Do you have nurses on call for extended care?

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I manage staffing for 40 extended care patients. Most are pediatrics, and some are waiver patient adults. We cover 95% plus of all shifts, but occasionally have one that is hard to cover. We are thinking about having a designated "on call" nurse to cover call ins. Does anyone else do this? If so how do you pay them? Thanks in advance!

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All agencies that I have worked for get shifts covered from other nurses on the case. Or they get an out of work (without a case) nurse to do it. If neither of these, the shift goes uncovered. Have only known of one nurse who made herself available for short notice call-offs. Don't see an agency paying for on-call.

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All agencies that I have worked for get shifts covered from other nurses on the case. Or they get an out of work (without a case) nurse to do it. If neither of these the shift goes uncovered. Have only known of one nurse who made herself available for short notice call-offs. Don't see an agency paying for on-call.[/quote']

My agency does the same.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

One agency I work with has a team of "first call" nurses. They aren't considered officially on call as that requires an hourly stipend per labor laws. But these are skilled, reliable nurses that can basically go to any pedi case within their demonstrated skill set (basic, seizure, cardiac, infant, trach, trach/vent etc. ) with a phone orientation with an hours notice. Sometimes as much as 8 hours notice. They have regular cases they are scheduled for but give the scheduling team additional availability so they are called first. In exchange they receive a premium rate when they accept a last minute case ( approximately time & a half up to double time)

Seems to work well. I have days that I am not working in my full time job that I offer as first call to my second agency. Comes in handy at holiday time & cold season. I get extra $$, more experience and the class is covered.

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Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.

My agency pays "stat pay" for last minute shifts. We can negotiate for higher pay for last minute shifts including pay for gas if the case is any distance away. There is a stat pay rate for LPNs and RNs. But LPNs can ask for and get the RN rate if they know to ask. Sometimes if the agency is desperate because the parent creates drama if a shift is uncovered or if the parent threatens to take the case somewhere else, the agency will say "name your price". Also when we have a new case and the agency wants to start off with a good impression, they will offer more. One of my old agencies always offered more for the first 2 weeks of a case to get nurses to cover the first 2 weeks 100%. Another agency I worked for would offer gift cards or gas cards. My current agency claims to offer gifts, but when it comes time to pay up, they don't. So that pushed me away because of them holding a carrot in front of me. That behavior makes me less likely to help when I see that offered.

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

My agency offers a "currency with a cute name" for doing anything special. My office is tight-fisted with them. If you remind them you did something above and beyond, they'll cough up. They have a catalog where you can pick out some really nice prizes.

One time I took a job from a call I got at midnight for an 11pm shift that never showed up to a Priority 1 case. It was a 30 min drive. They told me they'd pay me extra. They sure did: I got regular pay and $100 in fake currency. This was almost enough for a Keurig coffee maker, which was nice, but I was under the impression I was getting paid AMERICAN dollars, and told them so. I got the stat pay, plus I got to keep the fake money. It was a sweet deal after all.

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Fake money! That's a new one. :)

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Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.
My agency offers a "currency with a cute name" for doing anything special. My office is tight-fisted with them. If you remind them you did something above and beyond, they'll cough up. They have a catalog where you can pick out some really nice prizes.

One time I took a job from a call I got at midnight for an 11pm shift that never showed up to a Priority 1 case. It was a 30 min drive. They told me they'd pay me extra. They sure did: I got regular pay and $100 in fake currency. This was almost enough for a Keurig coffee maker, which was nice, but I was under the impression I was getting paid AMERICAN dollars, and told them so. I got the stat pay, plus I got to keep the fake money. It was a sweet deal after all.

I think we may work for the same agency. I forgot in my post that my agency does the same. I've never seen the catalog. I've heard we could go online too. My office is very cheap about giving them. And nobody has ever told me how to redeem them, even when I've asked.

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.
I think we may work for the same agency. I forgot in my post that my agency does the same. I've never seen the catalog. I've heard we could go online too. My office is very cheap about giving them. And nobody has ever told me how to redeem them, even when I've asked.

If you go to their website, find the catalog (PDF file) and scroll to the end of it. There's a form to print and fill out, and submit to the office. I think that's who you give it to. I am still saving mine so I haven't done it yet! I usually have to ask to receive any. Like when I drove through Hurricane Sandy or deep snow where everyone else called out, I just ask flat out if they've given out any to anyone for that particular night. They respond with, "Oh, you know, you're RIGHT!" and I get something in the mail a few days later. I feel awkward but I sometimes do it anyway.

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Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.

If you go to their website, find the catalog (PDF file) and scroll to the end of it. There's a form to print and fill out, and submit to the office. I think that's who you give it to. I am still saving mine so I haven't done it yet! I usually have to ask to receive any. Like when I drove through Hurricane Sandy or deep snow where everyone else called out, I just ask flat out if they've given out any to anyone for that particular night. They respond with, "Oh, you know, you're RIGHT!" and I get something in the mail a few days later. I feel awkward but I sometimes do it anyway.

They must be trained to do things like that to save every penny they can! Thanks for telling me that. I've always wondered about what I have saved up is worth. I'll check it out.

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When I go to my local office I notice the office staff wearing a lot of the jewelry from this catalog.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.
My agency offers a "currency with a cute name" for doing anything special. My office is tight-fisted with them. If you remind them you did something above and beyond, they'll cough up. They have a catalog where you can pick out some really nice prizes.

I think we work for the same agency. Anyway, they try to staff call-outs with other familiar nurses, then whoever is on-call. If that doesn't work, the shift has to go uncovered. I had to unexpectedly call out 2 hours into my shift one Saturday, and it took about 90 minutes for relief to arrive.

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