Hard Rules vs Soft Rules — How IRIS Uses Them
Hard Rules vs Soft Rules
When configuring AI Rules for your organization, every rule falls into one of two categories:
Hard Rules — Non-Negotiable
Clinical safety standards, EBA requirements, or regulatory constraints that IRIS will never violate.
Examples:
- Minimum 10 hours rest between consecutive shifts
- No clinician works more than 12 hours without a mandated break
- At least one ANUM or above on each Resus shift
- Maximum consecutive night shifts
IRIS behaviour: If breaking a hard rule is the only way to fill a gap, IRIS flags the gap instead of breaking the rule.
Soft Rules — Preferences and Fairness Targets
Goals that IRIS tries to honour, but can override when coverage is critical.
Examples:
- Distribute night shifts equitably across the team
- Respect a clinician's preference to avoid back-to-back Resus shifts
- Balance weekend shifts fairly
IRIS behaviour: IRIS will try hard to honour soft rules, but in Tactical Mode (when coverage is critical), it can override a soft rule. It always tells you when it does.
Configuration
Go to AI Rules (Sidebar → Staff Management → AI Rules) to view and manage your organization's rules. Each rule shows:
- Name and description
- Hard or Soft designation (badge/label)
- Threshold values where applicable
- Template library with pre-built examples
Practical advice
- Be precise about what is truly non-negotiable — too many hard rules and IRIS can't fill gaps
- Too many soft rules and staff may work unsustainable patterns
- Hard rules protect your team; soft rules make the experience fair