Mandatory On Call???

krobi78527 · Mar 22, 2008

At our unit, we have to sign up for one 1/2 shift per month. If you don't sign up, you will be assigned one. I think we get a whole $2 an hour. Usually if they don't call you an hour prior to your shift, you probably won't get called in.

catlynLPN · Mar 31, 2008

They are just starting to make us sign up for mandatory on call on my job.

We are severely short staffed. We've had several retirees, one LPN resigned, another didn't show up for 3 days and therefore was terminated. Out of, I think 13 LPN positions, as of the last of April we will have 7 LPNs, so we'll be down 6 LPNs. 4 will be on evenings and 3 on dayshift. Things are getting tough.

We have 3 RNs, and they have decided to mandate this on call stuff.

I have to sign up for 6, yes, that's six ten hour shifts in a 30 day period, that's in addition to my regular work days, of 4 days per week at 10 hours per day.

The ONLY RN who is helping out is the interim DON....yes, we're even short a DON, however one has been hired and she starts sometime next month. The other 2 RNs think they don't have to take call, to come in and work the medication rounds, when someone is calling in sick.

I told my immediate supervisor, tonight, {one of the RNs who doesn't want to help give meds in a crisis} that I would help with this thru this severe crisis until some new nurses have been hired but I'm not doing this on a permanent basis, and she said, "Well, we'll see.

Well, there isn't any "seeing" to it. I am not doing this on a permanent basis, and how does she and the other RN think they can make the LPNs do all this on call and the two of them not sign up for even ONE DAY of on call???

This is going to be tough. As of April 28th, I will have in 28 years, and they make it too hard on me, I will just go into retirement, and that will be another one down.

I'm not going to be hasty with this, because I didn't want to quit this early, I'm only 55, and not eligible for Social Security, so I wanted to stay a few more years.

RN1989 · Mar 31, 2008

The only time I have ever seen/experienced mandatory on-call was for essential areas of L&D, OR/RR, cath lab, radiology.

If a hospital is requiring mandatory on-call for areas other than these - I'd be looking for another job. That is a HUGE indicator that they have had/are experiencing staffing issues and they do not have an adequate plan in place to address those issues. Keep your license - look for a better employer.

litbitblack, ASN, RN · Mar 31, 2008

We don't have call at my hospital. sometimes you could be called off At managers request and get called back in but its on a regular scheduled day. Only critical care has on call. I think someone said if they worked 72 hours they had to have an on call day. BUt us med/surg work 84 hours and I would not take call if they started that

Lynda005 · Apr 23, 2008

Mandatory on call has started at the hospital I work at in April. I work in an acute care hospital and all units are affected, from med-surg to ICU. You are expected to come in unless you are called off 2 hours before your shift starts. The cancellations are in 4 hour increments. They are making people do 3 call shifts in a 4 week schedule. This is 36 hours every four weeks. In other words, it looks like nurses are going to working 48 hours three weeks a month. :cry: This only applies to part time and full time staff. Alot of nurses and CNA's have quit.

Brian_s · Feb 1, 2009

The only time I have ever seen/experienced mandatory on-call was for essential areas of L&D, OR/RR, cath lab, radiology.
If a hospital is requiring mandatory on-call for areas other than these - I'd be looking for another job. That is a HUGE indicator that they have had/are experiencing staffing issues and they do not have an adequate plan in place to address those issues. Keep your license - look for a better employer.

You're right catlynLPN and RN1989. I heard the same situation from my friends. No way...I'm not going to work on my off day.