Each nursing job comes with a slew of insurance policies and protocols, relating to every thing out of your whole assured hours to orientation procedures. When contemplating a brand new job, there’s one coverage that each touring or per diem nurse ought to ask—is block scheduling obtainable?
In healthcare, block scheduling (or block reserving) is a handy strategy to take management of your time. Usually, new nurses obtain set schedules of 12-hour shifts throughout days and nights, weekdays and weekends. In distinction, block scheduling permits professionals to choose particular shifts upfront throughout a block—normally one month lengthy. The consequence? You keep accountable for your time, freed from imposed schedules.
The Ins and Outs of Block Scheduling
What’s block scheduling in nursing? A nursing block schedule might look one thing like this:
- Monday – Off
- Tuesday – On
- Wednesday – Off
- Thursday – On
- Friday – On
- Saturday – Off
- Sunday – Off
Block schedules even have the flexibleness to vary each week. Whereas your first week’s block could also be Wednesday by Friday, your second week’s block could also be Monday by Wednesday. This places you in much more management of your schedule, so that you could actually chill out and reboot over your break to keep away from burnout.
Able to take cost of your week? Let’s discover the advantages of block scheduling for per diem nurses.
4 Advantages of Block Reserving for Nurses
At first, block scheduling could appear atypical or unbalanced in comparison with a standard 9-to-5 schedule. Nonetheless, any such scheduling gives many advantages to nurses, notably by letting them management their very own time.
#1 Schedule Flexibility
Some nurses might have a really routine schedule exterior of the hospital. Nonetheless, that’s not at all times the case—particularly for per diem nurses.
In contrast to conventional scheduling, block scheduling permits you to change your shifts between weeks. In case your availability varies throughout the month, you possibly can select completely different shifts every week to accommodate these adjustments. This flexibility could be very helpful for nurses who:
- Have a second job
- Look after members of the family or kids
- Have an unpredictable or lengthy commute
- Need completely different whole shifts per week
- Have journey plans
#2 Environment friendly Schedule Group
The principle distinction between block scheduling and typical scheduling is the power to choose your shifts upfront. You get to resolve which days you’re employed—not your supervisor or administrative employees. This provides you the facility to suit work round your future obligations, somewhat than the opposite method round.
An additional benefit? This deliberate schedule additionally permits nurses to arrange a “two location” system. In the event you choose your shifts to be consecutive through the week (comparable to Monday by Wednesday), you possibly can keep in a close-by location throughout your work days and commute again residence on your days off. This can be simpler than residing remotely all through all the contract.
#3 Constant Earnings
For per diem employees, each shift counts. Typical scheduling might go away you quick on cash, not sure if administrative employees might offer you sufficient shifts on your subsequent week. Nonetheless, block scheduling ensures that you’ve a set quantity of shifts sooner or later—which suggests a set quantity of pay.
Even higher? Block scheduling permits you to choose up extra shifts for these weeks while you want some further money. This can be a consider why per diem nurses make 2.5% greater than the common registered nurse. In the event you’re a vacation hustler, add just a few extra shifts to your schedule by selection!
#4 Journey Alternatives
Have an island seashore trip on the horizon—however need to take a per diem nurse job in the intervening time? With block scheduling labored into your journey nurse contract, you possibly can preserve your journey plans at no sunken value.
A typical nursing schedule might have you ever working 5 days per week, each week. To take a brief trip, you’d need to request days off—and lose potential pay in the intervening time. Nonetheless, a block schedule permits you to house out your shifts for substantial day off with out shedding pay.
For instance, a vacation-friendly block schedule might seem like:
Week 1
- Monday – On
- Tuesday – On
- Wednesday – On
- Thursday – On (Half-Day)
- Friday – Off
- Saturday – Off
- Sunday – Off
Week 2
- Monday – Off
- Tuesday – Off
- Wednesday – Off
- Thursday – On (Half-Day)
- Friday – On
- Saturday – On
- Sunday – On
Though you labored the identical quantity of shifts every week, you bought seven consecutive days off inside two weeks—with zero pay misplaced. If journey is a high precedence, block scheduling is your go-to methodology.
#5 Work-Life Stability
Just lately, healthcare employee burnout has turn out to be a extra urgent matter. As a result of pandemic, about 95% of nurses reported feeling burnout inside the previous three years. Satisfactory day off is essential to remain wholesome and motivated as a healthcare employee—and block scheduling can present it at no sunken value.
In the event you’re on the highway or selecting up a per diem job, make the most of block scheduling to avoid wasting your self devoted “me” time. By spacing out your shifts throughout the week, it can save you time for self-care actions like:
- Train and bodily exercise
- Stress administration (remedy, journaling, meditation, and many others.)
- Household time
- Socialization
- Time administration & week planning (meal prep, agendas, and many others.)
- Sleep
Ideas for Block Reserving Schedules
So, you landed a job with block scheduling—however you’re undecided the place to begin. How do you modify to having this a lot management over your schedule?
In the event you’re new to dam scheduling, it could appear a little bit complicated at first. Luckily, with sufficient time (and an honest quantity of foresight), block reserving can turn out to be your finest pal Begin with these tricks to make the most of this versatile scheduling:
- Examine your calendar – Irrespective of the job, block scheduling requires you to ebook your shifts upfront. Which means it’s essential know your calendar entrance to again in addition to potential. Earlier than selecting up any shifts, be aware of any conflicts, holidays, or different priorities over the block that will require days off. If scheduling is in your fingers, then it’s your accountability to keep away from any mishaps.
- Account for weekends and holidays – Sure, block scheduling does offer you extra schedule flexibility. Nonetheless, virtually each healthcare facility will count on you to take not less than just a few shifts throughout high-demand instances, comparable to weekends or holidays. Whereas some per diem nurses desire these shifts (taking a look at you, vacation hustlers), others might not. Be sure to account for these calls for when planning your month-to-month schedule.
- Decide a top quality recruiter – For per diem nurses, the precise recruiting company could make or break your contract. Take your time to seek out an company that may join you to the block reserving alternatives you want. At MAS Medical Staffing, we be sure that per diem nurses have entry to dam scheduling with shifts that work for his or her schedules—days, evenings, or nights.
- Talk, talk, talk – Block reserving might seem to be a solo exercise. Nonetheless, you’ll nonetheless have to share (and re-share) your scheduling preferences with each recruiters and directors. Earlier than signing onto any job, ensure you specific an curiosity in block scheduling and every other scheduling necessities you’ll have (nights solely, each different weekend off, and many others.).
- Know your private preferences – Are you an evening owl? An early morning hen? A one-day-off, one-day-on employee? Block scheduling provides you the liberty to construct an optimum schedule, so get to know your individual preferences! With planning, you possibly can really feel refreshed and ready for each shift.
How Do You Get Per Diem/Native Contracts With Block Reserving?
As a nurse, you take pleasure in working with flexibility. In the event you want a job with block reserving, there’s one extremely versatile nursing contract to contemplate—a per diem/native contract.
In Latin, per diem means “per day.” In different phrases, you’d receives a commission for every day you’re employed. Per diem nursing contracts are normally created to fill in a healthcare facility’s employment gaps (comparable to a sick worker) or cowl high-demand instances (like holidays). Per diem nurses and vacationers alike can select to work native contracts. This permits professionals to relocate briefly to a brand new location.
So, how are you going to mix the flexibleness of a per diem contact and block scheduling? You’ll have to discover a respected recruiter, like MAS Medical Staffing. As one of many top-tier nursing companies, our staff can discover you a per diem job that matches your schedule—no last-minute shifts or undetermined pay. For our per diem employees, we provide unbelievable advantages like:
- Day by day immediate pay and aggressive compensation
- 401(ok) with firm match
- Medical insurance protection and supplemental insurance coverage choices
- Maestra cell software to choose up close by shifts
- Referral bonuses
- MAS Rewards Me bonus program
- Devoted recruiters on name 24/7 through textual content, e mail or telephone.
Discover Your Stability with MAS Medical Staffing
Navigating the world of nursing schedules, contracts, and funds might be aggravating. As a healthcare skilled, you don’t want so as to add extra work to your schedule.
Fortunately, that’s the place we are able to step in.
At MAS Medical, we assist you discover the perfect location and contract to suit your wants, from location to scheduling. Whether or not you’re in search of a recent location or vacation shifts, we are able to supply compensation packages that embody top-tier advantages comparable to medical health insurance, 401(ok) matching, housing stipends, and same-day pay.
And our MAS Rewards Me program helps you earn factors and prizes with each shift. Clock out and clock right into a bevy of awards, together with journeys, expertise, and extra. While you work with MAS Medical, you can too earn as much as $500 for referring a pal.
In the event you’re able to work in your phrases, we’re prepared to assist. Contact us at present to embark on a nursing profession that checks all of the packing containers with MAS Medical Staffing.
Sources:
Zippia. 15+ Nursing Burnout Statistics [2022]: The Stunning Reality About Nursing. https://www.zippia.com/recommendation/nursing-burnout-statistics/
Zip Recruiter. Per Diem Nurse Wage. https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Per-Diem-Nurse-Wage-in-Brooklyn,NY
Reviewer Bio
Kristin Mckenna, Recruitment Supervisor: Kristin has been with MAS for 3 ½ years. She started her journey with us as a Journey and Per Diem Recruiter earlier than turning into a Recruitment Manger in July of final yr. Kristin is impressed with how our firm has grown over the previous few years and is obsessed with coaching and growing recruiters to construct lengthy final relationships with our candidates. In her free time, she enjoys going to the seashore in her residence state of sunny Florida and spending time with family and friends.
