Being on call

[anticoagulationurse]

I really hate being on call. Honestly, it is rare to get a call that is actually of urgernt necessity. Mostly stuff like, "My nurse didn't show up today" or "I need to cancel my appt tomorrow." Or my favorite, a call I got a 2 am from a new ER social worker who had heard of us but didn't know what we do, so without apology and with a day time chipper voice he inquired about our services, etc. etc. It was a 2am SALES call!! But, I still hate call because of the first time I was on call.

I got a genuinely distressing call at 1:30 am, I was awakened out of a deep sleep. I don't have children, so am not at all "used to" being abruptly awakened for ANY reason. I proceeded to bawl my head off for HOURS, I was so distressed over being awakened after working a 12 hour day with another 12 hour day ahead of me. I hardly slept after I went to see the patient, and got home. The whole this was just awful. So, since that was my first on call night ever, I am anxious and tense every time I'm on call now. I just hate it.

[msslim]

How has your call been going? Are u hanging in there. I hope so.

[HmarieD]

I too experienced stress every time I was on call, especially if it was on a night between two working days.

Ironically, the call out visits were often my most satisfying. There is a specific reason for the visit so you can be very focused, and the patients are usually very grateful to have you come out. I would grumble on my way there but be happy on my way home (usually....)

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

I too experienced stress every time I was on call, especially if it was on a night between two working days.

Ironically, the call out visits were often my most satisfying. There is a specific reason for the visit so you can be very focused, and the patients are usually very grateful to have you come out. I would grumble on my way there but be happy on my way home (usually....)

Ditto !

While I would always be stressed on my call rotation, usually it wasn't as bad as I feared. I agree with the above. It's a good thing in the end.

We DO tell our patients when we do the admission, that anything non health related (such as "my aide didn't show, I have a doctor's appt. tomorrow, etc") should wait until the next business day and they are to call the office at that time. We make that quite clear. They know to call the nurse only if it is a true health concern. So when we get calls, they are truly health issues.

But hey... I can't think of ANYONE who enjoys taking call, though. Truly. I guess the even docs must feel the same way about being on call, even though they do make a bushel more $$ than we do!