The nurse rerostering problem: An explorative study

Oftentimes, hospitals encounter disruptions of nurse schedule due to unforeseen absence of nurses from their scheduled shifts. Known as the nurse rerostering problem, this problem is commonplace in most hospitals all over the world. In such uncertain environments, decision analysis need to reconstruct the roster, ensuring minimal changes on the original roster, subject to reported disruptions. Service quality, staffing requirements, management goals, as well as nurse preferences have to be satisfied as much as possible. The rerostering decisions taken have implications on staff morale, service quality, and costs incurred. Thus, the problem is of critical importance to the healthcare sector. This paper presents a chronological review of literature on nurse rerostering (rescheduling literature) from the year 2000 to 2016. The review critically analyses the nurse rerostering research activities over the years, the range of modelling approach used, the challenges and future research implications. The paper stimulates insightful thinking and research foci on topical issues in nurse rerostering which could be very helpful in developing appropriate decision support systems and strategies for nurse rescheduling.