DANRN2000

We are required to take call during times of low census for $2.50/hr. We are a small community hospital in western mass and have approx. 40 beds. If the ICU is closed I am required to take call. During the slow summer months many nurses lose 50% of their hours. We are allowed to burn vacation and holiday time to make up our hours. We have essentially become a big pool of per diem nurses. Management wonders why they cannot retain nurses! I have spoken with fellow RN's about maybe rocking the boat a bit, no takers as of yet. We are non-union (not that unions slove all problems). One idea I have floated is- Nursing super calls my house at 5am to inform me that the unit is closed and I am being notified that I am on call for 12hrs. At 515am I call the nursing super and inform her that I am sick and not available. I can then use sick time of which I have 800+ hrs. instead of burning my vaca or holiday time. The downside to this is at evaluation time you can be docked 1-2% of a 2.5-5.5% raise for using too much sick time. Any suggestions???????????????????

Yes it is! I work with nurses who do per-diem work at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, MA and @ times they have 10-12 patient assignments on med/surg. It's important that we don't let this issue get lost in the shuffle. Contact your local state rep and let the no your displeasure with the foot dragging. Our patients and their families are counting on us.

It's an option. Tough to leave a place after 17 years!

LOL- Brings back memories. As nursing student my instuctor overheard me apologizing to MD for calling them for orders. She demanded I write 3 page report explaining why I was apologizing. Needless to say I couldn't come up with 1 paragraph. Point taken!

Call them back and insist on reading back and verifing the order. After a few call backs at 0200 they'll stay on the line and let you finish. Believe me it works!

Guess we are chit out of luck for another year. Recieved below via email after voicing my concerns and asking for support for H. 1282 which was supposed to come up for vote last week in the Massachusetts House. We must reorginize and fight a better fight next year or 8-10 med surg patients will continue to be the norm. Dear Dan - I am sorry to say that the Democratic House Leadership did not allow the safe staffing proposals to come up for a vote yesterday. Therefore, they cannot be brought up later this year, because formal sessions have ended. I do appreciate hearing from you - please keep in touch! Hon. Reed Hillman

Why not use "write up" as a last resort. Maybe re-education is in order. Fellow nurse may appreciate your tips and expertise.

Thanks for your insight TiffyRN. Their driving away good RNs with all the call time. We're a non-union hospital and raising a fuss can be quite tricky. I spoke with many of my coworkers and told them "we are in control here" not management. Without nurses you can't run a hospital. We are begining to feel like a big pool of "per diems." I'll keep you posted on our progress. Thanks Dan

I plead ignorance! So I have a few questions? 1. Who does the recruiting? (?Goverment, Hosp, Agency, Headhunters, HMO's, other) 2. Are they paid at present RN wages? 3. Are they "servants" to someone or some orginization that has funded their travel? (many immigrants are required to "pay off" their relocation) Just wondering. Dan

Hello- I am presently preparing to take the CCRN. The material is at times in most study texts overwhelming. (I have reviewed many!) I have decided to stick with one text and one workbook (same author). After speaking with collegues at professional meetings the advise I have recieved is study, study, study- but don't get caught up in the small details. Patient safety points are still key as in the NCLEX. I hope to be the first CCRN in our small community hospital ICU. Best of luck to you! Dan

Hello- Any other nurses required to sit at home by the telephone for $2.50/hr during times of low census? We are averaging 12-16hrs of call time per week for past year! Allowed to burn holiday and vacation time to supplement but many of us are at a zreo balance because of low census. Also- we have per diems and part time help on the schedule. How can we convince management that full timers who've had call time be allowed to bump them from shifts? Dan