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Healthcare Management vocabulary · Staffing and Workforce

Rota

Meaning in healthcare management, with examples

/ˈroʊtə/nounCommon term

In healthcare management, rota means: A list or timetable that shows which staff work which shifts over a period, such as a week or a month.

In Turkish: nöbet çizelgesi, çalışma çizelgesi, vardiya listesi

How it is used

British English; American English says 'schedule', and 'roster' is used in the US and Australia. Managers write and publish the rota and fill the gaps in it, and staff check it for their shifts. E-rostering software is now common in large hospitals.

Example sentences

  1. The rota for next month still has three uncovered night shifts.

  2. Please publish the rota at least four weeks in advance so that staff can plan their lives.

Common collocations

  • staff rota
  • on-call rota
  • write the rota
  • rota gap
  • publish the rota
  • shiftA fixed period of work, such as day, evening or night, that staff take in turns so that a hospital is covered around the clock.
  • on callAvailable to come to work or give advice at short notice outside normal hours, either from home or while staying in the hospital.
  • staffingThe number and type of staff working in a hospital, ward or shift, and the work of making sure there are enough of them with the right skills.
  • agency staffTemporary workers supplied by a staffing agency to fill gaps in a hospital's own workforce, usually at a higher cost per hour.

More terms: Staffing and Workforce

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.