'Taking Call? Am I missing something??

[Calbrunette]

I'm interested in a job that would require call one day a week. There is no rotating call for this one day; it would be required of only me only every single week. I've never done call before so not sure how it works. But to me it appears that I'm basically working for free this one day per week. I can't go anywhere or do anything on this day so basically I'm working yet not getting paid. Am I missing something here?? I'm OK with rotating call but not weekly required call. It just seems excessive and odd. What do you think??

[speedynurse, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

So far every nursing job I have had has call. I have found call for pre-op/PACU is not nearly as bad as the ER. It’s more often in surgical nursing but it’s generally just to recover a patient, not like the ER which is overflowing with patients.....generally you should get paid for a few dollars even if you are not called in. It’s not my favorite part of nursing but nearly every bedside nursing job in the hospital has it.....so it is what it is. 

[AceOfHearts<3]

It sounds like they might base the call on seniority and you’d be low person on the totem pole. It might be that all the other staff have paid their dues so no longer have to take call. I’d be asking on average how often do they hire someone new to the department/team and once someone else is new does that mean you won’t have the call requirements any longer. Still sounds like a deal breaker to you, but knowing that maybe you’ll have call every Sunday (or whatever day it is) for a year or so (or whatever the timeframe is) then never again might change things. 

[Nunya, BSN]

On 12/21/2020 at 7:57 PM, AceOfHearts<3 said:

It sounds like they might base the call on seniority and you’d be low person on the totem pole. It might be that all the other staff have paid their dues so no longer have to take call. I’d be asking on average how often do they hire someone new to the department/team and once someone else is new does that mean you won’t have the call requirements any longer. Still sounds like a deal breaker to you, but knowing that maybe you’ll have call every Sunday (or whatever day it is) for a year or so (or whatever the timeframe is) then never again might change things. 

I'd want to know how often people are called in and for how long.  And not just "oh, not often" but very specific numbers.  

[duchess78]

I take call 24/7 every other week right now. Certainly not ideal. But I have no kids and it kind of works for me. I do get call pay, only $3/hour but it does add up. I think you just need to decide if it fits with your lifestyle and if it is a job you would like. Personally, I like where I work and what I am doing so that makes a huge difference. Some people though just aren't meant for it and absolutely despise it.