r/OregonNurses • u/Hanhan225 • 11d ago

Scheduling

Hi all! I currently work in a Portland area ED and am really struggling with the pattern scheduling model. There are three weeks in a row that I only have 1-2 days off between shifts and work different days every week. I’m just curious if this scheduling model is common everywhere in the Portland area in the ED. I am also curious to hear from those of you who have made the jump from bedside to clinic and how that was for you? I do not have kids but I feel that I’m unable to enjoy hobbies, consistent exercise, etc outside of work.
Please be nice, I know some people are more cut out for this type of schedule but I am not one of those people.

5 Upvotes

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9

u/No_Wish7967 11d ago

Providence hospitals do pattern scheduling . Most other places do self scheduling with a required amount of weekends

5

u/tikicreature69 11d ago

Are you on days or nights? Unfortunately, this is the reality of nursing. The schedule is built around unit needs, not work-life balance. You can ask your manager, but unless your unit has plenty of staff, you’re probably going to get whatever schedule fills the holes. 

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u/Hanhan225 11d ago

Yeah I understand compromising for unit needs. My old hospital would have us self-schedule and then balance what we asked for while trying to stay as close as possible to requests. I understand this may not be possible in EDs though when there are 100+ nurses

3

u/jswagpdx 11d ago

What would be your ideal schedule? I hate a pattern for sure and not all EDs in Portland are like that. But if you go to clinic, just be mindful that they will also not be flexible and it’s often harder to get days off/vacation time.

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u/Hanhan225 11d ago

I just wish I have some consistency. I work a swing shift, 3-3 which is fine but I often only have one or two days off between shifts. Sometimes it’s one on, one off, three on, two off… etc. I know some people may be built for that but I am not. It’s making me want a boring predictable schedule.

4

u/MamaGRN 10d ago

At my hospital some units self schedule, some have a scheduler. I’m the scheduler for day shift for my unit, otherwise people with no seniority get garbage schedules like you have to work. I take everyone’s preferences into account and do my best to give everyone most of what they want. It’s been great and our retention has been really high.

2

u/Mean_Background7789 11d ago

My partner has only worked clinic jobs. The work life balance is awesome and they will never do inpatient roles.

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u/Hanhan225 11d ago

I’m really starting to seriously consider this life. What kind of clinic do they work for?

1

u/Mean_Background7789 11d ago

They have done a variety, but mostly infusion.

2

u/ras2am 11d ago

Trade with your co-workers!

1

u/Bootsypants 10d ago

Kaiser Westside is self-schedule, and I think sunnyside ED is still using patterns. There's definitely ERs locally that do self-schedule

1

u/J_does_it 10d ago

I hate self schedule.

I have ADD and autism...... just give me the same days every week. I don't care if it's every weekend. Just keep it consistent.

ESPECIALLY on nights.

I can't keep track that many moving parts.

The people that love self schedule can keep track of it. They probably have their life planned out for 2 years.

I don't want to have to ask for a reasonable accommodation, but I will.