Juggling nurse schedules eats up valuable time.
Between last-minute call-ins, unexpected absences, and shifting patient loads, it often feels impossible to keep every shift covered and every nurse satisfied.
If you are still creating schedules on spreadsheets or whiteboards, you know it can lead to frustrating conflicts, burnout, and constant firefighting instead of proactive planning.
In fact, according to AMN Healthcare, nearly 63% of nurse managers reported staff shortages and scheduling issues directly impact their ability to deliver quality patient care. These challenges are not just a nuisance. They strain your team and put your operational goals at risk.
That is why streamlining your case management process matters more than ever.
In this article, I am going to review the best nurse scheduling software solutions that can simplify your staffing and help you improve both nurse satisfaction and shift coverage.
By reading, you will discover tools to save time, minimize compliance risks, and keep your whole team in sync—no matter the staff changes.
Let’s get started.
Quick Summary:
| # | Software | Target Users |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecteam↗ | Healthcare managers needing all-in-one scheduling & communication |
| 2 | QGenda↗ | Healthcare managers aiming to reduce labor costs and retain staff |
| 3 | Shiftboard↗ | Nurse managers needing adaptive, fair schedules to reduce turnover |
| 4 | When I Work↗ | Busy nurse managers wanting fast, clear scheduling and shift swaps |
| 5 | Deputy↗ | Nurse managers seeking easy scheduling and labor compliance control |
1. Connecteam
Scheduling nurses can be overwhelming.
You need a tool that simplifies staff scheduling from planning to payroll without excess hassle. Connecteam offers efficient staff scheduling, automated timesheets, and seamless payroll syncing, helping you manage your nursing team with ease.
What sets Connecteam apart is its all-in-one mobile app that keeps your team connected and productive wherever they are. You can create and send schedules quickly, track hours with geofenced time clocks, and automate payroll processing, so you never worry about mistakes or missed shifts.
It’s a solid solution for managing daily operations.
You can even assign tasks, track progress, and use custom checklists to ensure nurses complete their duties on time. This reduces communication breakdowns and keeps your facility running smoothly. If you’re also looking to optimize performance in long-term care, you may want to explore long term care software options.
Connecteam also boosts internal communication with company-wide chats, employee directories, and real-time updates to keep nurses informed and engaged.
Scheduling combined with communication ensures that every nurse stays aligned and motivated, cutting down on absenteeism and turnover.
Key features:
Effortless schedule management: Create, adjust, and distribute nurse schedules quickly to reduce errors and save hours each week with automation.
Integrated time tracking and payroll: Automatically capture hours worked with geofence-enabled clocks, simplifying payroll and eliminating manual calculations or disputes.
Real-time task and communication tools: Assign tasks, track their completion, and keep the team engaged with chat, updates, and surveys within one app. If you’re interested in how other industries handle scheduling and resource management, consider reading about the best MSP software to simplify IT.
Learn more about Connecteam features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict:
Connecteam is a great choice for healthcare managers seeking the best nurse scheduling software because it combines scheduling, time tracking, payroll, and communication in one app. Over 50,000 companies trust it to streamline operations, and it can help you cut scheduling errors and boost nurse engagement.
2. QGenda
Struggling with complex nurse scheduling challenges?
QGenda’s platform uses AI to automate and optimize nurse and staff scheduling.
This solution significantly reduces labor costs and improves staff retention by creating flexible, equitable schedules. It helps you quickly fill initial shifts and manage last-minute staffing needs, so your team is always covered where it matters most.
It truly simplifies workforce management.
QGenda’s scheduling system connects seamlessly with HRIS and EHR, ensuring accurate staffing that aligns with patient care demands.
Its predictive scheduling gives you data-driven insights to optimize workforce deployment and reduce premium labor spend, while the mobile app empowers nurses and staff to swap shifts and request time off easily.
You’ll also get clear visibility into staff availability and assignments, improving communication and reducing errors.
QGenda goes beyond scheduling with integrated solutions like credentialing, time and attendance, and on-call management, creating a single source of truth for your healthcare workforce data, which helps boost operational efficiency and patient care quality.
With its healthcare-only focus and robust AI, QGenda supports over 4,500 customers and manages schedules for more than 850,000 clinicians, including nurses.
This shows its proven ability to handle complex healthcare staffing while improving staff engagement and cutting costs.
Key features:
- AI-powered nurse and staff scheduling that reduces premium labor costs by optimizing shift coverage and accurately predicting demand to keep your team balanced.
- Mobile app for schedule management enables nurses to swap shifts, request PTO, and stay engaged, which improves satisfaction and retention.
- Seamless integration with HRIS and EHR systems to maintain accurate, up-to-date schedules improving patient care and operational workflows.
Learn more about QGenda features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict:
QGenda stands out as the best nurse scheduling software for healthcare managers who need to reduce labor costs and improve staff retention. Its AI-driven, predictive scheduling and mobile workforce engagement helped Sentara Health break down communication barriers and improve operational efficiency, proving its value in real healthcare settings.
3. Shiftboard
Struggling with complex nurse scheduling?
Shiftboard offers adaptive, worker-friendly schedules that improve coverage despite changing staffing needs.
Its cloud-based platform automates shift planning while giving nurses control through easy self-service access on mobile or desktop. This reduces scheduling errors and last-minute changes that frustrate staff and managers alike.
Scheduling just got easier.
You’ll also find customizable tools that tailor scheduling to fit specific units, shifts, or compliance rules without complicated manual work.
One standout capability is its powerful coverage optimization feature, which maximizes staff availability while minimizing costly overtime and gaps. This makes sure every shift has the right care team in place.
Shiftboard fosters better employee retention by promoting fair, transparent scheduling that nurses can trust. For broader workforce strategies, check out ways to boost your employee retention.
Key features:
- Adaptive schedule automation that responds to labor demand changes and ensures full shift coverage, relieving the stress of manual adjustments for managers.
- Employee self-service access, empowering nurses to see, pick, and swap shifts easily, improving satisfaction and reducing scheduling conflicts.
- Compliance and fatigue management tools that help meet labor rules and protect staff well-being, reducing turnover and costly compliance errors.
Learn more about Shiftboard features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict:
Shiftboard is an excellent choice for nurse managers seeking the best nurse scheduling software. Its automation helps increase coverage by up to 88%, while reducing turnover by 16%. Facilities like Daisy Brand praise its scheduling flexibility and employee satisfaction improvements. This software tackles the tough nurse staffing puzzle effectively. Consider exploring other scheduling software to save your time for even more options.
4. When I Work
Frustrated by chaotic nurse scheduling and shift swaps?
When I Work helps you create nurse schedules in minutes and instantly share them with your team to avoid confusion.
Its mobile and desktop apps let your nursing staff clock in, request time off, and swap shifts all in one place, cutting down on back-and-forth communication. This means fewer missed shifts and less stress for you.
It boosts team accountability.
You get shift confirmations, drop notifications, and automatic alerts, so you always know who’s covering each shift without chasing texts or calls.
The time tracking tool is a powerful way to control overtime and reduce labor costs while improving payroll accuracy.
Its intuitive interface means you don’t need to spend hours figuring it out or training your staff. Nurses and managers pick it up quickly and get back to patient care faster.
When I Work integrates with payroll, POS, and other business tools to help you streamline operations across your healthcare facility. The app also includes team messaging, which keeps everyone connected without sharing personal numbers.
Smart nurse scheduling with easy time tracking and communication at your fingertips.
Key features:
- One-click schedule creation and instant sharing to save you time and keep every nurse informed about their assignments right away.
- Shift confirmation and swap management so you always have coverage and your team takes control of their schedules, reducing no-shows or last-minute gaps.
- Integrated time tracking and payroll connections to help you keep labor costs down while paying nurses accurately and on time.
Learn more about When I Work features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict:
When I Work stands out as the best nurse scheduling software for busy nurse managers looking to reduce scheduling chaos and improve shift coverage. With features like automated shift confirmations and integrated time tracking, it helped Dangerous Man save 8 hours weekly on managing shifts and communications. Its easy-to-use design ensures faster schedule setup so you can focus on patient care.
5. Deputy
Looking for an easier way to manage nurse scheduling?
Deputy helps you create smart schedules quickly, so you can put the right nurses in the right places without hassle. This means less time stuck doing admin and more time focusing on patient care.
It tackles common staffing challenges by simplifying scheduling, time tracking, and compliance all in one platform. You can create schedules in minutes, swap shifts without friction, and keep labor costs under control, which is vital for healthcare settings where every shift matters.
Scheduling shouldn’t slow you down.
Deputy also keeps you compliant with labor laws, ensuring timesheets and attendance records meet all local, state, and federal rules, helping you avoid costly penalties .
Another great feature is Deputy’s integration capabilities, letting you easily connect with your existing payroll and HR systems—so nurse rostering fits smoothly into your overall workforce management.
It’s a complete workforce solution that saves money and hassle.
Key features:
- Quick and intuitive schedule creation: Easily schedule nurses in just a few clicks, reducing administrative burden and ensuring right staffing levels at all times.
- Comprehensive time tracking and compliance: Automate timesheets and adhere to labor laws to minimize payroll errors and compliance risks in healthcare environments.
- Seamless integrations with payroll and HR systems: Link Deputy to your existing tools, streamlining data flow and improving workforce management efficiency.
Learn more about Deputy features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict:
Deputy stands out as the best nurse scheduling software for nurse managers who want an easy way to reduce scheduling chaos and compliance worries. With over 700 million shifts scheduled and customers like Juice Press saving $200,000 annually, it proves effective in cutting costs and improving staff management. Its smart scheduling and compliance features deliver real value in healthcare staffing.
6. MakeShift
Struggling to keep nurse schedules accurate?
MakeShift uses AI-optimized scheduling to put the right nurse in the right place every time, cutting down on manual errors and shift gaps.
You can easily track time, manage budgets, and handle complex shift requirements like multiple locations or varied roles. This means you don’t have to wrestle with clunky spreadsheets or outdated tools anymore. Plus, it adapts well as your healthcare facility grows or faces unique staffing challenges.
Scheduling becomes simple.
Its automated system respects fatigue management and overtime rules, so nurses get fair schedules and you avoid costly overtime. The app lets your team easily swap shifts or request time off, boosting employee satisfaction and reducing burnout.
MakeShift also connects with payroll and HR systems through its API, eliminating payroll errors and ensuring compliance with local labor laws.
It’s a people-first platform that delivers real results: one healthcare provider eliminated multiple Excel schedules and saved tons of time managing 10 medical sites. Another reduced overtime costs significantly, proving it’s not just promises but results that matter here.
Key features:
- AI-driven scheduling cuts down the time filling shifts by up to 80%, ensuring you always have full nursing coverage without guesswork.
- Integrated time and attendance tracking streamlines payroll accuracy and enforces scheduling rules to avoid costly compliance risks.
- Empowers nurses with easy shift swapping and availability settings to increase engagement and reduce absenteeism across your healthcare team.
Learn more about MakeShift features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict:
MakeShift stands out as the best nurse scheduling software for healthcare managers who want to reduce overtime and improve staff retention. With over 500,000 registered users and proven success at organizations like Camarena Health, it saves time and eliminates the frustrations of manual schedules. Its AI-powered tools offer precision scheduling that nurses and managers actually appreciate.
Conclusion
Keeping nurse schedules on track is challenging.
You’re likely struggling with last-minute absences, overworked staff, and a lack of clarity in shifts. It’s no surprise to hear that nearly 63% of nurse managers say these issues significantly affect patient care delivery. These challenges can add stress and hinder your operational goals.
So, what’s the best way to tackle this?
Connecteam stands out as the solution you need. It streamlines your scheduling process, simplifies communications, and keeps nurses engaged. I can’t stress enough how essential these features are in ensuring a cohesive and productive work environment.
Consider this: healthcare facilities using Connecteam have reported reduced scheduling conflicts and improved nurse satisfaction, which ultimately translates into better patient care. If you’re looking to enhance your scheduling process, I highly recommend you start a free trial of Connecteam.
By taking this step, you’ll not only regain valuable time but also foster a happier and more efficient team that focuses on what truly matters—patient care.
