What is the latest you’ve been called in while being on call?

[nburg003, BSN, RN]

I work a 7am-7pm shift and I am currently on call. I can’t find my hospitals policy for being on call. So my question is, when’s the latest you’ve been called in? Is there a universal time when you can expect not to be called?

[BlueShoes12, BSN, RN]

I was once called in at 5 p.m. For one patient. I was not particularly amused, I have to say. I don't think there's any universal time though - at my hospital if you're on call it's for the entire shift.

[MunoRN, RN]

I've been called in to take a patient within 15 minutes of shift change. The nice thing is that they have to pay me for at least 4 hours when called in, I was there for less than an hour.

[Crash_Cart]

I've been called during the middle of a shift already in progress lol

Sometimes people have to leave work for family emergencies and things, so I don't think there's any such thing as a time when things are "safe."

[jag nurse, RN]

4 hours ago, BlueShoes12 said:

I was once called in at 5 p.m. For one patient. I was not particularly amused, I have to say. I don't think there's any universal time though - at my hospital if you're on call it's for the entire shift.

Same here, but it was 4 a.m. (I work nights). That particular charge nurse wanted to make sure we were properly staffed, so I was called in for one patient. Another Charge that we have, however, won't generally call you in, in the middle of the night. Like your hospital, there's no universal time, and we're on-call for the entire shift.

[beekindRN, ASN, RN]

I'm fairly certain we're on call the whole shift. The latest I was called in was 1 am on a 7p to 7a shift. We're unofficially cleared at 1 am. Usually if something awful comes in after that, they'll shuffle teams and the charge will take a patient.

Irrelevant, but the worst that I've been called in for was for one med/surg patient post-cath....I work ICU. She had no PM meds and just slept off her Versed. I had been specifically placed on call because I had a migraine and it was the only way I could stay home without calling out...so I was just a bit irritated. /rant over/

[Wuzzie]

6:45pm (7a-7p shift). Pretty sure the CN did it for spite.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Are you asking about a shift where you've had it cancelled and placed on call in case they need you? Or more of a procedural area where there's no staff/more staff are needed?

I've been called in less than an hour before ending my shift of call when working evenings and taking night call. Sometimes when several day shift members were sitting in the lounge waiting for the time to be right to clock in. An emergency is an emergency, and the call team is responsible, especially if no one from day shift is willing to start early (sometimes they didn't have the experience for the type of surgery, so don't blame them one bit). I took it as my minimum of 2 hours of time and a half, got relieved by 0715, and back in bed by 8am.

[Nunya, BSN]

On 9/16/2019 at 6:25 AM, Wuzzie said:

6:45pm (7a-7p shift). Pretty sure the CN did it for spite.

You got called in for 15 minutes?

[Wuzzie]

Yep. Discharged one patient (I was in the ED at the time) and left. ?

[Nunya, BSN]

1 minute ago, Wuzzie said:

Yep. Discharged one patient (I was in the ED at the time) and left. ?

Yeah, I wouldn't have let that one go unnoticed by the manager!

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

I don't mind the late call in, I work nights, so the sleep is appreciated. What irks me is when they put me on call at 5PM and I get a call that I have to come in at 6:15 PM and they don't allow the one hour call back grace. I will be late. Irritates me that they cut it that close for on call and don't look at the big picture in the ED for potential admits. I have asked to be called at 5:45 to 6:00 as they have called 10 minutes after putting me on call.