Schedcraft

Free Nurse Schedule Maker

Schedule nursing shifts including day, afternoon and night rotations with equity tracking.

 
Employee
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Nurse A
Morning
08:00–16:00
Afternoon
14:00–22:00
Night
22:00–06:00
+
Morning
08:00–16:00
Afternoon
14:00–22:00
Night
22:00–06:00
Nurse B
Afternoon
14:00–22:00
Night
22:00–06:00
+
Morning
08:00–16:00
Afternoon
14:00–22:00
Night
22:00–06:00
+
Nurse C
Night
22:00–06:00
+
Morning
08:00–16:00
Afternoon
14:00–22:00
Night
22:00–06:00
+
Morning
08:00–16:00
Nurse D
+
Morning
08:00–16:00
Afternoon
14:00–22:00
Night
22:00–06:00
+
Morning
08:00–16:00
Afternoon
14:00–22:00

Data stays in your browser only — nothing is uploaded.

This schedule is a visual planning tool. Compliance with applicable labor laws (FLSA, EU Directive 2003/88/EC) is the sole responsibility of the user.

How to create a fair nurse schedule

Nursing schedules must balance 24/7 coverage requirements with fairness across a rotating team. This free nurse schedule maker supports morning, afternoon and night shift assignments, making it easy to visualise who covers each part of the day for the full week. Add nurses or care staff, click a cell to assign a shift, and use "Day Off" to mark rest days clearly.

The colour-coded grid helps identify coverage gaps before they become problems. When you're happy with the rotation, export it as a PDF to share with nursing leadership or post it on the unit noticeboard.

Tip: rotate night shifts evenly to prevent burnout. Assign two consecutive night shifts followed by two or more days off as a starting pattern, then adjust based on your unit's specific needs and applicable collective agreements.

Frequently asked questions

How do I schedule 12-hour nursing shifts?

Select the Custom shift type, set start to 07:00 and end to 19:00 (or 19:00–07:00 for nights), and click Save. The shift will display the full 12-hour block in the cell.

Can I track mandatory rest periods between shifts?

The tool displays shift times visually. Checking that rest periods comply with your applicable regulations (e.g., minimum 11 hours between shifts under EU rules) remains the responsibility of the scheduler.

Is the nurse schedule template compliant with staffing ratios?

This tool is a visual planner only. Compliance with required nurse-to-patient ratios and local healthcare regulations is the sole responsibility of the nursing manager or employer.

Can I schedule different ward roles together?

Yes — add each role (Nurse, HCA, Charge Nurse) as a separate employee row. The grid will show all roles side by side in the same weekly view.