Call Schedule Confusion

[medsRus]

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Can someone explain to me the call schedule in the states. You have programs with night float and call. So, those call (e.g. q4) are not overnight and just extended evenings? And, programs without night-float are overnight (and end around 1 PM next day, or so)? Thanks!

 

[Winged Scapula]

Night float is a schedule in which you ONLY work nights. The time you come in and the time you leave is highly variable; I've seen some programs where night float was 5 pm - 7 am and others where night float didn't come in until 10 pm. But yes, night float IS overnight, but just extended evenings. You typically work 5-6 nights per week.

A typical call schedule (q4 or whatever) means you work all day and night; if your program adheres to the rules you would generally leave 30hrs after you started - whether that is 1 pm or not depends on what time you started.

 

[medsRus]

Night float is a schedule in which you ONLY work nights. The time you come in and the time you leave is highly variable; I've seen some programs where night float was 5 pm - 7 am and others where night float didn't come in until 10 pm. But yes, night float IS overnight, but just extended evenings. You typically work 5-6 nights per week.

A typical call schedule (q4 or whatever) means you work all day and night; if your program adheres to the rules you would generally leave 30hrs after you started - whether that is 1 pm or not depends on what time you started.

Thanks. But, I see some programs that have night float and calls. Are these calls generally then not overnight (since night float with handle these, presumably)?

 

[gutonc]

Thanks. But, I see some programs that have night float and calls. Are these calls generally then not overnight (since night float with handle these, presumably)?

Correct. However you should NOT base your decision about applying/ranking a program based on their call schedule. It should be a very minor factor, somewhere behind the hours of the cafeteria and how hot the lab techs are.

 

[Law2Doc]

Thanks. But, I see some programs that have night float and calls. Are these calls generally then not overnight (since night float with handle these, presumably)?

It depends. At some places night float doesn't continue on weekends, or may not include ICU, etc. So there may still be overnight call. I agree with the prior poster that there are plusses and minuses to each system, so I probably wouldn't let that play a big role in residency selection. You are going to work hard in residency, and probably won't care if the few hours of sleep you get are at night or in the day.

 

[efex101]

It depends even more...at some places NF does *NOT* do admissions unless the interns/team CAP.

 

[efex101]

Law...what residency are you in? just saw your updated status...

 

[WhoisJohnGalt]

Correct. However you should NOT base your decision about applying/ranking a program based on their call schedule. It should be a very minor factor, somewhere behind the hours of the cafeteria and how hot the lab techs are.

Out of curiosity, what makes you say that?

 

[gutonc]

Out of curiosity, what makes you say that?

Call schedules can change at the PD's whim. What looks like Q5 w/ night float on the day of the interview may be Q3 overnight when you show up on July 1. It tends not to be quite that capricious but during my intern year the call schedule on 2 rotations changed as many as 3 times. Besides, I'd be way more concerned about the number of call months than the call schedule itself.

 

[radslooking]

Call schedules can change at the PD's whim. What looks like Q5 w/ night float on the day of the interview may be Q3 overnight when you show up on July 1. It tends not to be quite that capricious but during my intern year the call schedule on 2 rotations changed as many as 3 times. Besides, I'd be way more concerned about the number of call months than the call schedule itself.

i'd generally agree with this. months total are usually more important than the specific schedule.