Buddy call?

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Hi all, I'm a new nurse working in the OR. It's my first job out of nursing school and I've been taking buddy call for a few months now. I'm just curious, how long were any of you on buddy call before you were released to be on your own? I can circulate most types of cases during the day, but I've yet to be released to call myself. 

Also: will I ever feel truly ready to be on call alone?

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

We give our employees 2-3 shifts of buddy call. Most of the time, they don’t get called in when on buddy call. However, we are a level 1 trauma center, so there is always a free team who, unless another emergency rolls through the door, can be a resource for the call team. 

It’s going to take you about 1-2 years before you feel competent. Call may be a bit longer than that, especially if you work in a setting that doesn’t staff 24/7 that must maintain a free team for trauma response. 

(Also moved your post to the OR forum- check us out! We may not be the most active area, but we’ve definitely got some good resources here)

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Specializes in Perioperative / RN Circulator.

I’m starting buddy call next weekend.  I’ll do 4 shifts of buddy call, then have to go on the regular call rotation 

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