Hello,
I am a full time, salaried, on call nurse for hospice. We have one on call nurse and one back up nurse that we can use if we are on another call. I like the job, but am nervous about "changes" to my job description. My hospice census is typically in the 80's, 3 counties-(about an hour and a half in each direction).
CURRENTLY-
I work about 110 hours/2weeks on call and about 10 hours/2weeks for IDG meetings. (Also, (4) 8hr holidays/year, 1 staff meeting/month, and multiple in-services during daytime hours.) On call hours are 3 nights one week and 2 nights the next plus ever other weekend. Nights are 15.5 hrs and weekends are 48hrs.
I do not do admissions. We have a back up nurse that does evening/weekend admissions, and in patient visits.
Paid time off is 4 to 1 for week nights and 2 to 1 for weekends. Meaning if we want a 16hr week night off, we use 4 hrs pto and if we want 24hours off on the weekend it would be 12 hrs pto.
PROPOSED-
Apparently, the management team feels like we could be doing more, such as weekend/evening admissions. And, that the pto should be revised so that we do not get as much time off.
MY QUESTIONS-
1. How many on call nurses are expected to go to IDG's during daytime hours?
2. Do other on call nurses do admissions in addition to being on call?
3. How is your pto set up?
4. Is fundraising mandatory on your evaluations?
5. Do other nurses/management feel like on call nurses are working less than regular staff because they aren't running every minute of their 110 hrs on call?
MY FEELINGS-
On call nurses should not have to go to IDG's or into the office during daytime hrs, except for inservices or staff meetings. (I'm tired during the day and need that time to sleep)
Fundraising should not be on your evaluation.
On call nurse should not do admissions. (Who's going to take calls if I am doing an admission?)
PTO time should not be changed after working there for 2 years for only the on call nurses. (Seems like being hired under false pretenses to me?)
Although, I may not be "working" every hour that I am on call, I am still technically working. I can not make dinner plans, etc as I must be "available" at all times during those 110hrs. (Even if I only "work" 20 hrs/week, I was still required to be available at all times.)
Unfortunately, I don't think I can do any more that I already do. When I worked 3-12hr shifts on med/surg plus overtime, I was less tired than I am now. I feel they should not require us to go to IDG, as it is too much. They feel they should add more work to our schedule. I have a feeling my time is short at this job, which is sad because I really love what I do and my coworkers are awesome.
Any advice? Am I just whiny and really have it good compared to others on call nurses? How should I state my unhappiness about changes to PTO and extra work being added?
Currently my 2 week schedule is- (doesn't leave much time for sleep or anything else for that matter)
Sun-430pm-8am
Mon- off
Tues- 430pm-8am
Wed- 9am-12pm- IDG, then on call 430pm-8am
Thurs- 9am-12pm- IDG, then off
Fri-430pm- (til Sunday 430pm)
Sat-work 24hrs
Sun-work til 430pm
Mon-off
Tues-off
Wed-9-12pm- IDG, then on call 430pm-8am
Thurs-430pm-8am
Fri-off
Sat-off
Thanks for any input,
P