Highway Hypodermics

Chad Craddock

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:

First I would make sure to gather as many details as possible about the situation. I would then present the issue to our client account managers in order to contact the facility about what was agreed upon within the nurse's contract. It's essential the nurse only works the shift, hours, and location agreed upon in 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:

She is unskilled in the specialty and can only work in the areas she has prior experience working in. It is a safety issue for the patient to be cared by someone who isn't entirely familiar with the operations of that floor.

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:

I will get her in touch with our clinical manager to gather a report and will forward the issue to our housing specialist who will help me get the nurse into a healthy/clean living accommodation.

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:

I immediately present the case to our clinical manager and client account manager. The clinical manager with create a report backing-up and detailing the nurse's need to leave, while my client account manager will help me communicate to the facility that the nurse needs to take a medical leave. If there is an issue with the facility, the clinical manager and I will assess and work out any penalties the nurse may face for leaving the assignment early, in order to ensure our nurse doesn't face action being taken on her license or status with the facility's vendor.

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:

I immediately take the case to our client account manager and we analyze what went wrong and where, in order for us to have a better understanding with the facility. I would discuss travel reimbursement with the nurse and strategize another plan for a new travel assignment. In addition to writing a handwritten letter of apology to the nurse, I would do everything in my power to make sure they still trust me as a recruiter and ensure they know I will always keep open and honest communication. After a situation like this, it's essential the nurse knows I am always looking out for their career's best interest and will always try to resolve and find solutions to difficult situations like this.

Question 6:

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

Answer 6:

Always have honest and transparent communication with your recruiter! Finding the right assignment is all about being open minded, being somewhat flexible, and coming prepared with plan B's and C's in mind.

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