Poll: Do you like taking call?

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Do you like taking call or would you give it to someone else if someone else wanted it?

Excuse my ignorance, I have not made it to the O.R yet.

Being on call is optional??? I thought it was part of your normal schedule? How far away are you typically allowed to live from the hospital? And, if you are a distance and want to do on call, can you typically stay at the hospital just in case you get called?

Thank you!

Jen

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I am not getting paid for taking call (among other things), with my current job.

Administration is of the opinion that we get paid "enough" for what we have to put up with.

I would talk to an employment lawyer about this. Mandatory unpaid call sounds like slave labor to me. You're not allowed to leave town, you have to be 30 minutes from work at all times, and they don't pay you a dime? Screw that.

As for being paid enough, O.R. nurses are NEVER paid enough considering they can permanently damage their back or catch hepatitis or HIV.

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Specializes in OR.
Being on call is optional??? I thought it was part of your normal schedule? How far away are you typically allowed to live from the hospital? And, if you are a distance and want to do on call, can you typically stay at the hospital just in case you get called?

Being on call is not optional but there are usually a few people that actively seek out and take as much call as they can get. We have to be within 30 minutes of our facility or we have to stay in house to take call.

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No, i do not like taking call. I go thru phases though...sometimes i'll volunteer to take extra call from co-workers and sometimes i want to give away all my call shifts. We only make $3.00/hr for being on call and we must arrive within 30minutes. We get time and half if we are called in. After all the freakin taxes that get taken out of my check sometimes i'd rather not take call, not much more difference. Its ridiculous but thats another topic.

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Specializes in NICU, ER, OR.

Hate hate hate IT!!!

Its the anticipation that kills me. I would almost rather work. I cant sleep...keep thinking "what if I am too tired". Cant relax, keep thinking I am going to get called at any minute. Maybe this will pass, I am still new at this.

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Specializes in 2 years school nurse, 15 in the OR!.

Well, I take my required call but that's about it. We don't have anyone who will take your call, people run like crazy when someone is trying to give theirs away. I don't mind it until it's the middle of the night and I'm all cozy and sleeping. I agree, though, I hate the anticipation...Can I run to the store? Can I go for a run, etc? It's part of the job. We get paid $2/hr for being on call and time and a half when we come in.

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Specializes in OR.

yes. more call=more money.

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