Call scheduling

Okay, I know this has been covered before, but we need solutions. The call schedule has been causing much discord between the shifts, and morale is pretty low at this point.

I work nights, 12 hour shifts, so this is from that perspective.

1. We staff for 4 nurses in L&D, either 4 on, or 3 with one on call. There has to be 4.

2. This month, due to short staffing, night shift is taking 28-32 hours of mandatory call.

3. If a call out occurs for dayshift and coverage is not found by the beginning of the shift, the ongoing night shift team has to cover it.

4. Our facility has done away with premium pay. We used to get double time when called in. Now, it is $5/ hour for call, then reg. pay plus $5/hr if called in at the beginning of the shift and working a min. of 4 hours. This has pissed off a lot of nurses.

So my questions are:

1. How much mandatory call are you required to take?

2. How do you cover call offs on opposite shifts if coverage isn't found?

3. What kind of incentive pay is offered?

4. What suggestions do you have for reducing the amount of call required?

Apparently, 2 nurses have been hired for nights and will be starting orientation (on days) in Feb. We will also be getting a travel nurse soon, I think. Not soon enough.

I am in Dayton. Any nurses in this area see similar trends?