On call, but missed call

caliotter3 · Oct 2, 2017

It is only ever an employer trying to reach me when I don't receive cell phone calls. Consider getting a landline if this is of concern to you. You know the employer won't accept your reason for not responding.

allnurses Guide · Oct 2, 2017

I would expect some kind of counseling or write up, yes. On-call has to be reliable. I second the above suggestion for getting a land line installed if you are regularly on call.

brownbook · Oct 2, 2017

I used to call in on call staff, so I do know the importance of being able to reach them. (I used to pace the hallway by the time clock waiting for one nurse who lived further out.) This was way before cell phones.

I can't accept it is the nurses fault. Unless hospital emergency (or just "regular on call") protocol planned for the possibility that cell phone service could be out and all on call staff had to have land lines?

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Oct 2, 2017

My land line is actually worse than my cell when it comes to reliability. If it wasn't part of a bundle pack I would drop the service because it's THAT bad. Luckily, I don't work on call because several calls to the phone company has gotten me absolutely no where.

msannaa7711 · Oct 2, 2017

I would expect some kind of counseling or write up, yes. On-call has to be reliable. I second the above suggestion for getting a land line installed if you are regularly on call.

Im told 4 months or more before I can get a land line, due to hurricane Harvey. I live in Rockport TX. Most of our services were wiped out.

Sour Lemon · Oct 2, 2017

I was on call last night. I have been in the hard hit Harvey area of Texas. I guess cell service was in and out, but I missed a call around midnight at work. I got up at 6:20 and took my kid to school and my phone started going off with 2 vm notifications . I called work immediately. The supervisor seemed very irritated with me, and I understand why.
This morning cell service is in and out. I seriously did not get these calls. Do I need to be worried about getting fired for this?

I wouldn't expect to get fired unless there were previous disciplinary issues. A write up is definitely possible, but in most cases, an employee's history of reliability would be considered when deciding whether or not to go forward with that.

JKL33 · Oct 2, 2017

At this point I would convey (again) your genuine regret over missing the calls, and your concern for how to handle future on-calls. Let them know that you have inquired about landline service and the answer you received. Maybe with any luck they have good suggestions for what to do in the future or might even be willing to accept modified call (you get to an area of reception or find a working phone every so many hours and check in to see if they need you?) - I don't know, but honestly their alternative is to cut off their nose to spite their face over something that seems legit.

Good luck ~

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2017

My hospital said (in the write up) get a land line or use one of the hospital provided pagers.

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Oct 2, 2017

My hospital said (in the write up) get a land line or use one of the hospital provided pagers.

I wonder how much more reliable the pager would be in an area with spotty service. After the recent hurricane in my area, the resident doctors weren't calling us back because they reported that they didn't get the page.

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2017

I wonder how much more reliable the pager would be in an area with spotty service. After the recent hurricane in my area, the resident doctors weren't calling us back because they reported that they didn't get the page.

Well, it probably would be just as iffy but it would be on THEM.

I got a land line cuz I didn't want their crappy ancient ole beeper to keep up with. I eventually moved to another area, but I got a land line just in case. They really didn't take much of anything as an excuse. Maybe a note from your funeral director might satisfy them.

zebrapants1 · Oct 2, 2017

I suppose it would depend on what you were on call for, but the bottom line is, things happen. As long as you have a previously good track record, I can't possibly imagine you would lose your job for one occurrence.