Military time for nurses
Two calculators for the math you do every shift, and a shift clock you can tape up in the med room.
Dose schedule
Enter the first dose time and the interval. You get every dose time over the next 24 hours.
- 0600 6:00 AM
- 1200 12:00 PM
- 1800 6:00 PM
- 0000 12:00 AM, next day
Always follow the order as written and your facility's medication administration policy.
Time between two times
Shift length, time since last dose, infusion run time. Overnight is handled for you.
12 hours 30 minutes
Crosses midnight.
Common hospital shifts
Your facility may start and end at different times. These are the patterns most units use.
| Day shift, 12-hour | 0700–1900 |
| Night shift, 12-hour | 1900–0700 |
| Day shift, 8-hour | 0700–1500 |
| Evening shift, 8-hour | 1500–2300 |
| Night shift, 8-hour | 2300–0700 |
Charting habits that prevent errors
- Write all four digits. 0900, never 900.
- Never add AM or PM to a 24-hour time.
- When a schedule crosses midnight, write the date next to the time.
- Read times back in full on phone orders: "zero nine hundred."
Questions from nurses
Why do hospitals use military time?
A 24-hour time cannot be misread as AM or PM. "0600" can only mean six in the morning, which removes a whole class of medication timing errors on charts, orders, and handoffs.
How do I chart a time that crosses midnight?
Write the new date with the time. A dose at 0100 after a 2300 dose belongs to the next calendar day. Follow your facility policy on whether the day ends at 2359 or 2400.
What does q6h mean in military time?
Every 6 hours. Starting at 0600, the doses are 0600, 1200, 1800, and 0000. Use the calculator on this page for any start time and interval.