Highway Hypodermics

David Bontz

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 listen. I believe listening is so underrated, but incredibly powerful. I would hope Flo feels heard and understood. We all want to be heard. I would then acknowledge the issue and reassure her that she signed a contract that the system is not honoring and that I will go to bat for her to figure this out. I would also assure her that I will be keeping her in the loop as to the development of the issue and how close we are to resolving.

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:

Defend her and say that this is unsafe for our nurse and any patient that would be involved. No nurse should be forced to practice outside of their competency. Again, not only for the nurse's safety, but for the patient’s as well. Not to mention saving the facility from a lawsuit.

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 would ask if she wants to hire someone to care of the issue, in which case I will reimburse. If she is not comfortable with calling someone, I will call for her and cover it myself. She won't be left to live in unsanitary conditions.

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:

First, I would let her know she is my priority, and that I'm going to do what I can to help. We haven't been together this long just to have this stop us up. I would check with my HR to see if we have a way of compensating for the missed time. I would also try to find a way to talk to the facility to make sure she doesn't get cancelled.

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:

Immediately call Roulette and let her know what happened. Sending her out to a job that she can't work would turn out WAY worse than the awkward call that is just a necessary part of working with humans. We all make mistakes, and I know that I will make some. All we can do is take responsibility and work our butt off to make it right.

Question 6:

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

Answer 6:

The biggest things are urgency and expectations. We need ALL of your info, documents, certifications, references, updated resume, etc. ASAP because there are DOZENS of other applicants to any job, and if you want us to get you in, you NEED to get us your stuff. We know that you are busy. We will bust our tushes for you, but our hands are tied without the necessary things. Expectation is the other biggie. Make sure you know the going rate for a nurse in your specialty. Recruiters know what can be paid and which vendors have what fees. It is really hard to B.S. us to get a few more bucks on your contract. It also isn't really fair to recruiters who are working really hard to get you the job and trying to pay you the BEST they can for what the facility allows us to bill. We are here to help you, not lie to you. If we tell you that your expectations are high, chances are, most recruiters you talk to are going to say the same thing. You will know if your recruiter is being shady. In that case, keep shopping, but give us the benefit of the doubt. You having a job, keeps us in a job. This is a mutually beneficial relationship with the center being all of us working to provide the best healthcare out there.

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