Tell me about CALL

Editorial Team / Admin · Jan 16, 2010

What kind of facility are you working in? Trauma center, small community hospital? Is there staff in house 24/7? Depending on that, you may spend very little of your call time actually being in house. I currently work 15-2330, and we have staff for 6 rooms until 1730, 3 rooms until 1930, and 2 rooms until 2330. So chances of being called in between 15-2330 are about all of 1%. After 2330, it's a bit higher because we must have a team free for trauma at all times, so anytime a case is done on nights, two people are called in.

Out of the last 10 night calls I've done, I stayed over for a half hour on one day, and wasn't called back in at all.

Another thing to consider- are you the only one on call? We have a total of 4 on call at any given time, so if one team is called in and then another case would come up, the other people would be called.

I can't help you with child care, as all of my "children" have four legs and fur. I do know that some of the nurses/STs who are divorced only sign up for call when the kids are with the other parent. Those who are married make sure that their spouse will be home. On a rare occasion during early afternoon/evening call, those with no other option wil bring their kids, and plop them in the lounge with coloring books.

We also are allowed to take more call than the required 8 hours per week, and there is a board where people can list call that other people are welcome to take for them, and there are a few people who take lots of call.

ajaxgirl · Jan 21, 2010

What kind of facility are you working in? Trauma center, small community hospital? Is there staff in house 24/7? Depending on that, you may spend very little of your call time actually being in house. I currently work 15-2330, and we have staff for 6 rooms until 1730, 3 rooms until 1930, and 2 rooms until 2330. So chances of being called in between 15-2330 are about all of 1%. After 2330, it's a bit higher because we must have a team free for trauma at all times, so anytime a case is done on nights, two people are called in.
Out of the last 10 night calls I've done, I stayed over for a half hour on one day, and wasn't called back in at all.
Another thing to consider- are you the only one on call? We have a total of 4 on call at any given time, so if one team is called in and then another case would come up, the other people would be called.
I can't help you with child care, as all of my "children" have four legs and fur. I do know that some of the nurses/STs who are divorced only sign up for call when the kids are with the other parent. Those who are married make sure that their spouse will be home. On a rare occasion during early afternoon/evening call, those with no other option wil bring their kids, and plop them in the lounge with coloring books.
We also are allowed to take more call than the required 8 hours per week, and there is a board where people can list call that other people are welcome to take for them, and there are a few people who take lots of call.

Thanks for the reply. Its a small comm hosp and there is NO evening or night sift at all-just the call team. There is call on 1 in 4. So 1 in 4 weekends and 1 in 4 weeknights. We do C sections.

CIRQL8 · Jan 22, 2010

Out of every 4 weeks, we average 3 weekdays of call (after shift to 7 AM) and one weekend day of call (7 AM to 7 AM)

FYI: weekdays are Monday through Friday and weekend is Sat and Sun. We have 16 rooms and alternate Trauma every other year with a neighboring hospital. We are a teaching hospital.

OR male nurse · Feb 4, 2010

Hmm.. tell you about call... Call SUCKS... throw the dice and see what comes up. I've had nights where I didn't do anything, and I've had nights where I've worked 29 hours straight. Even when you are sitting at home wondering if the pager will beep, you'll sleep lightly dreaming that it is beeping. Get used to it

ksreuter · Feb 6, 2010

I work in a small rural hospital as well and just started to take call with a buddy since I'm new to the OR. we do call right now a week at a time. Once I'm on my own, we'll have every 3rd week. your 1/4 sounds good to me! Call really is a flip of a coin. You never know when or if you'll get called in. Good luck.

CIRQL8 · Feb 11, 2010

We take about 3 weekdays of call per 4 weeks (end of shift until 7 in the AM) and about 1 weekend day of call every 4 weeks (7 AM to 7 AM). Call pay to carry the pager is 2.50 hourly. Time and one-half when called in while working. I've worked 20 hours straight before, but until two days ago, I went an entire year of not getting called in once I made it home (usually after a couple of hours of OT). That was a GOOD YEAR. Very VERY unusual!! Especially for me. I've always been a sh*t magnet. Two nights ago I was called in at 1AM and worked pretty much until my shift started. Then I worked some more. I had to be let off early. I was unusually exhausted that day. I was truly a danger to myself and to my patients. Went home and passed out for a couple of hours. Luckily, things like that do not really happen very often. most likely, I'm here for 2 or 3 hours after shift, go home, maybe get called back around 10 or 11 when 2nd shift people go home, and finish a case then go home again. Usually don't get called in like that in the middle of the night.

Tiffany, RN, BSN · Feb 12, 2010

We take one day (3p-7a) of call per week and one holiday (24 hours) every 2 years. We get paid like $1 to carry the beeper. Our call days go in rotation (Monday this week, Tuesday next week and so on). The week after our Saturday call we work 7a-5p (Mon-Thurs) with no call that week or the following 2 weeks. We work 7a-5p after our Sunday call as well. I have only had to come back 2 times in 2 years and I've probably stayed over like 3 times because we are staffed 24/7. Since we so rarely get called in, I usually wing it with childcare on those days. If Dad isn't home, I would probably take my son to one of my friends from work's house until I got off??

muornurse1 · Feb 13, 2010

I work in a level 1 trauma center. We do not take call at all. We have 24/7 coverage. we have two 12hr. weekend shift coverage and pretty strict rules regarding posting emergent and urgent cases. There are 4 shifts during the weekdays and some 10 and 12 hr. shifts. Our manager is now talking about putting everyone on 10 hour shifts to accomodate longer block times but still no call. It works!!

mcmike55 · Feb 17, 2010

I also work in a small community hospital. Three OR's, Level III trauma center.

We have a MD anesthesia doc, RN circulator, Scrub Tech and PACU RN call team.

The RN's average about one night a week on call and about 1 in 6 weekends. We are very good about trading if someone needs off for some reason.

We also alternate holiday's, usually only one "major" holiday, and one of the smaller ones each year.

Our weekday call runs from 1530 to 0700.

Like some of the other posters, sometimes you are very busy, sometimes not. No real rhyme or reason to it.

Normally if the feces hits the air conditioner, one or more of the off duty staff is available to come in and help.

Our kids, over the years have just gotten used to us being on call. That's just the way it goes.

Our friends and family are amazed when my wife and I arrive somewhere in the same vehicle!!! Normally we travel in different cars in case I get called out.

You just try to take it in stride, don't get overworked about it. It's too stressful otherwise.

My only real suggestion it to not get too involved in anything while on call.......long movie,etc....that's a guarentee that you'll get called!!!!

Mike

jessrene, LPN · Mar 4, 2010

I work in a small rural hospital and it is basically 2 teams of call for the evening and night shifts....so every other week I am on call during off hours. Its a lot and I do have small kids but it works out because 1- I'm usually home anyway, 2- when I want to switch it's never a problem, 3-I have arrangements with neighbors for overnight if the husband were by some chance not available. I definitely sleep better knowing that I have dependable friends and neighbors nearby if needed. I also keep in mind where the sitter is in relation to all my town errands when I do have the kids with me. :)