Can hospitals require you to do "extra" on-call shifts? We've been asked to start doing a "Back Up" call weekend in addition to the "1st Call" weekend we already do. That means twice as many on-call weekends. Some of the younger nurses are threatening to quit because they don't want to do the extra call.

They can do whatever they want and whatever you let them. If you have a union this may be the time to get them involved.

Can hospitals require you to do "extra" on-call shifts?

Nurses General Nursing Nursing Q/A

Updated: Aug 1 Published Jul 26

by Overtime Mom

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toomuchbaloney

11,882 Posts

Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

Jul 27

Been there,done that said:

Imagine if you will, a place where administration has on call agencies to fill those needs. Overworked staff would not need to come in every weekend. Maybe they could have a life, while the big wigs are out on the boat.

That would not happen, as agency cost is more than flogging the nurses on staff.

It's a long term business model.

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Rover1947

3 Posts

Jul 28

Respected nurse are great nurses.

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Overtime Mom

39 Posts

Jul 28

Thanks everyone. We have become a regional hub for out lying smaller hospitals and are getting acute GI Bleed and ERCP transfers. Sometimes more than one nurse can handle, therefore the backup call "just in case". We only take call every 12th weekend now so one extra back up call would not be so bad. I think the young nurses are overreacting but I have concern more for the patients and my coworkers with these sicker patients than whining over one weekend of backup call needed to support the team.

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Peachpit

190 Posts

Oct 22

There is a large hospital system near where I live. They required ALL nursing staff that is not PRN to pick up an on call shift - at least one 12 hr in addition to the regular schedule - some units it's an additional on call once a week, some once a month. The kicker in addition to this is the on call can also be to be floated to another unit at the hospital OR depending on the unit, be pulled to another "sister" facility w/in 70 miles of your home facility. This is the #1 reason I did not move forward w/an offer there a few months back.. and why they are constantly hiring and offering huge bonuses. The for profit hospitals just never seem to learn...

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JKL33

6,694 Posts

Oct 24

Peachpit said:

The kicker in addition to this is the on call can also be to be floated to another unit at the hospital OR depending on the unit, be pulled to another "sister" facility w/in 70 miles of your home facility. This is the #1 reason I did not move forward w/an offer there a few months back.. and why they are constantly hiring and offering huge bonuses. The for profit hospitals just never seem to learn...

^^ THIS is an example of exactly the kind of reason why people "whine."

Absolute BS.

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