Rescheduling nursing shifts: scoping the challenge and examining the potential of mathematical model based tools.
OBJECTIVE
To review research in the literature on nursing shift scheduling / rescheduling, and to report key issues identified in a consultation exercise with managers in four English National Health Service trusts to inform the development of mathematical tools for rescheduling decision-making.


BACKGROUND
Shift rescheduling is unrecognised as an everyday time-consuming management task with different imperatives from scheduling. Poor rescheduling decisions can have quality, cost and morale implications.


RESULTS
A systematic critical literature review identified rescheduling issues and existing mathematic modelling tools. A consultation exercise with nursing managers examined the complex challenges associated with rescheduling.


RESULTS
Minimal research exists on rescheduling compared with scheduling. Poor rescheduling can result in greater disruption to planned nursing shifts and may impact negatively on the quality and cost of patient care, and nurse morale and retention. Very little research examines management challenges or mathematical modelling for rescheduling.


CONCLUSIONS
Shift rescheduling is a complex and frequent management activity that is more challenging than scheduling. Mathematical modelling may have potential as a tool to support managers to minimise rescheduling disruption.


CONCLUSIONS
The lack of specific methodological support for rescheduling that takes into account its complexity, increases the likelihood of harm for patients and stress for nursing staff and managers.
Department of Engineering Design and Mathematics, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.
Alistair
A
Clark
Pam
P
Moule
Annie
A
Topping
Martin
M
Serpell
D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
nursing shifts; rerostering; rescheduling; rostering; scheduling