The six patterns
- 8-hour ED shifts: three shifts a day; five people rotate forward through 2 days, 2 evenings and 2 nights, then have 4 days off.
- 12-hour ED shifts: two shifts a day; five people rotate through 2 days and 2 nights, then have 6 days off.
- Hospitalist 7 on, 7 off: two hospitalists take turns on the day shift, 07:00 to 19:00, a week at a time.
- Nocturnist 7 on, 14 off: three nocturnists take turns on the night shift, 19:00 to 07:00, a week at a time.
- ICU nights: 4 people share the night shift, each working 2 nights in a row, then having 6 nights off.
- 24-hour call every fourth day (q4): 4 people take 24-hour call in turn. To share call around nights people can't take, use the call schedule maker.
Common questions
- Can more than one person work each shift?
- Yes, up to 6. Pick the number under People on each shift: with 2, each letter becomes a team of 2, so the 8-hour ED pattern needs 10 people.
- Can I add names?
- Not here. Each letter stands for one person, or a team; download the CSV and add names in a spreadsheet.
- Can I use the result elsewhere?
- Download the CSV. Excel and Google Sheets open it.
Run your schedule in Capillary
In Capillary, a department sets up shifts like these, adds its people and publishes the month to everyone's phone calendar.
Share this planner
Copy or send the link from your phone or email. It opens an empty planner; to share your plan, send the CSV.
Other planners
- Make a call scheduleEnter who shares call, the dates and the nights each person can't take. Get a call calendar with Friday and Saturday nights and holidays shared evenly.
- Plan coverage by hourEnter your shifts and how many people you need each hour. See how many are on shift hour by hour, the hours you're short and the clinician-hours.