After hours call ??

[LevitateMe, RN]

Ok short question: If you worked in a outpatient facility, and were paid hourly, and you were expected to take a cell phone home at night and answer patient calls/critical labs/ sometimes pharmacy questions, would you expect your employer to compensate you for this?

Longer explanation: my clinic has a charge nurse who does this every night for no extra pay (except she clearly makes more money than me) and when she is going to be out they expect me to happily take this phone home whether it's for one night or all week. I do not get any extra compensation for this. However when one nurse takes this call for the weekend (which covers all 6+ of our clinics) she is paid a bonus. Patients can call at all hours of the night. And they do! Unfortunately I haven't been able to find any laws regarding this.

Any input?

Thanks.

[Mn nurse 22]

The department of labor and industry has a lot of info about being on call and even specific examples of when employers are supposed to pay you an on call wage.

One of their examples is if you are a salaried employee you probably won't get paid to be on call, if you are paid hourly wage you should get some compensation for being on call.

If the number of calls interferes with your family life (they give very specific examples) you may even expect to get paid at least minimum wage for each hour you are on call. If the calls interrupt your sleep (again they have specific examples) then they should also be compensating you.

Are you expected to be available to go in or just answer calls?

[LevitateMe, RN]

Just answer the call, not go in. But sometimes you have to get indigo width a doc, track down a patient phone number. Sometimes the lab calls in the middle of the night ect.

[Mn nurse 22]

http://www.dol.gov/elaws/esa/flsa/hoursworked/screenER82.asp

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Oh heck no. I don't work for free, and I certainly don't sacrifice family time for free.

[OCNRN63, RN]

Just answer the call, not go in. But sometimes you have to get indigo width a doc, track down a patient phone number. Sometimes the lab calls in the middle of the night ect.

What does "...get indigo width a doc" mean?

[LevitateMe, RN]

Ha means get in touch with a doc

Lol

[Wave Watcher]

Can you set up a calling system that charges by the minute....like a phone fortune teller? That would make patients really think about whether they want to be calling someone up at 2am. :-) To answer your question about if I would work extra hours for no pay: ain't gonna do it.