Highway Hypodermics

Amanda Belloff

Question 1:

In a large metropolitan area, Nurse Floating Flo contracts to float between three hospitals within a 10 mile radius of her housing. Starting in the 6th week, the company ask her to float to a hospital 15 miles away, the 7th week she goes to one on the other side of the city, that is 30 miles away, plus one that is 17 miles away. The nurse is willing to take the first few, but after the behavior continues, she has had enough and voices this to her recruiter.

Answer 1:

I would address this situation with the Account Manager of the hospital who would, in turn, contact the facility to advocate on behalf of Nurse Floating Flo.

We would remind the facility about the original terms of the contract, and request to stop the floating to areas outside of a 10 mile radius. If the hospital pleads with us to continue having Nurse Floating Flo float to further areas, then I would ask my Account Manager if we can offer Nurse Floating Flo a mileage reimbursement. If Nurse Floating Flo is still not agreeable, then we would let the hospital know that we would need to end the assignment (with an adequate notice) if they cannot agree to the original terms of the contract.

Question 2:

Baby Nurse Betty is a skilled labor and delivery nurse, who also can float to post-pardum care after the delivery as well as the well-newborn nursery. At 7:30pm, the staffing company hotline gets a call stating that they want her to float to the NICU, which is beyond her competency level. What is your company’s response?

Answer 2:

We would alert the hospital that Nurse Betty is unable to care for NICU patients, and as her contract states, she is only required to float to units that are within her scope of practice. We would advise the hospital to use her in another area (L/D, Post Partum or Newborn Well-Baby Nursery) or send her home.

Question 3:

Nurse Roach is all excited about her first travel nursing assignment. She drives 750 miles to her new assignment housing. After getting the keys from management, she opens the door and three cockroaches scurry across the floor. After further investigation, she also finds a ring of mold in the shower. She can’t stand it and immediately texts you with pictures. How do you respond?

Answer 3:

We would immediately arrange for a hotel-stay for Nurse Roach while other options are researched.

Question 4:

You have worked with Nurse Asthmatic for 3 years now and she has done a great job for you, when she takes an assignment in Southeast Colorado. She envisions magic mountains that reach to the sky, only to find that she has landed in wheat country. Not wanting to cause problems she continues to work and everything is fine, until harvest. She has an asthma attack, ends up in the hospital, and is told that she is going to miss at least 2 weeks of work related to asthma induced pneumonia. How do you work things out?

Answer 4:

We would supply a doctor’s note to the facility advising them of Nurse Asthmatic’s condition. If her doctor felt that she was able to stay in the area, then we would arrange for an extension on the end of the assignment to make-up the hours. If Nurse Asthmatic was advised to leave the area due to her health, then we would cancel the assignment.

Question 5:

You have worked hard to find Nurse Roulette a job in Las Vegas. You send the nurse a contract that she readily accepts, signs, and sends back. The next morning the bags are packed and Nurse Roulette is on the way to the assignment of her dreams. At 0800 she is out the door and to the hospital. Checking in with HR, they inform her that there is no contract between the hospital and the company, related to the fact that it has not been approved by HR. About the same time, the recruiting manager comes to you and tells you not to send Nurse Roulette on the assignment. This shouldn’t have happened, but unfortunately it does happen. What do you do?

Answer 5:

This situation wouldn’t occur with Randstad Healthcare. We always ensure that we have received signed confirmations/contracts from both the hospital and the nurse before the nurse arrives at the hospital. Hypothetically though, in this situation, I would immediately let Nurse Roulette know of the situation, and apologize profusely. I would try to get to the bottom of what happened, and explain as much as possible to Nurse Roulette. I work diligently to find out when Nurse Roulette is actually able to start the assignment, in order to figure out our next step. If it turns out that the hospital will not get approval for her to start, then I would do everything in my power to get her into another position elsewhere as soon as possible.

Question 6:

What would you like travel nurses to know about being a great traveling nurse and making your job easier?

Answer 6:

Email this Recruiter!