I am an OR nurse and working in an academic facility. We’re looking at how we can handle our “calls” more financially efficient on weeknights, holidays and weekends. We are a multi-services OR. Appreciate hearing from you what has worked in your OR

Hi there, as an OR nurse of 23 years, I have seen some good ideas. Managers need to think outside the box for call coverage. One place I worked had a nurse who worked 7p-11p (20 hrs per week) but paid her for 40 hrs. She also took call the rest of the night and then got OT if she worked over 40. This worked well due to it being a level 3 hospital with limited emergencies.
I have a nurse friend who just applied for a position that is strict on call over the week/weekend and she will be paid for 40 hours regardless of if she goes in or not.
Both of these options help the regular staff with less call and the facility pays less in overtime. I’d say it’s a win-win.

Your financially feasible benefit will be to eliminate call by staffing 24/7. Benefit will be enhanced team member satisfaction thus lower turnover. Additionally, surgeons will approve because they will have a consistent team on holidays and weekends, I.e. not a vascular RN tossed into a complicated ortho case. Amazing hospitals continue to overlook the contributions of skilled perioperative nurses. Bottom line, you offer a pay scale for weeknights, holidays, and eliminate call. Recruit, pay, schedule, and value these RNs for their contribution. Admin never seems to value superior perioperative staffing. Surgeons will be more than appreciative!