A computer-based nurse scheduling system

Abstract This paper describes a computer-based system for scheduling nurses in a St. Louis hospital. List processing and problem oriented data structures provided a flexible framework for the development of a heuristic which considers a complicated set of constraints when generating monthly shift schedules. The scheduling system covers several staff categories (supervisors, RN's, LPN's, AIDES, secretaries), considers individual preferences for shifts and days off, includes part-time employees, accommodates special requests for days off or particular shift assignments, and provides a convenient interface for the scheduling clerks who make final adjustments to the computer-generated schedules.