On Call OB Schedule

[racegirl177]

Currently, I work in a LDRP with 30-40 deliveries per month. We have initiated an on call system of 1- 12 hour on call shift per week for part time and fulltime employees. A few years ago, I heard of a system where if you are FT or PT, a FT person would have two shifts a week that you are on the floor, the other shift is home on call BUT you receive full blue card hours. No on call pay, no time and half upon called in. Can anyone give me insight of who may have had this system, did it work? Does anyone have thougts to if it would work?

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

It sounds just like giving an employee PTO if they aren't needed during a shift, only in this case PTO isn't used.

I don't know what blue card hours are (regular full time hours?) I see that this system would be more expensive for the hospital, since they have to pay employees for more hours then the might actually work. By requiring you to be on call, they pay you extra when you're called in, but they don't pay you if you don't actually work. It makes more financial sense for the hospital.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

All the nurses in our small rural hospital get paid the same hourly wage for being on call. And time and a half when called in.

I too have never heard of "blue card hours" but am assuming as Ashley did that it is regular full time hours.

We'd have to have a larger pool of nurses in order to do what the OP described. And we don't. We have traveling RN's, LVN's and CNA's pretty regularly. Which are more expensive . . . . but recruiting to a small rural hospital is hard.

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

we have to do calls....1-2 shifts a 4 weeks schedule (2 calls every 2-3ish schedules though, it rotates). But we get paid time and a half if we come in, and $2/hr if we dont. If we are called in, they are quick to get rid of us as soon as they can! haha

we can also trade or give away calls to those who may want them more.

[racegirl177]

Yes, 'blue card hours' are regular hours for the nurse. The problem we are having in OB is our census fluctuates greatly. Last week alone we had to call in our on call staff every day on both night/day shifts plus float med/surg nurses to OB. All at time and half pay. I worked 60 hours in one week and I am hired at 72 per two week pay. When you think about it, I am burned out and if the hospital were to try my schedule where I work two hospital days and one on call shift per week BUT I get paid my regular hours it would equal out in the end. Thus, creating a healthier work enviroment. I had heard of this system out west and am trying to figure out who it was. I cannot remember for it was approx 7 years ago. thanks for all the replys.