Shift nurses’ work quality and job satisfaction after implementing the Inha University hospital nursing AI scheduling system (IH-NASS)

Abstract Background Shift work is essential for nurses and is the backbone of the healthcare workforce. Addressing the challenges associated with time-consuming scheduling is crucial for ensuring nurses’ work quality, optimal staffing levels, and increased job satisfaction. We compared the work qual...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hye Won Kang, Jiyoung Kim, Kyoung Ja Kim, Eun Kyoung Bae, Heesuk Kang, Jeong Hee Jang, Whasuk Choe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Nursing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03470-6
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849335084634603520
author Hye Won Kang
Jiyoung Kim
Kyoung Ja Kim
Eun Kyoung Bae
Heesuk Kang
Jeong Hee Jang
Whasuk Choe
author_facet Hye Won Kang
Jiyoung Kim
Kyoung Ja Kim
Eun Kyoung Bae
Heesuk Kang
Jeong Hee Jang
Whasuk Choe
author_sort Hye Won Kang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Shift work is essential for nurses and is the backbone of the healthcare workforce. Addressing the challenges associated with time-consuming scheduling is crucial for ensuring nurses’ work quality, optimal staffing levels, and increased job satisfaction. We compared the work quality from both organizational and individual perspectives after the implementation of the Inha University Hospital Nursing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Scheduling System (IH-NASS), and analyzed the factors influencing nurses’ job satisfaction, focusing on their perceptions of IH-NASS and work quality. Methods A total of 253 shift nurses from 14 wards where the IH-NASS was implemented at a tertiary university hospital in Korea were selected. Data from the traditional manual (December 2022, retrospective study) and the IH-NASS-generated schedules (December 2023, prospective study) were compared. Nurses’ general characteristics, IH-NASS perceptions (convenience, satisfaction, and fairness), and job satisfaction were surveyed and analyzed. Results Compared to traditional manual schedules, IH-NASS-generated schedules significantly reduced the number of nurses with < 1 year of experience in day shifts. From an individual perspective, the number of night-off-evening (NOE) shifts was significantly lower. Additionally, IH-NASS-generated schedules had more consecutive off days (≥ 2), off days (≥ 2) following two or more consecutive night shifts, Saturday-Sunday off days, and Sunday off days, whereas weekday shifts with unsocial hours were fewer. Factors influencing job satisfaction among shift nurses included satisfaction with the IH-NASS, perceived convenience of the IH-NASS, and the number of NOE shifts under unhealthy work scheduling, which together accounted for approximately 27% of the variance in job satisfaction. Conclusions This study provides empirical evidence supporting the use of AI systems in nurse scheduling. Specifically, AI-based scheduling can optimize workforce allocation while maintaining work quality, enhancing nurses’ positive perceptions, and improving job satisfaction. Trial registration Not applicable. This was not a clinical trial.
format Article
id doaj-art-4e233b347ba44565b38c9aa55ad5e87c
institution Kabale University
issn 1472-6955
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Nursing
spelling doaj-art-4e233b347ba44565b38c9aa55ad5e87c2025-08-20T03:45:24ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552025-07-0124111010.1186/s12912-025-03470-6Shift nurses’ work quality and job satisfaction after implementing the Inha University hospital nursing AI scheduling system (IH-NASS)Hye Won Kang0Jiyoung Kim1Kyoung Ja Kim2Eun Kyoung Bae3Heesuk Kang4Jeong Hee Jang5Whasuk Choe6Department of Nursing, Inha University HospitalSchool of Nursing, Inha UniversitySchool of Nursing, Inha UniversityDepartment of Nursing, Inha University HospitalDepartment of Nursing, Inha University HospitalDepartment of Nursing, Inha University HospitalDepartment of Nursing, Inha University HospitalAbstract Background Shift work is essential for nurses and is the backbone of the healthcare workforce. Addressing the challenges associated with time-consuming scheduling is crucial for ensuring nurses’ work quality, optimal staffing levels, and increased job satisfaction. We compared the work quality from both organizational and individual perspectives after the implementation of the Inha University Hospital Nursing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Scheduling System (IH-NASS), and analyzed the factors influencing nurses’ job satisfaction, focusing on their perceptions of IH-NASS and work quality. Methods A total of 253 shift nurses from 14 wards where the IH-NASS was implemented at a tertiary university hospital in Korea were selected. Data from the traditional manual (December 2022, retrospective study) and the IH-NASS-generated schedules (December 2023, prospective study) were compared. Nurses’ general characteristics, IH-NASS perceptions (convenience, satisfaction, and fairness), and job satisfaction were surveyed and analyzed. Results Compared to traditional manual schedules, IH-NASS-generated schedules significantly reduced the number of nurses with < 1 year of experience in day shifts. From an individual perspective, the number of night-off-evening (NOE) shifts was significantly lower. Additionally, IH-NASS-generated schedules had more consecutive off days (≥ 2), off days (≥ 2) following two or more consecutive night shifts, Saturday-Sunday off days, and Sunday off days, whereas weekday shifts with unsocial hours were fewer. Factors influencing job satisfaction among shift nurses included satisfaction with the IH-NASS, perceived convenience of the IH-NASS, and the number of NOE shifts under unhealthy work scheduling, which together accounted for approximately 27% of the variance in job satisfaction. Conclusions This study provides empirical evidence supporting the use of AI systems in nurse scheduling. Specifically, AI-based scheduling can optimize workforce allocation while maintaining work quality, enhancing nurses’ positive perceptions, and improving job satisfaction. Trial registration Not applicable. This was not a clinical trial.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03470-6Shift work scheduleNursePerceptionJob satisfactionArtificial intelligence
spellingShingle Hye Won Kang
Jiyoung Kim
Kyoung Ja Kim
Eun Kyoung Bae
Heesuk Kang
Jeong Hee Jang
Whasuk Choe
Shift nurses’ work quality and job satisfaction after implementing the Inha University hospital nursing AI scheduling system (IH-NASS)
BMC Nursing
Shift work schedule
Nurse
Perception
Job satisfaction
Artificial intelligence
title Shift nurses’ work quality and job satisfaction after implementing the Inha University hospital nursing AI scheduling system (IH-NASS)
title_full Shift nurses’ work quality and job satisfaction after implementing the Inha University hospital nursing AI scheduling system (IH-NASS)
title_fullStr Shift nurses’ work quality and job satisfaction after implementing the Inha University hospital nursing AI scheduling system (IH-NASS)
title_full_unstemmed Shift nurses’ work quality and job satisfaction after implementing the Inha University hospital nursing AI scheduling system (IH-NASS)
title_short Shift nurses’ work quality and job satisfaction after implementing the Inha University hospital nursing AI scheduling system (IH-NASS)
title_sort shift nurses work quality and job satisfaction after implementing the inha university hospital nursing ai scheduling system ih nass
topic Shift work schedule
Nurse
Perception
Job satisfaction
Artificial intelligence
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03470-6
work_keys_str_mv AT hyewonkang shiftnursesworkqualityandjobsatisfactionafterimplementingtheinhauniversityhospitalnursingaischedulingsystemihnass
AT jiyoungkim shiftnursesworkqualityandjobsatisfactionafterimplementingtheinhauniversityhospitalnursingaischedulingsystemihnass
AT kyoungjakim shiftnursesworkqualityandjobsatisfactionafterimplementingtheinhauniversityhospitalnursingaischedulingsystemihnass
AT eunkyoungbae shiftnursesworkqualityandjobsatisfactionafterimplementingtheinhauniversityhospitalnursingaischedulingsystemihnass
AT heesukkang shiftnursesworkqualityandjobsatisfactionafterimplementingtheinhauniversityhospitalnursingaischedulingsystemihnass
AT jeongheejang shiftnursesworkqualityandjobsatisfactionafterimplementingtheinhauniversityhospitalnursingaischedulingsystemihnass
AT whasukchoe shiftnursesworkqualityandjobsatisfactionafterimplementingtheinhauniversityhospitalnursingaischedulingsystemihnass