On-call pay...standard or not?

Reno1978, BSN, RN · Mar 28, 2009

In the unit I work in, the only way to be "on-call" is to sign up to work for shifts that are short staffed and it isn't required. With that being said, we're paid $5.00/hr for any time we're sitting at home waiting to get called in, and double time is paid for hours worked when we arrive to work after getting called in.

I have no idea if this is typical or not.

whipping girl in 07, RN · Mar 28, 2009

Where I used to work (SICU/CVICU), we had nurses "on call" for shifts Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday night and Saturday and Sunday day. You were on call for an hour before the shift started till an hour before it ended. In theory it was for emergency surgeries, specifically open hearts, since we couldn't send them to another unit (other surgeries, traumas, and general ICU patients could go to MICU, CCU, or NeuroTrauma ICU). In reality you were used for staffing, especially after they took away bonus pay for coming in extra. (For some reason, part timers said NO to straight time on their days off!) What was really galling was when they'd bring in the on call person to finish out the last 4 hours of a shift in order to have a free charge nurse. Nothing like getting called at 1 AM and told to come in for an "emergency" only to get there and take report from a nurse who agreed to work extra, but only till 3 AM! And then looking over at the charge nurse, surfing the internet and pondering "staffing" for 2 hours!

I only took call for a few months because I worked weekend option and then was PRN, so I didn't have to take call. I don't think I got paid to be on call, but I got time and a half when I got called in, including my travel time.

Where I work now, I'm on call for new orders and troubleshooting till 10 PM one to three times a week. Anything I do can be done over the phone. I get paid $2.50 an hour and call back pay if I have to handle anything time consuming (I generally don't charge them unless it's at least 15 minutes). I'm also on call one Saturday every six weeks for feeding tube placements from 8 to noon. I get $2.50 an hour for this as well and time and a half if I get called in, including my travel time to and from home.

truern · Mar 28, 2009

We're required to sign up for 20 hours of on-call per six week schedule. We're paid $2/hr while on-call and time and a half if called in.

KellyCCRN · Mar 28, 2009

I take call one week-night a week and one weekend a month.....more if needed. Call pay is $2/hr time and a half if called in.

debthern · Mar 28, 2009

We have an interesting call situation during the week in that we are on call Mon-Fri for the full week, we get paid for 40 hours and work in the unit 2 6 hour shifts during the day and then are on call at night, we also have a night shift Mon-Thurs so in less one of the them calls off your chances of working are pretty slim. Weekends we do night shift call and get $3 an hour for being on call and our call time starts the minute we are called, we have one hour to arrive at work and get paid at least 2 hours pay no longer how long we are there:nurse:

RN1982 · Mar 28, 2009

At my last job, we got NOTHING for being on-call.

Debilpn23 · Mar 28, 2009

At my last job, we got NOTHING for being on-call.

At my job we have manatatory on call every 6-7 weekend and only get paid if we go in.

BEDPAN76 · Mar 28, 2009

Well unfortunately I am salaried. Do MDS Mon-Fri. On call every 3rd weekend. No pay for being on call, no pay for going in and pushing the cart, and no comp time. But basically I like the job and have free health insurance and 3 weeks vacation...... :smokin:

Surgical1968 · Mar 30, 2009

In the San Francisco Bay Area, we get 50% of our base hourly rate (not including eve/night differencials. If we get called in, we get time and a half with a minimal of three hours for being called in, if less than 3 hours. Since we make great money out here, our on call pay is about $30.00 per hour to be on pager (1/2 of my regular hourly rate of $60 per hour). I hate to see how much nurses in other areas are taken advantage of, especially when it comes to being on call. I have worked in other states and got $3.00 per hour to be on call.

Lily79 · Mar 30, 2009

We receive $2/hr while on call, and time and a half if called in.

NIGHTWOLF87 · Mar 30, 2009

i work in a nicu, and our policy is to be on-call twice per month. we get $2/hr while on call, and time and a half if we get called in. around here, it is rare not to be called in. can't remember when the last time i was left on call and stayed at home...