Week-end on call

[Mazzi]

I would like some info on how other hospices do the week-end on call. We are a two county office, covering approximately 50-60 pts. There are a total of 10 RN. So we have week-end on call about 2x in 8 weeks. We see on the average 2-4 pt in a 24 hr. period (Sat or Sun.) Our hospice is thinging about going to a week-end option position but are thinking this may not be cost effective d/t the number of pts. seen in the past. What do you think? and/ or How do you do it??

[jansgalRN]

Our hospice offers a flat rate for call and a per visit rate. Our average census is about 90-110 patients. The inpatients are visited by an RN one day and a Dr. the other. The call time is from Fri at 4:30pm to Mon at 8:30 am. We also have a FT night position (salary), who takes calls from 4:30pm to 8:00am Mon-Thurs. The nurses that do weekend call are prn, mostly employed elsewhere FT. Sometimes they split the weekend call to lighten the load. The FT day nurses take one week of backup call and are utilized if needed. We have a roster for primary call in situations that arise if we (the FT day nurses) have to take call. I feel that this is a very fair and helpful in preventing burnout. The nurses who take weekend call have become familiar with each other and buddy-up to make extra money. The FT nurses rarely have to take call. If, for instance, our night nurse is on vacation or gets sick, we take turns with night call. We have prn nurses available to fill in for us the next day. Most of the FT nurses that I work with started out doing weekend call for hospice. I was a FT oncology nurse when I started weekend call. I was able to adjust my schedule to take a 4 day weekend once a month and do a weekend on call for hospice. My boss feels as though this is the most effective way to retain staff, both FT and prn. The nurses are happy and more effective resulting in better patient care. This is the only hospice that I've ever worked for, so I'm not sure if its any different or better anywhere else. Also, it probably makes a difference that I work for a non-profit, locally owned, locally run hospice. Hope this helps. JansgalRN

[renerian, BSN, RN]

THe hospice hubby is the Director at has hired after hours and weekend nurses to prevent burn out for the full timers. They are paid very well to do this job.

renerian

[aimeee, BSN, RN]

Historically we have had all of our staff, both full-time and part-time rotate night and weekend on call. That really left us short handed though during periods when we would have someone resign and did not have anyone to fill their slot yet. We have more part-timers and prn nurses now and that has really helped out. The subject of having staff JUST to do all the oncall duty comes up now and then, but it hasn't happened yet.