Low Census!!!!!!!!!!!

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

Sometimes Low Census is like Manna from Heaven! I got it today and the day was like a gift from God! I got extra, needed sleep, I got to go to Church, we got to get some Christmas shopping done, I took the dogs on a walk, and now I'm home relaxing with a glass of wine!

I was on call, so I'll get on call pay, plus I'll cash in some of my vacation time, of which I have plenty. :) I'm so happy!!!!! :monkeydance::beer::w00t:

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Specializes in Intensive Care and Cardiology.

Nice to see your enjoyed your day off. I know you can find a lot of threads where people are complaining about low census! Glad you were able to make the most of it!

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Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

Well I work as a CNA but I too love low census! :chuckle I feel so free! Was just called off yesterday. But the message on my cell phone said that if they needed me they would call so then I was dreading that they would call me all day. It was on my mind and shouldn't have been. If I'm told to not come in then I'm free for the day. Hey I"m not getting paid to be at their beck and call.

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I'm part of the crew that LOVES low census, call-off days too! I don't see many of them, working the night shift, but sometimes I'm called off from the evening part of the shift. I always stash some vacation time or personal time away for that, so it's GREAT to get a last-minute reprieve, in my book.

Some people are always complaining, but I've never been docked for a call-off yet, so I'm happy.

We don't have "on-call" types of situations, at least not in my unit, so if I'm called off, I'm OFF. They'd better be darned sure they don't need me, LOL, 'cause once I hang up that phone, I'm not going NEAR it again! :)

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I'm part of the crew that LOVES low census, call-off days too! I don't see many of them, working the night shift, but sometimes I'm called off from the evening part of the shift. I always stash some vacation time or personal time away for that, so it's GREAT to get a last-minute reprieve, in my book.

Some people are always complaining, but I've never been docked for a call-off yet, so I'm happy.

We don't have "on-call" types of situations, at least not in my unit, so if I'm called off, I'm OFF. They'd better be darned sure they don't need me, LOL, 'cause once I hang up that phone, I'm not going NEAR it again! :)

What do you mean by you've "never been docked for call off?". They still pay you? I thought the point of calling people off was so they would save money. If they still pay you, why not have the extra nurses on the floor? When I worked in the hospital you could either use vacation pay or just not get paid. I would have gladly taken no pay for a call off, unfortunately, they went by seniority and I was never senior enough to get it. When I went contingent and did not accrue vacation or sick time, but got paid a lot more, I got called off all the time.

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I have worked places that gave you 2 hours pay if they did not call you off by a certain time before you were to report for the shift. Or 4 hours if you showed up and then was sent home. Many of the nurses would forget about this and just not press the issue, but I always asked and made sure I got what I supposed to get. They have rules for us, so they need to live by their own too.

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Specializes in Licensed Practical Nurse.

ah yes the joy of low census, me love it!!! i just saunter around the floor like i'm walking on air, taking my time!

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What do you mean by you've "never been docked for call off?". They still pay you? I thought the point of calling people off was so they would save money. If they still pay you, why not have the extra nurses on the floor? When I worked in the hospital you could either use vacation pay or just not get paid. I would have gladly taken no pay for a call off, unfortunately, they went by seniority and I was never senior enough to get it. When I went contingent and did not accrue vacation or sick time, but got paid a lot more, I got called off all the time.

Some union contracts call for partial payment of salary on days that you are marked off for census reasons.

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Only experiences a low census day once but I worked. The normal amount patient is 1nurse to five on our Step Down unit. I had one patient the whole night and no admissions. That was so strange and believe me its never repeated it self. I had an extremely stable patient. I sat in chair in his room as if it was a 1to 1 and watched the TV in neighboring empty bed while I did my nurses notes and read some nursing books I had with me. I still think it was a dream. Really great patient personality as well. My partner also only had one patient. It was like we fell into the twilight zone of peace for one night. Its never repeated it self. Now having an empty bed is odd.

Angela

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