Low Census. The Hospital and the Association agree that it is important to enhance stability related to projected work hours and expectations for Registered Nurses in relationship to high quality patient care and prudent fiscal responsibility. The Hospital remains committed, as a matter of principle, to seeking to preserve a nurse’s assigned FTE status (profile hours), as patient census fluctuates from planned levels. To this end, the following limits and conditions on low census shall apply: a. Monthly maximum – Twelve (12) hours b. Calendar year annual maximum – One hundred twenty (120) hours c. Voluntary low census will count to the mandatory caps. A nurse with an assigned FTE level of less than 1.0 FTE will have the maximum limits adjusted accordingly on a pro rata basis [e.g., 0.5 FTE has monthly maximum of six (6) hours and annual maximum of sixty (60) hours]. A nurse may use accrued annual leave for mandatory low census hours. After forty (40) mandatory hours have been reached in a six (6) month period (January-June and July- December), the nurse may elect to use accrued sick leave for any additional mandatory low census hours. Newly hired nurses will be subject to low census rotation after completion of their initial orientation. Seniority, annual leave, and sick leave benefits shall accrue for low census days taken. Nurses may elect to use any accrued annual leave for low census days. A nurse placed on low census shall not also be required to be on standby. 9.17.1 The Hospital will implement low census days in the following order: 1. Agency/traveling nurses; 2. Volunteers among nurses currently in overtime will be sought; 3. Volunteers throughout the entire Hospital; 4. Regular part-time and full-time nurses both working above their assigned full- time equivalent (“FTE”) status (“profiled hours”) and working in an overtime status; 5. Supplemental nurses; 6. Regular part-time and full-time nurses based on seniority and rotated equitably. The rotation will be based on hours previously low-censused.
Appears in 3 contracts
Samples: Collective Bargaining Agreement, Collective Bargaining Agreement, Collective Bargaining Agreement
Low Census. Section 1. It if becomes necessary to reduce the number of employees in a particular department or unit, the reduction will be completed using the Low Census procedure as follows:
a.) Where low census reductions are needed, employees who are qualified will first be assigned to float to available assignments.
b.) Where low census reductions are needed on a shift to shift basis, voluntary low census hours or shift will be granted, if possible, following the guidelines under equitable rotation below.
c.) As assessed on a daily basis, employees in a specific department or unit will be required to take mandatory low census hours or shift on an equitable rotation. Equitable rotation shall be as follows:
1.) Volunteers will be solicited in descending seniority by calls to their homes, on a rotational basis.
2.) The Hospital first person contacted who volunteers shall be given the low census hours or shift.
3.) If there are sufficient volunteers, those returning the call and volunteering shall be selected on a first-come basis to the Association agree extent needed.
4.) If there are insufficient volunteers, then the following employees will be low censused in this order:
a.) Any scheduled overtime (time paid at time and one-half) will be canceled;
b.) Any scheduled per diem employees;
c.) Any employees with hours in excess of budgeted weekly hours;
d.) Regular employees shall be mandatorily excused from work in order of inverse seniority on a rotating basis with the understanding that it is important to enhance stability related to projected work the employee accepting this opportunity shall have the option of utilizing PTO or taking the time without pay.
Section 2. An employee taking low census hours or shift will be given credit toward benefits (accrual of paid time off, extended sick day accrual, health insurance and expectations for Registered Nurses in relationship to high quality patient care and prudent fiscal responsibilitypension). The Hospital remains committed, as a matter maximum number of principle, to seeking to preserve a nurse’s assigned FTE status (profile hours), as patient census fluctuates from planned levels. To this end, the following limits and conditions on mandatory low census shall apply:hours will not exceed the number of hours equal to one (1) regularly scheduled shift per pay period, up to and including eight (8) shifts per year for any employee.
a. Monthly maximum – Twelve (12) hours
b. Calendar year annual maximum – One hundred twenty (120) hours
c. Voluntary low census will count to the mandatory capsSection 3. A nurse with an assigned FTE level Low Census of less than 1.0 FTE two (2) hours will not be counted in the tracking of time for equitable rotation. Low census paid time off and low census without paid time off only apply to instances of one (1) hour or more. An employee leaving less than two (2) hours prior to the end of their scheduled shift will still be required to obtain prior manager approval.
Section 4. The Employer/Hospital will make every reasonable effort to notify employees in advance of a cancellation of a shift due to low census, but not more than twenty-four (24) hours’ notice. It will be the responsibility of the employee to maintain a current telephone number listed with the Employer/Hospital.
Section 5. If such employee is assigned any work, he or she will be guaranteed a minimum of four (4) hours on that day. An employee who volunteers or is assigned to work such a temporarily reduced shift at the request of the Employer/Hospital will not have a reduction in benefits.
Section 6. Any employee returning from disability, workers’ compensation or an FMLA qualified leave of absence; and newly hired employees who have completed the probationary period, will have special consideration regarding low census. These employees will fall into the maximum limits adjusted accordingly rotation equal with the person(s) on a pro rata basis [e.g., 0.5 FTE the unit who has monthly maximum the lowest amount of six (6) hours and annual maximum of sixty (60) hours]. A nurse may use accrued annual leave for mandatory low census hours. After forty (40) mandatory hours have been reached in a six (6) month period (January-June and July- December), the nurse may elect to use accrued sick leave for any additional mandatory low census hours. Newly hired nurses will be subject to low census rotation after completion of their initial orientation. Seniority, annual leave, and sick leave benefits shall accrue for low census days taken. Nurses may elect to use any accrued annual leave for that calendar year adjusted for the number of instances of low census days. A nurse placed within that unit while the employee was out on low census shall not also be required to be on standbyleave.
9.17.1 The Hospital will implement low census days in the following order:
1. Agency/traveling nurses;
2. Volunteers among nurses currently in overtime will be sought;
3. Volunteers throughout the entire Hospital;
4. Regular part-time and full-time nurses both working above their assigned full- time equivalent (“FTE”) status (“profiled hours”) and working in an overtime status;
5. Supplemental nurses;
6. Regular part-time and full-time nurses based on seniority and rotated equitably. The rotation will be based on hours previously low-censused.
Appears in 1 contract
Samples: Collective Bargaining Agreement
Low Census. The Hospital and the Association agree that it is important to enhance stability related to projected work hours and expectations for Registered Nurses in relationship to high quality patient care and prudent fiscal responsibility. The Hospital remains committed, as a matter of principle, to seeking to preserve a nurse’s assigned FTE status (profile hours), as patient When assigning low census fluctuates from planned levels. To this enddays, the following limits and conditions on low census shall apply:
a. Monthly maximum – Twelve (12) hours
b. Calendar year annual maximum – One hundred twenty (120) hours
c. Voluntary Employer will choose staff to assure optimal patient care. Volunteers for low census will count be utilized first when possible consistent with staffing needs. When the Hospital needs to reduce staff, the mandatory caps. A nurse with an assigned FTE level of less than 1.0 FTE individual units will have the maximum limits adjusted accordingly on first attempt to reach a pro rata basis [e.g., 0.5 FTE has monthly maximum of six (6) hours and annual maximum of sixty (60) hours]. A nurse may use accrued annual leave for mandatory consensus as to which RNs will take a low census hoursday. After forty (40) mandatory hours have been If a solution cannot be reached in a six (6) month period (January-June and July- December)within the units, the nurse may elect to use accrued sick leave for any additional mandatory Hospital will implement low census days in the following order:
1. Agency/traveling nurses;
2. Volunteers among nurses currently in overtime will be sought;
3. Volunteers throughout the entire Hospital;
4. Supplemental nurses;
5. Regular part-time and full-time nurses both working above their assigned full- time equivalent (“FTE”) status (“profiled hours”) and working in an overtime status;
6. Regular part-time and full-time nurses based on seniority and rotated equitably. The rotation will be based on hours previously low-censused. Newly hired nurses will be subject to low census rotation after completion of their initial orientation. Seniority, annual leave, and sick leave benefits shall accrue for low census days taken. Nurses may elect to use any accrued annual leave or personal holidays for low census days. (A nurse placed on low census shall not also be required to be on standby.)
9.17.1 During the six (6) month periods of January-June and July-December of each year, a nurse may be given up to forty (40) hours of mandatory low census. The Hospital will implement nurse may use accrued annual leave or personal holidays for mandatory low census days hours. After the forty (40) mandatory hours have been reached in a six (6) month period, the following order:nurse may elect to use accrued sick leave for any additional mandatory low census hours.
1. Agency/traveling nurses;
2. Volunteers among nurses currently in overtime 9.17.2 If low census exceeds twenty-five percent (25%) on a three (3) month average, the layoff procedure will be sought;
3. Volunteers throughout the entire Hospital;
4. Regular part-time and full-time nurses both working above their assigned full- time equivalent (“FTE”) status (“profiled hours”) and working in an overtime status;
5. Supplemental nurses;
6. Regular part-time and full-time nurses based on seniority and rotated equitably. The rotation will be based on hours previously low-censusedapply.
Appears in 1 contract
Samples: Collective Bargaining Agreement
Low Census. The Hospital and Section 1. If it becomes necessary to reduce the Association agree that it is important number of employees in a particular department or unit, the reduction will be completed using the Low Census procedure as follows:
a.) Where low census reductions are needed, employees will first be assigned to enhance stability related float to projected work hours and expectations for Registered Nurses in relationship to high quality patient care and prudent fiscal responsibilityavailable assignments. The Hospital remains committedexceptions to this float rule shall be OR. In this unit, employees will be offered the opportunity to use low census hours before they are asked to float. The exception above will not apply if there is an emergency staffing situation. For the purposes of this section, “emergency” is defined as that which could not be prudently planned for by the Employer.
b.) Where low census reductions are needed on a matter of principleshift to shift basis, voluntary low census hours or shift will be granted, if possible, following the guidelines under equitable rotation below.
c.) As assessed on a daily basis, employees in a specific department or unit will be required to seeking take mandatory low census hours or shift on an equitable rotation. Equitable rotation shall be as follows:
1.) Volunteers will be solicited in descending seniority by calls to preserve their homes, on a nurse’s assigned FTE status (profile hours)rotational basis.
2.) The first person contacted who volunteers shall be given the low census hours or shift.
3.) If there are sufficient volunteers, as patient census fluctuates from planned levels. To this endthose returning the call and volunteering shall be selected on a first-come basis to the extent needed.
4.) If there are insufficient volunteers, then, on a rotating basis, the following limits and conditions least senior employee on the unit shall be required to take mandatory low census hours or shift. In that event, the Nurse Manager shall apply:
a. Monthly maximum – Twelve (12) hours
b. Calendar year annual maximum – One hundred twenty (120) hours
c. Voluntary not perform duties that would not ordinarily be done by him/her, if the registered nurse were not on mandatory low census will count to the mandatory caps. A nurse with an assigned FTE level of less than 1.0 FTE will hours or shifts.
5.) The scheduled charge employee shall not have the option of volunteering or being rotated, unless a suitable replacement is available.
Section 2. An employee taking low census hours or shift will be given credit toward benefits (accrual of paid time off, extended sick day accrual, health insurance and pension). The maximum limits adjusted accordingly on a pro rata basis [e.g.number of mandatory low census hours will not exceed the number of hours equal to one (1) regularly scheduled shift per pay period, 0.5 FTE has monthly maximum of up to and including six (6) hours shifts per year for any employee.
Section 3. Low Census of less than one (1) hour will not be counted in the tracking of time for equitable rotation. Low census paid time off and annual maximum of sixty (60) hours]. A nurse may use accrued annual leave for mandatory low census hourswithout paid time off will be utilized to account for the balance of the shift. After forty (40) mandatory hours have been reached in a The request for paid time off must be made by the employee, otherwise the difference remains unpaid. The difference must be greater than six (6) month period minutes due to the timekeeper programming rounds at the end of the shift, but less than one (January-June and July- December)1) hour. An employee leaving less than one (1) hour prior to the end of their scheduled shift will still be required to obtain prior manager approval.
Section 4. There will be no low censusing that causes split shifts, unless the nurse may elect employee voluntarily agree.
Section 5. Per diem or temporary employees will not be assigned to use accrued sick leave work on units for any additional which an employee who is on mandatory low census hoursstatus is qualified.
Section 6. Newly hired nurses Employees will be subject to notified a minimum of one (1) hour but not more than eight (8) hours in advance of each shift for which a mandatory low census rotation after hours or shift is assigned. In the event such notice is not given, the affected employee receives two (2) hours pay at regular rate. Should the Employer/Hospital make a bona fide attempt to notify the employee of a cancellation of shift but be unsuccessful in doing so, this pay provision will not apply. It will be the responsibility of the employee to maintain a current telephone number listed with the Nursing Office. Failure to do so excuses the Employer/Hospital from the notification requirement. The OR, PACU, ASU, IR and Presurgical Testing will be allowed to continue the practice of notifying the staff as early as the day before.
Section 7. If such employee is assigned any work, he or she will be guaranteed a minimum of four (4) hours on that day. An employee who volunteers or is assigned to work such a temporarily reduced shift at the request of the Employer/Hospital will not have a reduction in benefits.
Section 8. Any RN returning from disability, workers’ compensation or an FMLA qualified leave of absence; and newly hired RNs who have completed the probationary period, will have special consideration regarding voluntary low census. At the time the RN’s leave begins, the voluntary low census turns will be frozen. When the RN returns, the highest number of voluntary low census turns taken by any one RN on his/her unit during the leave of absence will be added to the frozen number and a new number awarded (e.g., before disability RN “A” had four (4) voluntary low census turns. During the leave, RN “B” had the highest number of turns, with three (3). RN “A” will have an adjusted number of seven (7) upon return to duty. A newly hired RN will, upon completion of their initial orientation. Senioritythe probationary period, annual leave, and sick leave benefits shall accrue for receives the same number of voluntary low census days taken. Nurses may elect to use any accrued annual leave for turns as the RN with the highest number of voluntary low census days. A nurse placed on turns in the unit for that low census shall not also be required to be on standbyyear.
9.17.1 The Hospital will implement low census days in the following order:
1. Agency/traveling nurses;
2. Volunteers among nurses currently in overtime will be sought;
3. Volunteers throughout the entire Hospital;
4. Regular part-time and full-time nurses both working above their assigned full- time equivalent (“FTE”) status (“profiled hours”) and working in an overtime status;
5. Supplemental nurses;
6. Regular part-time and full-time nurses based on seniority and rotated equitably. The rotation will be based on hours previously low-censused.
Appears in 1 contract
Samples: Collective Bargaining Agreement
Low Census. The Hospital and the Association agree that it is important to enhance stability related to projected work hours and expectations for Registered Nurses in relationship to high quality patient care and prudent fiscal responsibility. The Hospital remains committed, as a matter of principle, to seeking to preserve a nurse’s assigned FTE status (profile hours), as 27 When patient census fluctuates from planned levels. To this endand acuity create a need to reduce Nurse staffing after the 28 schedule has been posted, the following limits and conditions on low census shall apply:
a. Monthly maximum – Twelve (12) hours
b. Calendar year annual maximum – One hundred twenty (120) hours
c. Voluntary low census will count to the mandatory caps. A nurse with an assigned FTE level of less than 1.0 FTE will have the maximum limits adjusted accordingly on a pro rata basis [e.g., 0.5 FTE has monthly maximum of six (6) hours and annual maximum of sixty (60) hours]. A nurse may use accrued annual leave for mandatory low census hours. After forty (40) mandatory hours have been reached in a six (6) month period (January-June and July- December), the nurse may elect to use accrued sick leave for any additional mandatory low census hours. Newly hired nurses individual Nurses will be subject to low census. In the 29 application of the factors described below relating to low-census rotation after completion decisions, the 30 primary considerations shall be the maintenance, at all times, of their initial orientation. Senioritysafe patient 31 care, annual leavecontinuity of care by the Nurse currently assigned to such activities, and sick leave benefits shall accrue the 32 maintenance of adequate nursing staff to serve Hospital patients. The 33 appropriate mix of skill sets, required staff ratios, certifications required to care for 34 the immediate patient census, and continuity of nursing care will be evaluated 35 and determined by Hospital supervisors/manager/Charge Nurse. 37 There can never be low census in the Emergency Department or Family Birthing 38 Center below core staffing levels. 40 Low census may occur for a portion of a scheduled shift (including a decision to 41 delay the start time of a previously scheduled Nurse) or for the entire scheduled 42 shift. A Nurse may only be given a delayed start for low census days takenonce per shift. A 43 Nurse who is low-censused for a portion of a scheduled shift shall be allowed to 44 work on charting, volunteer to float to another unit, nursing-related education, 45 and/or other required documentation for the remainder of their shift. 1 As long as the criteria described in the paragraph above have been met, Nurses may elect to use any accrued annual leave 2 shall be selected for low census days. A nurse placed on low census shall not also be required to be on standby.
9.17.1 The Hospital will implement low census days in the following order:
4 1. Volunteers and AV requests. 6 2. Agency/traveling nurses;Travelers. 8 3. Legacy Resource Pool Nurses.
10 4. Legacy Nurses who are based at another Legacy medical center.
12 5. Nurses working at premium pay (for example, time-and-one-half 13 times (1½ x).
15 6. Volunteers who are scheduled for an extra shift that would be 16 compensated at straight time (beyond budgeted hours).
18 7. Nurses scheduled for an extra shift that would be compensated at 19 straight time (beyond budgeted hours). 21 8. Per Diem Nurses. 23 9. All other Nurses assigned to the unit that day. 25 The Nurse selected for the "low census" (which includes delayed starts) within 26 the groups described above shall be the Nurse on the shift who has the lowest 27 percentage of low census in the last rolling three-month period. 29 All efforts will be made to “cap” mandatory low census at no more than one (1) 30 shift per pay period per Nurse (excluding Per Diem Nurses). Once a Nurse is 31 involuntarily low-censused for a shift, regardless of low-census percentage, the 32 Nurse would not be low-censused again until all Nurses within the department 33 and shift are low-censused once within that three-month period. 35 Nurses who have been low-censused can choose to be on standby. If a Nurse 36 volunteers for standby, they will be paid the standby rate of pay for the time spent 37 on standby. If the Nurse does not volunteer for standby, they will not be required 38 to remain available for call back. 40 H. Floating.
41 1. External.
2 2. Volunteers among nurses currently in overtime will Internal
3 A Nurse who is regularly assigned to one (1) department may be sought;
3asked 4 to volunteer to float (defined as: going to another department and 5 being assigned patient(s)) to any other for which they have the 6 required competency. Volunteers throughout the entire Hospital;
4. Regular part-time and full-time nurses both working above 8 If not enough Nurses volunteer to float, a Nurse may be required to 9 float to any other department within their assigned full- time equivalent (“FTE”) status (“profiled hours”) and working in an overtime status;
5. Supplemental nurses;
6. Regular part-time and full-time nurses based on seniority and rotated equitablycluster. The rotation will clusters at 10 Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center are: 12 ICU/IMCU 13 Medical and Surgical Specialties 14 Family Birth Center 15 Emergency Department 17 Every reasonable effort shall be based on hours previously low-censusedmade to limit a nurse to only one (1) 18 float assignment per shift. 20 Resource Nurses shall be floated prior to any floating of regularly 21 scheduled department Nurses, as long as the remaining Nurses 22 possess the necessary skills, required certifications, qualifications, 23 competencies and orientation to the physical environment to perform 24 the work required.
Appears in 1 contract
Samples: Union Proposal
