Cross-Trained Nurse Scheduling: A Simulation Optimization Study for Enhanced Hospital Emergency Department Performance

Nurse scheduling plays a crucial role in ensuring optimal patient care and hospital performance. This research focuses on finding the optimal schedule for cross-trained nurses through the use of Discrete-Event Simulation (DES). Specifically, the study investigates the scheduling of skilled nurses in the context of a hospital Emergency Department (ED) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Using an optimization algorithm, the model aims to identify the most effective schedule for cross-trained nurses. The primary objectives of the optimized schedule include minimization of costs, equitable distribution of the workload of nurses between different zones within the department, and reduction of the average waiting time for patients. The study reveals that nurses in the triage zone experience a higher workload compared to those in the adult zone. To address this problem, the study suggests a strategy of training and mobilizing nurses from the adult zone to triage when necessary and vice versa. This approach helps to distribute the workload more evenly among nursing staff. In addition, the simulation-based optimization model is used to determine the optimal configuration of nurses without incurring additional costs. This improves patient flow within the ED and reduces waiting time, thus enhancing patient satisfaction. The proposed approach contributes to improving healthcare operations, improving patient care, and resource utilization.