On call policies

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 19, 2019

We do not. However, I would strongly caution against using age as a criteria for call exclusion as it could be seen as age discrimination. If you decide to go with exempting some from call, years of service is the way to go. You also need to consider how much of your staff will then be coming out of the call rotation and how that will affect those still taking call- will the amount drastically increase? If so, you'll likely lose staff unhappy with that.

The hospital across town excludes those with 35 years of service from call. There aren't many exempt staff members.

marcnor · Sep 20, 2019

Thanks for the info. Are there any other facilities that you know about that utilize this type of policy? And is there anyway to PM on this site? I'd like to know the name of the facility.

Thanks

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 20, 2019

2 hours ago, marcnor said:
Thanks for the info. Are there any other facilities that you know about that utilize this type of policy? And is there anyway to PM on this site? I'd like to know the name of the facility.
Thanks

There is, but you don’t meet the requirements to access PMs yet. You need 15 posts first. Also, I won’t be sharing the names of local facilities to help preserve the anonymity I have here. If you’d like specifics, you can always try the AORN message board. They’re set up to use real names so you may have some willing to share actual policies there.

ICU4U · Sep 30, 2019

No not at my facility, everyone pulls call.

Travel_RN_0714, MSN, RN · Oct 5, 2019

From what I've experienced, most OR departments do expect you to take call as a staff member. For travelers, some do want the traveler to take call and some don't require it. For various reasons.

With that said, I was at one hospital where if you were 55 or older you didn't have to take call, and another one had some type of policy where if you had worked there for a certain amount of years.... I want to say 20... you didn't have to take call anymore. Other factors, such as if your work status is part time, or if you are a specialty coordinator you don't have to take call. Some hospitals have a dedicated "on call" team where they work 7 days on and 7 days off. They don't work during the day and are salaried. Usually their shift is from 3 pm to 7 am and all weekend. So, if they aren't called in, they still are getting paid.

Just my .02

159Nursesrule, ADN, BSN, CNA, EMT-B · Oct 11, 2019

Call on our floor is based on staffing only. The order of who to put on call starts with PRN employees, then Core, people in overtime are asked. They will consider people who volunteer also. They keep a log of who is placed on call, floats, code team to try and keep things fair.

Nscorpiored, BSN · Nov 7, 2019

On 9/19/2019 at 4:38 PM, marcnor said:
Sooo, I've been challenged by my leadership to research this question...Do any of your facilities not require taking call after a certain number of years of service or after a certain age?
We're looking into this, but some examples would help me with a proposal.
Thanks in advance!

My previous place of employment had a policy in place that nurses who have been in the OR for 25 years or more did not have to take call

My present place of employment, the educators explained to me unless they are needed due to a shortage on the floor they also do not take call and the OR now has a dedicated weekend team to prevent so many on call nurses for the weekends

Presently, the new rule for on call is that you either sign up for being on call or be assigned

As a new operating room nurse going through the PeriOperative 101 program I don't have to worry about being on call until after orientation technically speaking we aren't considered staff until we are done which will be next year summer

Me personally I am not crazy about being on call when my time comes on the other hand I have been told it's a great way to make money and my job does allow for days off during the week if need be for on call work over the weekend