California flight nurse

Rio, ASN, RN · Sep 18, 2008

I am trying to find out the average salary for flight nurses in north california. Also, it is my understanding that nurses in california are paid time and 1/2 after 8hrs. How are flight nurses paid that are working 24hr shifts? If anyone can help me I would appreciate it.

I do not know what they're getting paid on average. However there is some disparity depending on whether the program is hospital or community based. My advice is to find the program you are interested in and then call and ask for the starting base rate. If you are serious; make an appointment with the medical base manager and present your questions (expand beyond just the pay) as fact finding and potential interest.

We who work the 24hr shift fall under the Railway Labor Act of 1864 or 1939 (or some year). What that means is that we work two 24 hr shifts per week. You would think that would equal 48 hours and 8 hours per week would be OT. Wrong! If you get interrupted sleep during your scheduled sleep time it gets "banked." Therefore if you get no OT for one night of interrupted sleep. BUT if the next shift (in the same pay week, NOT pay period) you get interrupted then you would get 8 hrs OT. Now that's based on a two day 24hr shift perweek. Once you have banked back to forty hours then you get OT for every hour worked beyond the forty. :banghead:Hopefully someone can explain it better, then I would finally understand the concept. It's just easier to work twelves. :yeah:

5263rn · Sep 19, 2008

If you get interrupted sleep during your scheduled sleep time it gets "banked." Therefore if you get no OT for one night of interrupted sleep. BUT if the next shift (in the same pay week, NOT pay period) you get interrupted then you would get 8 hrs OT. Now that's based on a two day 24hr shift perweek. Once you have banked back to forty hours then you get OT for every hour worked beyond the forty. :banghead:Hopefully someone can explain it better, then I would finally understand the concept. It's just easier to work twelves.

Thanks for the reply. One of the EMS jobs I had in the late 90s had a similar pay scale so I understand the system. Thanks again!!!