A new two-stage nurse scheduling approach based on occupational justice considering assurance attendance in works shifts by using Z-number method: A real case study

¹ School of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
² Machine Intelligence Research Labs (MIR Labs), Scientific Network for Innovation and Research Excellence 11, 3rd Street NW, P.O. Box 2259, Auburn, WA 98071, USA
³ Department of Industrial Engineering, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

^* Corresponding author: fariba.goodarzian@mirlabs.org

Received: 12 June 2021
Accepted: 13 October 2021

Abstract

In this paper, a new binary integer programming mathematical model for scheduling nurses’ problems in the emergency department of Kamkar Hospital in Qom province is developed. The manual arrangement of nurses by the head nurse and its time-consuming, occasional absences during the period and protests against injustices in the arrangement of nurses’ work shifts were among the emergency department’s challenges before implementing the model. Most relevant studies aimed to enhance nurses’ satisfaction by creating a general balance considering occupational preferences. Thus, the present study pursued justice through considering preferences based on the results from periodical evaluations of each nurse’s performance with the ultimate goal of improving nurses’ satisfaction. Moreover, the lack of clarity in selecting shifts, which may cause irregular attendance, was improved using the Z-number method. After the run of the model, the rate of nurses’ absences decreased by 40%, the rate of complaints about the performance of the nursing unit decreased by 50%. Also, nurses’ satisfaction increased by 30% after the implementation of the model.