> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://planmyrounds.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How shifts work in PlanMyRounds

> Shifts are the building blocks of every roster. Learn what a shift template is, the difference between default and custom shifts, and who can manage them.

A **shift** in PlanMyRounds is a named time block that defines when doctors are on duty — for example, *Morning OPD*, *Night ICU Cover*, or *Weekend On-call*. Shifts are the building blocks of every [roster](/docs/rosters/overview): when you create one, you choose which shifts to include and the scheduler assigns doctors to cover them.

## What a shift template defines

Each shift template captures everything the scheduler needs to know:

| Field                        | What it means                                                                                                                      |
| ---------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Name**                     | A label your team will recognise — for example, *Morning OPD* or *Night Duty*.                                                     |
| **Start and end time**       | The window the shift covers. The duration is calculated automatically. Overnight shifts that cross midnight are handled correctly. |
| **Required doctors**         | The minimum number of doctors needed to cover this shift each day it appears.                                                      |
| **Minimum seniors required** | The minimum number of senior doctors that must be on this shift.                                                                   |
| **Recovery time settings**   | How many hours of rest a doctor needs after working this shift before they can be assigned again.                                  |

## Default vs. custom shifts

PlanMyRounds ships with a set of **default** shifts that cover common hospital patterns. These can't be edited \u2014 they're there to get you started quickly.

You can also create as many **custom** shifts as you need, tailored to your department's schedule. Custom shifts are scoped to your organisation \u2014 other teams can't see or use them.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Default shifts" icon="lock">
    Provided by PlanMyRounds. Visible to every organisation. Can't be edited or deleted.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Custom shifts" icon="pen-to-square">
    Created by your admin team. Scoped to your organisation. Editable any time.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## How shifts appear on a roster

When you view a [published roster](/docs/rosters/publishing-a-roster), each shift is shown in a distinct colour on the calendar. The colour palette cycles through four colours based on the order shifts were configured, so you can tell them apart at a glance.

<Tip>
  Senior doctors are marked with an asterisk (`*`) next to their name on the calendar \u2014 a quick way to confirm the senior-to-junior ratio on any given day.
</Tip>

## Who can manage shifts?

| Action                      | Doctor |  Admin |
| --------------------------- | :----: | :----: |
| View shifts on the calendar | \u2713 | \u2713 |
| Browse the shift library    | \u2713 | \u2713 |
| Create a custom shift       | \u2014 | \u2713 |
| Edit a custom shift         | \u2014 | \u2713 |
| Edit a default shift        | \u2014 | \u2014 |

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="View your shifts" icon="list" href="/docs/shifts/viewing-shifts">
    Browse, search, and inspect the shift library for your organisation.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Create a shift" icon="plus" href="/docs/shifts/creating-shifts">
    Build a custom shift template for your team.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>