Alternate Work Schedules for Registered Nurses

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Alternate Work Schedules for Registered Nurses

• established by
• The Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care
  Enhancement Act of 2004

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Public Law 108-445

• This law established two (2) additional
  Alternate Work Schedules for Registered Nurses
  (AWSRNs) which include
• 36/40 Work Schedule
• 9-Month Work Schedule/3-Months Off
• The Baylor Plan is an existing AWSRNs
  currently being utilized by VA.

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Eligible Employees

• Full-time and part-time Veterans Health
  Administration (VHA) RNs and Nurse Anesthetists
  appointed under 7401(1) and 7405 to Title 38
  positions .

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Descriptions of Alternate Work Schedules for
Registered Nurses

• 36/40 Work Schedule
• Definition Three (3) regularly scheduled
  12-hour tours of duty within an administrative
  workweek that is considered, for all purposes, to
  be a full 40-hour basic workweek.

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• 9-Month Work Schedule/3-Months Off also referred
  to as 9-Month Work Schedule
• Definition Nine (9) months full-time with
  three months off duty within a fiscal year, paid
  at 75 percent of the full-time rate for every
  nurses grade and step, each bi-weekly pay period
  of the fiscal year. This may be a traditional or
  compressed work schedule based on management
  approval.

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• Baylor Plan
• Definition Two (2) regularly scheduled
  12-hour tours of duty (24-hour basic workweek)
  contained entirely within the first and last day
  of the administrative workweek (Sunday and
  Saturday) and is considered for all purposes to
  be a full 40-hour basic workweek.

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Benefits of Utilizing an Alternate Work Schedules

• Excellent recruitment and retention tool.
• Allows flexibilities for RNs to balance work and
  home life while meeting the needs of the
  Department.
• 36/40 Work Schedule allows RNs to work (3)
• 12-hour shifts versus a full week.

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Benefits of Utilizing an Alternate Work Schedules

• 9-Month Work Schedule allows RNs to work
  full-time with 3-months off during a fiscal year.
• Baylor Plan allows RNs to work two (2) 12-hour
  shifts (Sunday and Saturday) and be paid as a
  full-time employee.

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Procedures for Requesting an Alternate Work
Schedule Current and New Employees

• RNs must
• Complete VA Form 0870a, Request for Alternate
  Work Schedule and submit form to the Associate
  Director, Nursing Services or designated
  personnel for approval.
• Upon approval of the 36/40 Work Schedule, 9-Month
  Work Schedule or Baylor Plan the Associate
  Director, Nursing Services or designated
  personnel will notify the employee of their new
  work schedule.

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Procedures for Requesting an Alternate Work
Schedule Current and New Employees

• Upon approval of the 9-Month Work Schedule,
  employees must sign - Notice on the 9-Month Work
  Schedule Regarding the Impact on Benefits,
  Probationary Status and Other Conditions of
  Employment Conversion from Full-Time to
  Part-Time/Current Part-Time to
• 9-Month Work Schedule or the Notice on the
  9-Month Work Schedule Regarding the Impact on
  Benefits and Other Conditions of Employees for
  New Hires.

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Procedures for Requesting an Alternate Work
Schedule - Current and New Employees

• A 14-day waiting period is required after the
  employee signs the Notice pertaining to changes
  in their federal benefits prior to signing
• VA Form 0870b, Consent of Appointment for
• 9-Month/3-Month Off Alternate Work Schedule .

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Leave and Absence Approved, Excused and/or
Unexcused

• 36/40 Work Schedule - (12-hour shifts) is charged
  leave at a rate of ten (10) hours of leave for
  every (9) hours of absence (charged 1.111 for
  each hour).
• 9-Month Work Schedule - traditional or compressed
  work schedule is charged leave at a rate of one
  (1) hour for each hour of absence.
• Baylor Plan - (12-hour shifts) is charged leave
  at a rate of (1.667 per hour) for every one hour
  of absence.

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Holiday Schedule

• An in-lieu of non-workday will not be authorized
  for RNs or Nurse Anesthetists who work on a
  holiday or the day designated as a holiday.

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Computation of Pay

• Alternate Work Schedules for Registered Nurses
  Policy concerning computation of pay are
  contained in VA Handbook 5007, Pay
  Administration.

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Policy Against Certain Work Hours

• Public Law 108-445 states, RNs on any
• work schedule will not provide direct patient
  care in excess of 12 consecutive hours or in
  excess of 60 hours in any 7-day period, except in
  the case of nurses providing emergency care.

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Definition of Emergency Care

• Emergency care is defined as any situation that
  occurs during a disaster, tragedy, crisis or a
• catastrophic event within a healthcare
  setting.
• Examples may include
• - A nurse providing treatment to patients
  impacted
• by a major disaster.
• - A surgical nurse on duty in the midst of an
• operation.

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Health Administration Facility Certification

• Public Law 108-445 requires the Secretary of VA
  to submit a report to Congress certifying that
  each Department health-care facility has
  implemented a policy against certain work hours
  for nurses. A reporting and certification
  protocol is provided in the policy.

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Certification of Compliance with Provisions of
Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care
Personnel Enhancement Act of 2004VA Form 0870c

• This certification must be submitted by each VHA
  Medical Director to OHRM/LR, Worklife and
  Benefits Service (058) by December 1, commencing
  in calendar year 2006.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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Questions

• Direct questions regarding this slide
  presentation on AWSRNs to
• Willie Swailes at [phone],
• Matilda Bruno-Gaston at [phone], or
  Maria McAlpin at [phone].
• Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
• Compensation questions should be directed to
  Compensation Specialists by geographic location
  at http//vaww.va.gov/ohrm/Pay/ContactPay.htm.