Do you have patients call late

mikeicurn, ASN, RN · Apr 27, 2012

I have never worked home health, do you give out your home number, or do you use some kind of answering service. I am just curious how that works. I would think you wouldn't want to get calls when you are off duty (if you are not on call of course).

caliotter3 · Apr 27, 2012

That is why we are instructed not to give out our numbers. My client has the audacity to chew me up one side and down the other if I don't answer the phone to her liking, you know, I'm supposed to be at her beck and call.

nursedaddy123 · Apr 27, 2012

My job gives us work cell phones. I one time, in a emergency, called a patient on my personal cell and she still to this day has my number and calls occasionally for random things like pill boxes. I told her she could call my work cell and she said she'd keep both just in case lol. I learned a valuable lesson from her, never call a patient with your personal cell. If you need to *67 them. If your job doesn't give you guys work cells try setting up a google voice number and call patients with that number. You'll have more control of when they can call you.

emilysmom,RN · Apr 27, 2012

I have a work cell and when I call them they have my number. I get calls all hours, latest call was around 10pm once. That is why I feel my job is a 24/7 and we have been told that we have to bring the cell on vacation uncase our manager has questions or a doc needs to talk to us. I only turn it off after 11p and turn it on when I get up.

HI
I have pts and families call me all hours of day or night. Does this happen to you?

mikeicurn, ASN, RN · Apr 27, 2012

I had just never thought about that. I just figured when you were off you were off. If your patients call you at all hours you must feel as if you are always on call. I hate it when I have to take call at the hospital because you can't really do anything because you have to be ready for them to call you at any minute to come in.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Apr 28, 2012

Turn your work cell phone off when you are done for the day. There's no reason to leave it on until 11pm. I turn mine off when I leave for the day. The patients have the agency's number. I'm not getting paid to be on call so I'm not taking calls on my own time.

emilysmom,RN · Apr 28, 2012

I have had doctors call me in the evening sometimes. That is why I keep my cell on. I have also been called by my clinical manager in the evening too. That is why I keep it on. But I have to learn to let it go to voicemail then check it to see if I need t call them back. That is why I feel my job is a 24/7 position.

caliotter3 · Apr 28, 2012

I would not take calls in the evening. Emergencies can go to 911. Everything else can be dealt with the next day when I am on the clock.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Apr 29, 2012

I have had doctors call me in the evening sometimes. That is why I keep my cell on. I have also been called by my clinical manager in the evening too. That is why I keep it on. But I have to learn to let it go to voicemail then check it to see if I need t call them back. That is why I feel my job is a 24/7 position.

Presumably, your agency has an on-call number, no? I turn my work cell phone off when I'm not working. All the patients have the agency's number and can call them and reach the on-call person. Doctors also should have this number. If it's really a question that only I can answer, the on-call person has my contact information and can either call or email me. I got a call yesterday from the on-call person but by the time I called her back, she'd figured out the situation and solved the problem. You could always change your voicemail message on your phone to say something like, "if it is after hours and you need assistance, please call the on-call line at 555-5555."

emilysmom,RN · Apr 29, 2012

I have to leave my phone on all the time. To give you an example my manager just texted me asking questions about one of my patients biopsy results so she can code them a certain way. It is Sunday afternoon. AHHHHH

caliotter3 · Apr 29, 2012

When I am off, I am off. I do not answer my phone if I don't want to be bothered. I would not work in a situation where I am "required" to answer my phone, unless that was what I signed up for and I am getting paid for answering my phone.