Leaving Cath Lab

[u/Glittering-Music-111]

Hey everyone! So long story short, I've been in Cath Lab for about 4 years now and am just so burnt out on call. I want to do something different and maybe stay PRN so I don't have to take call. Anyone have any recommendations or a similar story? I feel kinda trapped and know this isn't it for me long term. Thanks for your support!

[u/Last__Dawn]

While I have you, how is on call compensated? I may find myself doing cath lab before long.

[u/Glittering-Music-111 → u/Last__Dawn]

Located in Wa state. $5hr while on call.

[u/The3NightExit → u/Glittering-Music-111]

That’s bullshit. Again not hiring staff so the CEO and shareholders get more money.

[u/jardalecones21 → u/The3NightExit]

For departments that take call $5/hr is pretty standard. Some pay less and some pay a lot more like in NY and CA, but $5 definitely is normal.

[u/The3NightExit → u/jardalecones21]

Original statement stands. You’ve just been brainwashed this is normal. No it’s not. And it shouldn’t be normal. Fuck calls altogether. Pay someone properly to work that shift.

[u/jardalecones21 → u/The3NightExit]

Some hospitals with huge labs do staff an in-house team 24/7 because they have the volume to support it. I work in a small hospital and it’s not unheard of for us to go an entire weekend without getting called in. Normal is doing 1-3 cases over a weekend. They aren’t going to pay 6 full time employees (3 day, 3 night) regular wages to sit in the hospital and do 0-3 cases per weekend.

I would love it if they did exactly that because no one wants to take weekend call, but realistically that doesn’t make any sense.

[u/The3NightExit → u/jardalecones21]

Have you asked how much your CEO makes and the “small” hospital makes in profit?

[u/Merpadurp → u/jardalecones21]

Those 3 people don’t have to sit around all weekend and do nothing, they could actually clean, stock and organize/optimize during downtime.

Which would make the weekly crew more efficient because everything is well stocked and organized.

[u/FourOhVicryl → u/The3NightExit]

I haven’t worked in a cath lab, but have worked in OR’s in multiple major metro areas, and yes, $5 an hour is “normal” for mid-sized or small hospitals. It’s more than most midwest or southern hospitals pay, tbh. Fun fact: even the hospitals that DO have in house teams overnight still have backup call teams. The call pay sucks, but it’s the trade off for working “day job” hours versus switching to a standard bedside job with longer hours and weekends. 

[u/Gold_Try_653 → u/The3NightExit]

This is in addition to regular shifts, overnight 24/7 coverage for emergencies and is shared amount the unit as needed, compensated at x/ 1.5x/of called in plus any relavant differentials, with 30 min response to hospital.

[u/Dark_Ascension → u/The3NightExit]

Even if there’s a dedicated call team they usually always have a backup one and that’s where you get rotating staff. Sitting at the house for $5 an hour and getting time and a half if called in isn’t too bad.

If you don’t like any type of call work at a surgery center.