How do EM groups assign shifts?

[mistatwo]

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I'm starting my 3rd year clerkship in EM, and we do (9) 8-hr shifts in a 12 day period. We're given 3 shifts in each 8-hr block (7-3p, 3-11p, 11-7a). I know there must be tremendous variation on how each emergency physician creates his/her own schedule, but how does it work so that less desirable (nights, weekends, holidays) shifts are covered?

 

[gutonc]

If I somehow became an emergency physician, would it be possible to avoid holidays and weekends?

No. Next question.

 

[mistatwo]

No. Next question.

The next question is the first question.

 

[pseudoknot]

This is like asking if you can do OB without having to do pelvic exams.

 

[DrVanNostran]

This is like asking if you can do OB without having to do pelvic exams.

I almost got through my OB rotation without having to do one. Once they saw a dude walk in the room, I would get the polite, "Are there any girl doctors in the office today?"

 

[Daiphon]

The next question is the first question.

I'm with gutonc; your original first question deserved the answer you received.

The revamp, however, is a fairer approach. This has been asked/answered multiple times in the forums, and a simple search will get you many threads.

The gist of it is - if you go into EM, you will work all sorts of shifts, at all times of day, on all days of the year. To us, the only days we don't work are the ones that don't end in a 'Y'

That being said, what's "less desirable" to you may be "more desirable" to me. I work 90% nights by choice, which frees up others in my group to work the shifts they want. Most groups will have some sort of holiday schedule, and/or differentials to get people into difficult-to-cover shifts.

You will work nights, you will work days, you will work when everyone else is sleeping and/or enjoying a 3 day weekend; but, you'll also only be working 10-15 days/month... I really like being off on Tuesdays; get a lot of things done because everyone ELSE is in some cubicle farm from 9-5. d=)

Cheers!
-t

 

[gutonc]

The next question is the first question.

OK then. The way it works is that someone makes up the schedule and you have the following options:
1. Work the shifts you're assigned
2. Trade or sell your shifts
3. Get another job

The ED is staffed 24/7/365. How that gets done (shift length, coverage, etc) and by whom (n00bs and non-partners will invariably get the less desirable shifts) will vary but you will be working nights, weekends, holidays, etc. You can make requests of course, and these are usually honored as much as possible, but if your request is just "I don't want to work nights, weekends or holidays" you'll be laughed out of the shop.

 

[ktran17]

I'm just a lowly pre-med but I'm curious, is It reasonable to ask an employer that you want to work 3 straight days of 12 hour shifts of pure night shifts per week? Would you guys consider this kind of schedule negotiable?

 

[Apollyon]

I'm just a lowly pre-med but I'm curious, is It reasonable to ask an employer that you want to work 3 straight days of 12 hour shifts of pure night shifts per week? Would you guys consider this kind of schedule negotiable?

That's what I do. The only thing I told the boss I didn't want was working the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and so on.

This month, I have 3 in a row, 3 in a row, 3 in a row, and 4 in a row, separated by anywhere between 4 days and 7 days off.

If you want to work a set schedule, especially if it's weekends and/or nights, you're very likely to get it.

 

[ktran17]

haha great ^_^. I guess it pays to be a night owl. I love working grave yard shifts.

 

[alreadylernd]

I'm just a lowly pre-med but I'm curious, is It reasonable to ask an employer that you want to work 3 straight days of 12 hour shifts of pure night shifts per week? Would you guys consider this kind of schedule negotiable?

A group with a good scheduler will certainly let you cohort the overnights, should schedule you in a progressive fashion (no shift begins earlier in the day than the previous one), and will give you at least a few days off after a string of overnights.

 

[Greenbbs]

out of the 25 of us, we have 7 night docs who are dedicated to only night shifts (we have 3- a 7p-4a, and 2 11-8's). They usually work 5 in a row, then get 5 off, and so on.

I never work nights. It's quite nice. Jobs like this are out there.