1. What is Schedule Adherence?

Schedule adherence measures how closely nursing staff follow their assigned schedules. It's calculated as the percentage of actual time worked compared to scheduled time.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the adherence formula:

Where:

• Time Worked — Actual hours worked (in decimal hours)
• Time Scheduled — Scheduled hours (in decimal hours)

Explanation: The formula calculates what percentage of scheduled time was actually worked.

3. Importance of Adherence Calculation

Details: High schedule adherence ensures proper staffing levels, maintains quality of care, and helps with workforce planning and productivity measurement.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both time worked and time scheduled in hours (can use decimal values for minutes). Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is considered good adherence in nursing?
A: Typically 85-95% is considered good adherence. Values above 95% may indicate insufficient breaks, while below 85% suggests scheduling issues.

Q2: How should breaks be accounted for?
A: Scheduled breaks should be included in Time Scheduled but not in Time Worked. Unscheduled breaks reduce adherence.

Q3: What factors affect adherence?
A: Factors include unexpected patient needs, emergencies, staff shortages, and personal time requirements.

Q4: How often should adherence be measured?
A: Typically measured daily or weekly, with longer-term trends (monthly/quarterly) used for staffing decisions.

Q5: Can this be used for individual nurses?
A: Yes, but team-level adherence is often more meaningful for staffing decisions.