# Presentation: 113877

## Alternate Work Schedules for Registered Nurses

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

## 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.

## 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 .

## 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.

**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 nurse’s 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.

## 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.

-    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.

## 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.

## 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.

## 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.

## 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.*

## 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* .

## 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.

## 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.

##  Computation of Pay

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

## 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.

## 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.

## 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.

## Certification of Compliance with Provisions of Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel Enhancement Act of 2004VA 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.

## Questions

- Direct questions regarding this slide presentation on AWSRNs to:
-    Willie Swailes at (202) 273-9036,
-    Matilda Bruno-Gaston at (202) 273-5938, or  Maria McAlpin at (202) 273-8139.
-    _[Frequently Asked Questions and Answers ](file://Vacofpcc/051$/_Swailes,%20Willie/Q-A%20AWSRNs%20Final%20Document%208-15-06.doc)_
- Compensation questions should be directed to Compensation Specialists by geographic location at _[http://vaww.va.gov/ohrm/Pay/ContactPay.htm](http://vaww.va.gov/ohrm/Pay/ContactPay.htm)__. _