A Hidden Two-Shift Rotation Nurse Scheduling Using Integer Goal Programming

In this study, the author reviews and compares different nurse shift scheduling methods via the criteria of flexibility, fairness, nurse preference, and ergonomics principles. A hidden two-shift rotation is proposed to provide better continuity in sift assignments by reducing the number of integer decision variables to solve a three-shift nurse rotation system. The hidden two-shift scheduling system is modeled as an integer goal programming (IGP) problem. To generate the shift assignments for a unit with 14 nurses, the IGP model takes less than 10 minutes on average, whereas the head nurses spend approximately 2 to 5 hours on shift scheduling.