DA Form 3872: Nursing Service Personnel Time Schedule

DA Form 3872: Nursing Service Personnel Time Schedule – DA Form 3872, officially titled Nursing Service Personnel Time Schedule, is a key U.S. Army form used in military medical facilities to schedule and track nursing personnel shifts, duties, and time off. It helps ensure proper staffing for patient care in Army hospitals, clinics, and nursing units.

This guide explains the form’s purpose, usage, completion instructions, and provides the official download link for U.S. Army personnel and medical administrators.

What Is DA Form 3872?

DA Form 3872 is a standardized schedule document for nursing service personnel. It lists staff members, their titles/ranks, daily duty assignments, and off-duty status across a weekly or multi-week period.

The form supports manual scheduling in facilities without full automation of the Uniform Chart of Accounts Personnel Utilization System. It complements related tools like DA Form 7006-E (worksheet) and automated versions like DA Form 3872-1-E.

Key details:

  • Proponent: Office of The Surgeon General
  • Reference: AR 40-3 (Medical, Dental, and Veterinary Care)
  • Date: April 2009 (previous editions obsolete)
  • Purpose: Roster of personnel with on-duty/off-duty status for effective ward staffing and compliance.

Purpose and Importance in Army Nursing

The form ensures adequate nursing coverage for patient safety and operational efficiency. Head nurses or designees prepare it to project staffing needs, communicate schedules, and document actual hours worked.

It tracks:

  • Professional (officer/civilian) and nonprofessional (enlisted/civilian) personnel.
  • Shift assignments (e.g., day, evening, night).
  • Absences such as leave, sick leave, or holidays.
  • Compliance with accreditation standards (e.g., Joint Commission reviews).

Proper use supports manpower data, uniform staffing methodologies, and overall nursing service management in Army Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs).

How to Fill Out DA Form 3872 Step by Step?

  1. Header Information: Enter the ward/unit, inclusive dates of the period covered.
  2. Personnel Listing: List professional personnel first, then nonprofessional. In the “TITLE” column, use ranks/titles (e.g., Maj., Capt., Lt., Sgt., Mr., Mrs.).
  3. Duty Assignments: Use standardized symbols for duty status under each day (SUN through SAT):
    • HN – Head Nurse
    • ASST. HN – Assistant Head Nurse
    • GEN. DUTY – General Duty
    • CL. T – Clinical Technician
    • WM – Ward Master (and others as locally established).
  4. Off-Duty Status: Use these symbols:
    • DO – Day Off
    • LV – Leave
    • SK – Sick Leave
    • HT – Holiday Time (plus any additional local codes).
  5. Signature: The Head Nurse signs the form.

Schedules are typically prepared and posted at least two weeks in advance (prospective) or updated retrospectively. Local policy governs submission and changes.

Tip: Use black or blue ink for legibility; retain copies for the current and previous year as required.

  • DA Form 7006-E: Personnel Time Schedule Worksheet (computer printout for utilization data).
  • DA Form 3872-1-E: Automated Personnel Time Schedule.
  • DA Form 3889: Nursing Unit 24-Hour Report (for daily operations).
  • DA Form 4015: Nursing Care Assignment (daily patient assignments).

These integrate with broader Army medical records and staffing systems.

Retention and Compliance

Schedules are retained as references for the current year plus the previous year (or per local policy). They support audits, accreditation, and manpower reporting. Destroy when no longer needed per Army records disposition.

Download the latest fillable DA Form 3872 PDF here:
https://armypubs.army.mil/pub/eforms/DR_a/pdf/A3872.pdf

Access it directly from the official Army Publishing Directorate site for the most current version.

Best Practices for Army Nursing Schedules

  • Plan prospectively for staffing projections while updating retrospectively for accuracy.
  • Post schedules visibly for staff communication.
  • Coordinate with the Chief, Department of Nursing for policy adherence.
  • Use the form to balance workloads and ensure 24/7 coverage in high-demand medical environments.

For full guidance, consult AR 40-3 and your local medical command policies.

This article is for informational purposes and targets U.S. Army medical personnel. Always verify with official Army sources and current regulations for official use.