title: A case study: the initiative to improve RN scheduling at Hamilton Health Sciences.
abstract: In 2003, Hamilton Health Sciences embarked on an initiative to improve and standardize nursing schedules and scheduling practices. The scheduling project was one of several initiatives undertaken by a corporate-wide Nursing Resource Group established to enhance the work environment and patient care and to ensure appropriate utilization of nursing resources across the organization's five hospitals. This article focuses on major activities undertaken in the scheduling initiative. The step-by-step approach described, plus examples of the scheduling resources developed and samples of extended-tour schedules, will all provide insight, potential strategies and practical help for nursing administrators, human resources (HR) personnel and others interested in improving nurse scheduling.
authors.affiliation: Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS). laurelwallace@xplornet.com
authors.forename: Laurel-Anne
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pierson
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009864:Ontario; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016730:Program Development; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care