Highway Hypodermics

Gabrielle Youngblood

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:

During the 6th week when she agreed to float to a hospital 15 miles away, I would have clarified with the hospital system if this means she is agreeing to floating this far for the rest of the contract or if it's a one time thing based on her "ok". Depending on that answer and hoping they said she is only required to float within 10 miles and anything outside of that she can say yes to but won't be required to float. Then I would say that moving forward she just says no if they ask her to float further than 10 miles. This situation seems like she is doing the system a favor saying yes to float further but it is up to her outside of the 10 miles she agreed to. I think in these situations having clarity the first time it something like this happens really helps keep it clear for each situation moving forward.

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:

Unless stated otherwise on her contract, it would be up to the nurse if she wants to float to a unit where she does not have experience. If she were to agree and float, she would need to receive proper orientation to the unit and initially be there in more of a helping hands role to get comfortable in the unit. If she refused and this were to become a problem with the hospital, PPR would speak with the hospital and define the units she is expected and skilled to float to. This would be to better ensure her safety as well as the patients safety.

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:

If it were company provided housing we would speak with her and figure out options. They would probably be to get her set up in a new apartment in the same complex if available or another complex. Unless she wanted to stay, then the complex would treat the apartment with the necessary means to get it to be up to standards of living space. If this were housing she found on her own, I would help her come up with options to handle the situation, similar to above and have her speak with her landlord. As well as offer any assistance in the meantime such as provided housing to supplement the in between time if needed.

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:

Just to start this off, I would hope before accepting a job and signing a contract that we would have thoroughly looked over the location and all details involved so it wouldn't be a surprise that there is fields of wheat versus mountains. That being said, the asthma part is not something we could have prepared for. I am not sure how this would affect the nurse moving forward once she is all better and no more pneumonia. We would have a conversation about whether this will be an ongoing health issue and look at the hospitals cancellation policy. Lots of factors at play but I would want to offer my support and explore options together. We would pick the option that best works for her, her health and complies with the hospitals policies.

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 is a toughie because there are so many unknowns here. I would do all I could to help work everything out quickly so that the nurse knows what is happening, whether that is a delay or cancellation. I haven't experienced this before and can imagine it would be really stressful on everyone involved. I would want to stay in communication with the nurse and keep her updated as well as offer my support to her. I would hope to avoid this type of situation though as we wouldn't send a nurse a contract if the hospital hasn't signed or approved their side of it.

Question 6:

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

Answer 6:

Wow! I don't know I have ever been asked this question before. My big thing is honesty and transparency, all around! It makes traveling so much easier when you are honest with your recruiter and just put everything out there (professionally of course). This helps me better understand what nurses are looking for and really get to know them to help avoid bumps in the future! I love working with the same people long term so building that relationship up is so fun :) It's what I love about my job!

Email this Recruiter!