Hi all, I'm wondering how many MDS. nurses are asked to be part of the weekend on call rotation. And how about covering and or having to go in on your assigned weekend to work the unit?
BEDPAN76 547 Posts Specializes in LTC, MDS, Education. Jan 10, 2009 I have call every 4th weekend. I take the beeper and keep my fingers crossed. A few times I have had to go in and take a med cart. (which wouldn't be that bad except I don't get extra pay since I am salaried) Can't really take the time off during the week either because "comp time" is not acknowledged. Oh well....Basically I like the job so I can deal with it. My regular hours are Mon. thru Fri. 7-3:30........
Rascal1 230 Posts Specializes in Med-Surg., Agency Nursing, LTC., MDS.. Jan 10, 2009 Thanks,BP76, for your answer. I don't think it's fair,to have to go in,especially being salaried.
catmom1, BSN, RN 349 Posts Specializes in LTC, Psych, Med/Surg. Jan 11, 2009 I have to rotate being on call 24/7 for an entire week. It is the most unpleasant part of my job, by far. I have to take the beeper about every eight weeks.Catmom :paw:
Rascal1 230 Posts Specializes in Med-Surg., Agency Nursing, LTC., MDS.. Jan 11, 2009 Wow ! 24/7 ..... Does that require you to have to go in on occassion ?
mdsdebbie 19 Posts Jan 12, 2009 I too have to be part of the rotation, but after reading above, am very lucky it is about once every 6 weeks. I am also asked to be supervisor if they are short, usually for the next shift. I also am asked to help with admissions and accidents when RN is out .I feel this is out of my comfort zone, I have very bad arthritic knees, hence why I went after this MDS job, my knees just can't take pushing the cart and walking the rounds.I would like to come into work and only do just my job. I hear alot from the others here, about team work, but that seems to only work for them, I never see any team work when I need help.....ohhh well, Im sure you all know that.Happy Monday to everyone,
Rascal1 230 Posts Specializes in Med-Surg., Agency Nursing, LTC., MDS.. Jan 12, 2009 Boy...mdsdebbie...That makes me Sooooo...MAD !!!! We need to put our "feet" down...,yes,collectively. The administration needs to play by our "team rules" too. How do they expect us to give our roles the attention it requires when they have a bad case of "the dumping syndrome" ? I'm so mad I could spit nails....
BEDPAN76 547 Posts Specializes in LTC, MDS, Education. Jan 12, 2009 Yeh, Debbie and Rascal, Can you see them coming to help us catch up on care plans???:rotfl::omy:
rukiddingme 209 Posts Specializes in Long term care. Has 14 years experience. Jan 13, 2009 That's exactly part of the reason I left my MDS position - they wanted me to be on call for 7 days every 3rd week. This includes working the floor as needed, taking 'calls' and still keep up with the MDS job duties. I also was salary and there was no incentive to put in over 40 hours a week for 'the man'.
Rascal1 230 Posts Specializes in Med-Surg., Agency Nursing, LTC., MDS.. Jan 13, 2009 The longer we continue to allow administration to take advantage of us the longer this dilemma will persist. I have been guilty of it myself.
rukiddingme 209 Posts Specializes in Long term care. Has 14 years experience. Jan 13, 2009 In the facility I just resigned from, there are 3 nurses on call - the MDS, wound, and restorative nurses. The DON & ADON are not. (I've heard that it's because they are on call for IV's whenever we have them inhouse, and there isn't someone on staff that shift, to do them) My replacement was handed an 'on call' schedule before I left, and there were several days during her week that she was going to have to work the floor (mostly partial shifts) because of lack of staffing. She was furious.
Rascal1 230 Posts Specializes in Med-Surg., Agency Nursing, LTC., MDS.. Jan 13, 2009 That really is BS......Did you know this arrangement when they first hired you ? I understand that you are no longer there.
