title: Setting standards for planning off duty and audit of practice.
abstract: The off duty or rostering system is an important part of managing any ward or department. This article looks at the issues that need to be considered when drawing up and managing off duty. It recommends standards for off-duty planning and shares the results of an audit carried out against some of these standards in one NHS trust.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Leicester NHS Trust.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minchin
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pickard
mesh_terms: D004739:England; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D008330:Management Audit / Q000379:methods*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D013527:Perioperative Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000592:standards*; D017748:Time Management; D000078329:Workforce