Highway Hypodermics

Holly Fenn

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 discuss the issue with Flo to get her side. I would also thank her for doing it those few times and let her know I understand it is not something she wants to continue doing and we agreed upon a 10 mile radius for floating purposes. I would then talk to the Client Manager about it to contact the facility and get it taken care of immediately and that Flo only floats within a 10 mile radius as discussed. I would then communicate the outcome back to Flo on the conversation with the facility.

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:

Our client manager would let the hospital know that Betty is not a NICU nurse and it is out of her scope. We would then communicate with Betty that the facility requested her to float to NICU and discuss it with her. If Betty was okay only tasking or taking on feeders and growers, we would communicate that to the hospital only after Betty agreed to it. If she is not comfortable with it whatsoever, we would let the hospital know that it is a no go for her to float to NICU.

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:

First, I would apologize to Nurse Roach and let her know that I would put her up in a hotel for a couple of days to get the housing situation taken care of. I would then notify our housing department that we needed to notify the management of this apartment to let them know about the issues. And then, we would need to find suitable housing for our nurse in the area as soon as possible!

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 and foremost, I would make sure she knows she needs to feel better and be healthy to be able to work any more. We would discuss the situation with Nurse Asthmatic and talk about if she feels like she can continue once she is better. Depending on that discussion, we would then proceed to talk to the Client Manager and the hospital to work out a deal based on the circumstances. We would do what is best for our nurse and the facility and back the nurse up 100% if they felt they could continue or not. If they didn’t feel they should or would continue, we would help her out to the best of our ability and we would also help the hospital with a replacement if necessary.

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:

First, I would make sure to communicate with the nurse that we are very sorry this happened and it shouldn’t have happened. I would then have the Client Manager get the contract taken care of as soon as possible and make sure to keep the nurse in the communication loop with what is going on and communicate any updates with her for a start date.

Question 6:

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

Answer 6:

I repeat this over and over. Honesty and professionalism will help you be an outstanding traveler. If you are honest about your intentions to find an opportunity with my company and any others that you are working with, we will be on a level playing field with what you are looking for and need. Your professionalism stands for how your represent yourself to my company and a hospital. It also means you handle your on-boarding paperwork compliance quickly and efficiently. These two things really go hand in hand and if you are both of these things with me, I am definitely showing you the same respect back! It’s a two way win-win situation.

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