How Would You Like to Have 26 Weeks Off Work Each Year?

Hi Bloggers,

It is Ashley Hodo again to report about Palliative Care. I am thrilled to tell you that we will be opening the unit for patients and families in one week. We are so honored to be part of this amazing unit and serve this special patient population. I wanted to share with you something unique that the staff on the Palliative Care Unit (PCU) will be piloting. It is called the 7/70 staff modeling, which was presented to some of the employees of Texas Health Fort Worth at a Magnet conference. This is a unique staffing pattern to THFW, as well as nursing in general with few hospitals or nursing units following this model. On this plan nurses work 7 days for 10 hours, then are off for 7 days. The shifts overlap to provide additional coverage during peak hours. The 1st shift is from 0700 to 1730. The 2nd shift is from 1230 to 2300. The 3rd shift is from 2130 to 0730. The 7/70 staffing schedule supports our patient centered relationship-based approach to continuity of care. This means patients are more likely to have the same staff members caring for them and their families during much of their stay in the PCU. With the 7/70 schedule, nurses have 26 weeks off per year. This provides staff with a well-rounded work/life balance, a goal for many in healthcare. Please stop by the unit to see what we are doing.