Solving Complex Nurse Scheduling Problems Using Particle Swarm Optimization

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to tackle the fairness issue in nurse scheduling problems using the particle swarm optimization approach. In previous studies, there are many factors that influence the nurse scheduling that were listed out including coverage, quality, stability, flexibility, and cost of the schedule, that are very difficult to measure. Today’s health care planning faces more demands and challenges in fulfilling patient-care requirements that will definitely affect the nurse scheduling. In assigning task among nurses, not just the factors named above need to be considered, but fairness needs to be taken into account as well. Definitely, there will be differences between the previous and current nurse scheduling researches. This is especially true when the object of the schedule involves humans. The result from the simulated data represents how the schedule is generated with consideration to several constraints and the fair fitness is measured.