PLZ explain "call"

nellie_nurse812 · Jan 6, 2006

No one can really explain this to you but your institution. Everyone has their own policy.....nellie

ORSmurf · Jan 6, 2006

I agree that this will vary quite a bit. I can tell you about call where I work:

We're on call one night during the week and about every 5th weekend (Friday-Monday@7am). We usualy get called in for C-sections, fractured hips or ankles, and bowel cases - but you could get called in for ANYTHING at anytime. It's not unusual to work all day and all night and still have to come in the next day for your shift. If we have enough staff, they try to send you home if you've had a long night. I definately sleep when I'm on call (if I'm actually not working). We have to be able to respond within 10 minutes if it's a STAT C-section, so I never do very much when I'm on-call (I never plan to do anything) except relax when I can and try to take good care of myself.

Hope this helps.

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Jan 6, 2006

Definitely check with your employer about what sort of cases you can be called in for.

Definitely don't sit up and wait. If you are supposed to be sleeping (i.e., if you would normally be sleeping at that hour), then sleep. Don't take any sleeping meds, though, and don't drink or do anything else that will dull your skills or your alertness.

If you are out and about, and you are on call, carry your cell phone, make sure it is on and make sure your employer has that number. Might not be a bad idea to stow your scrubs (or whatever you wear for work) in the car so you don't have to go home first....

And, if memory serves from the last job I had when I was on call, you are to be paid for this, whether you get called in or not.

But check with your employer.....

grimmy, RN · Jan 6, 2006

hi... can someone please explain "call" to me?
will i have to work a full day, go home for an hour and then come back if i get called in? (then possibly go back in am for next shift?) how often do nurses take call? what are we being called in for? emergency cases? call ins?
does anybody sleep when they are on call, or do you just stay up and wait?
please help, i need these answers~~~~!!!!!

if you're on-call for weekday night, you can be called back if you worked that day. where i work, if you wind up working for more than 4 hours of night call after 11pm, you are not required to come in until 11am. you may choose to use pto or combine time. our system uses a lottery for call, but of course, there must always be at least one rn for call. i typically take one weekend call per month, and one weeknight call per month. we have teams that use a different call schedule (transplant call, neuro call, cardiac, etc.) on xmas day, i took day call (7a-7p) and went in for 6 hours. i gave breaks for lunch, i scrubbed a tib-fib fx and a hip nail. depending on where you work, you may stay home during your call or you will have in-hospital call. if i want to stay home, i have to be within 25 minutes of the hospital at all times. if i lived further away than that, i'd sleep in the hospital call room. as everyone else has said, if you normally sleep during call hours, you should sleep! i keep a set of scrubs at home so that i can dress and show up ready. does this answer your questions?

NoCrumping · Jan 6, 2006

if you're on-call for weekday night, you can be called back if you worked that day. where i work, if you wind up working for more than 4 hours of night call after 11pm, you are not required to come in until 11am. you may choose to use pto or combine time. our system uses a lottery for call, but of course, there must always be at least one rn for call. i typically take one weekend call per month, and one weeknight call per month. we have teams that use a different call schedule (transplant call, neuro call, cardiac, etc.) on xmas day, i took day call (7a-7p) and went in for 6 hours. i gave breaks for lunch, i scrubbed a tib-fib fx and a hip nail. depending on where you work, you may stay home during your call or you will have in-hospital call. if i want to stay home, i have to be within 25 minutes of the hospital at all times. if i lived further away than that, i'd sleep in the hospital call room. as everyone else has said, if you normally sleep during call hours, you should sleep! i keep a set of scrubs at home so that i can dress and show up ready. does this answer your questions

yes, it does, thank you!!! i didnt know there would be so many variables from place to place.......

amnesia · Jan 12, 2006

We rotate call and are responsible for 1 a month (12-16 hr shifts). We respond at any time for ANYTHING. If we are waiting between cases, we are allowed to sleep in the "call room". There is a Call1 person who gets called first and then a "back up" Call 2 person who can be called if more than one room is working. If you decide to leave the property between cases, they must be able to reach you easily so cell phones/pagers are nice to have. Our hospital requires staff to be at the campus within 30 minutes (we are Level One Trauma). Hope that helps! I am sure each hospital is a little different however.