problem with set schedules other than staying within a weekly or monthly staffing budget that doesn't include PTO replacements. The best system I've used was letting the employees do their own schedules with the understanding that everyone gets 40 hours and no scheduled overtime. People seemed more willing to cover each others shifts for changes, enjoyed a more flexible schedule and also had more job control. Also, all the little staffing issues seemed to get resolved without my interference. But this only works if you don't have a huge staff, employees personalities do not clash greatly and you don't have a micro-manager. Most places do not have these things. Good luck getting the schedule you want.

Answer 3

i wrote a program that schedules medical personnel equitably. In order to fill "holes" an administrator has to do what yo are doing. They don't rearrange the schedule, they find a replacement. I think that works best in the long run.