How much rest should a shift swap leave?

At least 11 hours before and after the shift picked up, for both nurses.

Who should approve a swap?

Often the manager or scheduler; some units let the charge nurse approve same-week swaps that don't change skills or cause overtime. Whoever approves should check both nurses' rest and limits.

Shift swaps on a nursing unit

Updated October 12, 2026 · with an example to try

Check a swap from both sides. The shift each nurse picks up can't overlap a shift they already have, and should leave at least 11 hours off before and after it; less is a short turnaround, linked with more sick leave. Then check overtime and the unit's own limits, such as shifts in a row and weekends, for both nurses.

Try a swap

Example · runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent

You work days on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Your colleague works nights on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Days run 07:00 to 19:00 and nights 19:00 to 07:00.

You

Tap your shift to give away.

MonTueWedThuFriSatSun

Your colleague

Tap the shift you'd pick up from them.

MonTueWedThuFriSatSun

You give away Mon, Nov 2 (day) and pick up Tue, Nov 3 (night).

Too little rest for you

Rest around it: no shift before it in these 4 weeks, 0 hours after, under 11 hours.

Enough rest for your colleague

Rest around it: no shift before it in these 4 weeks, 72 hours after.

Made-up schedules starting Monday, November 2, 2026: 12-hour shifts, three a week each. The swap checks for at least 11 hours off on each side of the shift picked up.

Or use your real shifts, free, with no account:

Open the swap check What the checks see

The swap shown gives away your Monday day shift and picks up your colleague's Tuesday night, which ends at 07:00 on Wednesday, when your own day shift starts. To check a real swap, use the free swap check. It needs no account, and typed shifts and calendar files never leave your device (what the checks see).

What to check

No overlap: the shift each of you picks up can't overlap a shift you already have.
At least 11 hours off before and after it. A night that ends at 07:00 followed by a day shift that starts at 07:00 leaves none.
Overtime: a swap that moves a shift into another week can put someone into overtime.
The unit's limits for both of you: shifts in a row, nights and weekends.
The same role and skills: charge nurse, preceptor, or special equipment such as CRRT or ECMO.

Why 11 hours

Eleven hours is the daily rest the European Union's working time law sets, and the cutoff research uses: in Norwegian nurses, more short turnarounds went with more sick leave. US law sets no minimum, so write your unit's number into its swap policy, and check your contract or union agreement, which may set one.

Swaps and fairness

Swaps move nights and weekends between people. See how to count nights and weekends after swaps.

Common questions

How much rest should a shift swap leave?: At least 11 hours before and after the shift picked up, for both nurses.
Who should approve a swap?: Often the manager or scheduler; some units let the charge nurse approve same-week swaps that don't change skills or cause overtime. Whoever approves should check both nurses' rest and limits.

Schedule your whole team with rest checked.

Capillary Health makes scheduling software for hospitals and clinics. Nurses, physicians and advanced practice providers share one schedule, and every change is checked for overlaps and rest, counting shifts people work at other sites, before it's published or swapped.

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