Highway Hypodermics

Eliza Dawson

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 and foremost, I would let Flo know that her frustrations are valid! If I have done my job as a recruiter, Flo would know what is outlined in her contract before signing it and beginning her assignment. Floating that far away, which is not listed in her contract, is not required of her! Here at Emerald, we take a team approach and have different people that can help. I can do my part by consoling the nurse and reaching out to the account manager for that contract to see if there is anything we can work out with the hospital. We also have a director of nursing that works with us who has over 30 years of nursing experience. She is available to speak with Flo as well, as she really understands what it actually means and feels to be a nurse. If we can get Flo through the contract, and she feels good about it, we aim for that. However, if she can't do it and she is being asked to do things outside her contract, I would let her know that I would support her decision to end her contract early (after letting her know all the possible repercussions of doing so).

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:

A nurse should never have to float to a unit where she does not have the appropriate competency level. If she is not a NICU nurse, and does not feel she could preform her duties well, she should immediately let the charge nurse know. It is our job to protect our nurses who represent Emerald Health Services. We do not want any of the nurses working with us to feel as if they are being set up to fail.

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 do whatever I could to get her into different housing! If it is housing that Emerald provides, we would make immediate plans to remedy the situation and transfer Nurse Roach. If she found her own housing, I would work with her to help find someplace else. I can talk with our housing specialist that will either know the area or good websites to look for housing OR mention it to my fellow recruiters who might know of options if I don't. If my nurse has a problem, it is my problem too.

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 find out what hospital she is at and send flowers and a get well card, anything to make her feel more comfortable and know that we are thinking of her. I would have her get a doctors note or email and work with the account manager to see if we can get the time off approved at the hospital with that doctors note. If the hospital decides that they can't afford to go that time without a nurse and terminate the contract, we will pay the fee and work on getting Nurse Asthmatic well and onto a next assignment. I would make sure to help in future assignments to know where NOT to send her to have a repeat experience.

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:

No matter how difficult the conversation is going to be, I always try to be transparent and honest. This situation sucks. Someone messed up, but it isn't my place to sit and place blame. My job is to find a solution. We have already gotten Nurse Roulette complied and paid for her clinic visits etc. The easiest thing would be to see if we can backfill her into a position in the area OR get her immediately onto a different assignment. If we can, we can also help with or pay the cost of the flight/gas home. The goal would be to get her onto an assignment right away so that no one loses money, including the nurse. This nurse has just become my number 1 priority until she is placed with us or decides she needs to move on.

Question 6:

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

Answer 6:

Be open and honest with me! I am here because I love my job and I love working with nurses. I know nurses work long hours and talk with multiple agencies, and it is ok! Be honest and upfront with where you are looking, what are deal breakers for you, and what you want to be making. If we can't make it happen, I will be honest with you, because I don't want you to take an assignment with me under misguided information only to be miserable and not want to work with me again. Everyone loses! However, if you aren't honest with me, I can't help you to my best of my ability. Let me know where you are already submitted to so I don't waste your time by presenting pay and job details to something you already know! The main goal is to get you working, and my second goal is hopefully with Emerald.

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