Highway Hypodermics

Jennifer Arias

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:

I would address this with the facility after the FIRST time they asked Flo to float to another facility farther away to ask if it was something they were planning to do more often. I would see how Flo felt about it and immediately address the facility and tell them we would hold them to the contract agreed upon during the hire and ask that additional compensation be paid for the increased mileage (because have you SEEN the gas prices these days?). I would stay in communication with Flo about her wants/needs and go to bat for her based on her preferences.

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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:

This could put her license indanger. First, communication is vital`; how does Betty feel about this? Willthey be training her at all? If this is beyond her scope, she has my blessingto nope right out of it, and I will stand by her decision.

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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:

"NOPE. Get out of there, girl. I'm going to book you a hotel down the street. Call me as soon as you get there."

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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, ensure she is ok and ask her what I can do to help. Make sure her housing is secure, and if she has any pets that someone can help petsit or care for them. Inform the facility, and depending on what she wants to do, cancel and relocate or fight for her to be allowed to continue her contract without retribution. I would send her a gift, too, because that is a rough situation to be in, and if I could, visit and make sure she had everything she needed and wasn't alone.

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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, send her to breakfast/lunch so she can relax while we figure out what happened. I would see if we can get her the contract anyway since she is already there, and if they refuse, I will get her into another facility asap. Luckily I am also an Account Manager with dozens of direct accounts (including Vegas), so I can get her working immediately while we figure out our next steps so she doesn't lose out on her income.

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Question 6:

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

Answer 6:

Communication is SO important! I will always go to bat for my nurses, but it is much harder to do if there is an ongoing problem I am only told about four weeks later. If you don't like something that is happening during your contract (like the being floated situation listed above), tell me the first time, even if you are going to go along with it; that way, I can document it and see what our options are for preventing it from happening again. I will advocate for you every time, but it is easier if I have a paper trail to back it up. Call me if you need something, it's the easiest way to get ahold of me, and I can address your questions right there and then without distraction. Don't be afraid to call me if you feel stressed, overwhelmed, or have a bad day. The last thing I want is for you to feel like you are doing this alone. We are a team, you be Batman, and I'll be Alfred. I help you get to where you need to be, and you save lives. You are never alone on your contract, and I will be here any time you need me, for anything, even just to vent.

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