Overtime/ on-call

Re: Overtime/ on-call

les punton — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:50:32 GMT

we are apparently going to have our xmas party in jan???? whats that about!

just to add to earlier I once got called out to help the vet lift a dead dog out of her boot!! I made the practice pay me!

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Nutty — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:08:47 GMT

Hadn't thought about that one...............will find out when out on Christmas do!!!

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Kim Buckley — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:02:42 GMT

What happens then if all the nurses are out on the piss together?

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Nutty — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:30:50 GMT

Apparently you're supposed to live you life as normal as possible and if they try and contact you and they can't get you then they pass onto the next nurse in list!!! so you could be 2nd on-call even when not on-call

If you take holiday...someone else covers for the time you're on holiday

If you go out and it's really far away ...say over 1hr away they'll call next nurse

If you go out for a drink/party or stay in and have a drink at home etc ..they call next nurse on list

Don't even think nurses get a retainer fee for being on-call...just OOH pay when called in.

I've always shared on-call or been the sole emergency nurse just covering OOH....

Strange set up!!

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Nikki Graef — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:21:36 GMT

WHAT?????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So no going out, no going away, no holidays, no drinking just sitting at home waiting for a call for months on end?????

Absolutely no way id do that

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Nutty — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:15:37 GMT

Hi all,

I know it's a bit late replying to this thread but for what it's worth here I go......

I'm currently locuming at a small animal practice where I must admit in all my years of nursing I've never come across the way the nurses cover OOH/On-call. Basically you're on-call till you get a call.

Last nurse on call for 4 months before had a call out.....that's every night and every weekend till she gets called in. Nurse before that was about 1 month I believe and nurse before that had been on since Christmas last year (2008) and finished her stint when she got called in OOH in mid April (2009).

Has anyone else worked this system? I've not come across it before

Looking forward to replies

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Shona — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:03:36 GMT

[quote user="Nick Shackleton"]

[quote user="Sarah Dryden"]

[quote user="Nick Shackleton"]

[quote user="Sarah Dryden"]

[quote user="Shona"]

[quote user="Sarah Dryden"]

SHONA! I know the solution - move back up here thanks!!!!!!

[/quote]

One day, Sarah, one day!!

Would you employ me?? Can you afford me?? Tee hee!!

[/quote]

Of COURSE we'd employ you, i'd PROPER love it! I'd even sing Year 3000 to you ALL day! Wooooooh and you would love Chrissy!! And you would love to be back with Joy, wooooooooooooohhhhhh!

[/quote]

That song makes no sense what so ever

[/quote]

IT DOES!! DON'T DISS BUSTED!!! :P Shona is married to Matty and I'm married to James! wooh!

[/quote]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm in ur dreams???? lmao

Busted are rubbish and so are McBothered!

[/quote]

Thats enough bad language about Busted!! Thanks now!!

You are only jealous!! Matty 4EVA!!

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Kim Buckley — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:03:30 GMT

Oi! Busted rock! I miss them!

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Nick Shackleton — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:01:54 GMT

[quote user="Sarah Dryden"]

[quote user="Nick Shackleton"]

[quote user="Sarah Dryden"]

[quote user="Shona"]

[quote user="Sarah Dryden"]

SHONA! I know the solution - move back up here thanks!!!!!!

[/quote]

One day, Sarah, one day!!

Would you employ me?? Can you afford me?? Tee hee!!

[/quote]

Of COURSE we'd employ you, i'd PROPER love it! I'd even sing Year 3000 to you ALL day! Wooooooh and you would love Chrissy!! And you would love to be back with Joy, wooooooooooooohhhhhh!

[/quote]

That song makes no sense what so ever

[/quote]

IT DOES!! DON'T DISS BUSTED!!! :P Shona is married to Matty and I'm married to James! wooh!

[/quote]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm in ur dreams???? lmao

Busted are rubbish and so are McBothered!

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Sarah Cahill — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:00:35 GMT

[quote user="Nick Shackleton"]

[quote user="Sarah Dryden"]

[quote user="Shona"]

[quote user="Sarah Dryden"]

SHONA! I know the solution - move back up here thanks!!!!!!

[/quote]

One day, Sarah, one day!!

Would you employ me?? Can you afford me?? Tee hee!!

[/quote]

Of COURSE we'd employ you, i'd PROPER love it! I'd even sing Year 3000 to you ALL day! Wooooooh and you would love Chrissy!! And you would love to be back with Joy, wooooooooooooohhhhhh!

[/quote]

That song makes no sense what so ever

[/quote]

IT DOES!! DON'T DISS BUSTED!!! :P Shona is married to Matty and I'm married to James! wooh!

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Nick Shackleton — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:59:17 GMT

[quote user="Sarah Dryden"]

[quote user="Shona"]

[quote user="Sarah Dryden"]

SHONA! I know the solution - move back up here thanks!!!!!!

[/quote]

One day, Sarah, one day!!

Would you employ me?? Can you afford me?? Tee hee!!

[/quote]

Of COURSE we'd employ you, i'd PROPER love it! I'd even sing Year 3000 to you ALL day! Wooooooh and you would love Chrissy!! And you would love to be back with Joy, wooooooooooooohhhhhh!

[/quote]

That song makes no sense what so ever

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Sarah Cahill — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:57:46 GMT

[quote user="Shona"]

[quote user="Sarah Dryden"]

SHONA! I know the solution - move back up here thanks!!!!!!

[/quote]

One day, Sarah, one day!!

Would you employ me?? Can you afford me?? Tee hee!!

[/quote]

Of COURSE we'd employ you, i'd PROPER love it! I'd even sing Year 3000 to you ALL day! Wooooooh and you would love Chrissy!! And you would love to be back with Joy, wooooooooooooohhhhhh!

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Shona — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:55:12 GMT

[quote user="Sarah Dryden"]

SHONA! I know the solution - move back up here thanks!!!!!!

[/quote]

One day, Sarah, one day!!

Would you employ me?? Can you afford me?? Tee hee!!

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Night — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:47:26 GMT

We get paid a salary so on our late night we work to whenever is necessary without extra pay. Fine if you're lucky enough to get a run of dead on time finishes but not so good when you get a run of still in theatre at 9 or 10pm. The vet then leaves and you're left doing all the tidying up and monitoring of the animals, leaving only when you're happy the animal is ok and then doing a normal shift the next day. It's not been unusual for me to be there at 11pm getting home and to bed at 1am then up again at 6.30am for my next shift.

The arguement is that the early finishes weigh out the late ones.

We are going to get paid for coming back in for a check which starts soon but still not getting paid for being on call for a weekend.

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Sarah Cahill — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:30:12 GMT

SHONA! I know the solution - move back up here thanks!!!!!!

Re: Overtime/ on-call

les punton — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 21:51:28 GMT

we used to do 1:4 which run along side the vets rota, when we got our new grad, guess who was on with her! even 2 yrs down the line she struggles to give a sub cut inj without nurse support!

I done this for a year and a half and have done a few14-18 hour days with her (one weekend actually paid for a holiday I made so much) however we are expected to then work a full week b4 a day off. I was delighted when we got a new nurse, which would go to a 1:5. Problem solved, everyone will share her. Now we have a nurse off on call so back to a 1:4 again. The only grace is I am skint at the moment and we ahve moved to a 4 day week so I have a day off in the week.

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Mac Feather — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:11:31 GMT

Hahaha Flick was that B.C or A.G?

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Felicity Caldwell — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:31:11 GMT

[quote user="mrs mac"]

[quote user="Flick87"]

I used to do on-call duties when I worked in Scotland - for some bizarre reason I really enjoyed it! Probably because it was the emergency work and the good OOH pay too. But if it was our night on call and there were in-patients to see to, then the on call VN would quite often have to do the checks, meds etc. Also if it was our full weekend on duty, we would also be the OOH on-call VN. The only down side to that - you still had to come into work for the full day Monday.

There were a few busy weekends that I have worked there, and you would be working basically 8am till probably 6pm saturday and sunday (if not more dependant on what duties you have still to do).....but also be up most of the night with the odd emergency FB, pneumothorax etc. It was good money and I did enjoy it for the buzz - but equally it is nice to get time back for your hard work.

[/quote]

Was the pay really that good Flick?! In my experience it wasnt great.

[/quote]

It boosted my wage....all the more money I could get the better. I think it was ok!! xx

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:07:28 GMT

If you were referring to my point of new grads Angiy, then I was talking from my own experience in a OOH clinic, not assuming that all emergency clinics are staffed by such, in saying that though, when these places cannot find cover which is quite often IMO, then they will go for new grads, or people who have little or no clue to emergency and critical care. So for that reason alone I would not use one. I agree re the general practice though as I have seen some that would just not cope with the majority of emergencies that walk through the door. Thankfully mine are well equipped and have the staff who are knowledgeable and capable in regards the practicalities of anything that walks through the door,, and this is exactly the reason why I would not be happy to change, as I would feel that the care I would get from OOH I would always be questioning.

Shona- if you contact acas, they will let you know your rights regarding being in the building etc, or better still club together with the other nurses and get an appt with an employment lawyer.

Also I seem to remember a few years back that BVNA published something in one of their magazines regarding this.It was a while ago though but maybe some of the others will remember it.

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Angiy Michael — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:39:37 GMT

Hi,

I appreciate people's concerns that have been raised along with the issues raised by a member of the profession in the veterinary times letter section recently. I hav to admit though I do get a little annoyed at the assumption that all emergency clinics are stafed by clueless new grads . My own workplace offers emergency cover for upwards of 50 practices in addition to our own clients and those of the PDSA. During the day we are first opinion and some referal . The night team is seperate to the day team and we usually have two receptionists, two vets, up to 4 nurses and 3 auxillaries on an evening shift all of whom just work at these times. Whilst I am not a huge promoter of my own workplace on ALL levels I would say having seen some of the techniques and equipment put to use to save extreme cases here I would be scared to have to return to a normal GP practice for emergency care of my own pets. I have never worked anywhere else where blood transfusions when needed are the norm,GDV's are commonplace and chest drains etc., are two-a-penny .

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Shona — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:38:24 GMT

[quote user="STRVN"]

I would not say we were all in the same boat Shona, what you are doing workwise in hours is illegal and I would personally be having words with your employer.

[/quote]

Believe me, we have tried!! We have just v recently been given 5% of the inpatient fee, per in-patient per night ... this equals approx £1.50 per night for a dog/cat on a drip, as an example!!! When we told the boss we found this insulting, we were told that we could not use as strong a word as insulting!! And... the old favourite...we should be glad we were getting anything...wait for it... in the current financial climate!

Can anyone help with facts on if what we are doing is illegal?? I have looked but the WTR but, as I understand it, because we have the provisions to sleep, that it is all above board.

Any help or suggestions gratefully received.

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:51:48 GMT

I would not say we were all in the same boat Shona, what you are doing workwise in hours is illegal and I would personally be having words with your employer.

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Nick Shackleton — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:51:34 GMT

You should in theory be paid for every hour you are in the building, even if you are getting shut eye or they should have a shift that starts at X and finishes at Y and you have the rest of the following day off.

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Shona — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:48:02 GMT

I'm having real issues with being on-call just now. As many of you say, the call outs can be interesting & where you see real emergency cases, but we are all fairly unhappy with our conditions at the moment.

We apparently get a retainer... but it's now worked into our salary instaed of being a separate thing, & I feel that it has been lost over the past few years, so I don't actually count it. We don't have a bad rota 1:8 which I realise is v good, but we have to stay on-site (above the practice) & are expected to check inpatients every couple of hrs (minimum) up till midnight, depending on condition of patients we can then be in again at 3am & again at 6am (approx), this is following a full shift the day before & a full shift the next day & the rest of the wk, & dealing with emergency night call-outs too.

We get paid for any call-outs but thats it.... & even tho we are only doing 1 night per wk, I do find it affects home life & work life cos if you get a bad night you're whacked for the rest of the wk!!

Good to hear everyone elses opinions on this subject, at least we are all in the same boat... albeit up the creek, without a paddle!!

Re: Overtime/ on-call

Mac Feather — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:20:54 GMT

[quote user="Flick87"]

[/quote]

Was the pay really that good Flick?! In my experience it wasnt great.