OR on-call requirements for a TX RN

[tiezto]

Hi, after searching for any info on the "taking call" requirement of the OR RN in TX, I was unable to find much of anything. My fiancee is an OR nurse of 2.75 yrs and getting scared away from a potential move to the Austin area due to hearing that there are ridiculous call requirements in TX (from travelers). We would be moving together as staff - not travelers (I'm med/surg), and she currently has to take about x5 8hr call shifts per 8wk schedule. I've heard so many great things about the city that I might have to try it out. Can anybody shed some light on how much on-call time you must take, and in which locale you reside? Thanks in advance for your help!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Howdy! Glad you're thinking of relocating to Texas - we need more great nurses here!

Keep in mind that Texas really has no unionized facilities, so on-call schedules & decisions are made by the facility, so these can be highly variable. With the competitive nature of recruiting for specialty nurses - OR in particular - I doubt whether any organization wants to tick off such an important group and lose them to the hospital down the street.

I'm sure you will love Austin. If that doesn't work out, please consider Houston. We have new hospitals sprouting up in most areas and they will need to be staffed.

[Argo]

it depends on the hospital. My nurses take 1 day of call every 2 weeks and 1 weekend every 7th week. Im in San Antonio. I used to live in Austin, Seton pays better than St Davids BTW.... I worked at both a while back. They are both hiring OR nurses right now as I just got an offer from St Davids that I turned down because pay in SA is better and the cost of living is alot lower in SA. Austin is an expensive little town for sure.

It will vary from hospital to hospital and no state is different. If you have 2 ORs and only 3 rns that work there you are gonna be taking 1 week every 3 weeks most likely...... no matter where you are.