Highway Hypodermics

Jessica Casper

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 empathize with the traveler and try reaching out to the facility myself if he/she has already voiced that they weren't contracted to float to the other facilities and nothing has changed. I'd do everything in my power to make sure that things are made right and that they're sticking to the terms of their contracts.

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:

If the NICU is not within her scope of practice, she should not be working on that unit. They last thing you want is for her license to be at risk. I would tell her to voice that to her manager and that if she is still pushed to float somewhere that she isn't supposed to, to let me know so that I can reach out to the facility myself.

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 sincerely apologize and do everything in my power to fix her housing situation immediately. If for some reason we can't find long term, furnished housing right away, then we'd get her set up in a hotel so she can rest while we take care of housing on the back end.

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:

I would discuss this with the nurse and let him/her know that I'll do whatever I can to find something else for them. This is obviously not something that they can control.I'm sure the hospital would understand as well.

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:

Apologize and waste no time. All hands on deck, we're finding another assignment ASAP!! That traveler would be #1 priority and I would find something for them right away.

Question 6:

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

Answer 6:

Things aren't always rainbows and butterflies but it's 100% worth it! Seek adventure and you will have the time of your life! Also, make sure to save some stories to share with me!! I love hearing and seeing the places you get to visit! :) Also, make sure you trust your Recruiter!! If you get any weird vibes from anyone, walk away! There's plenty of other fish in the sea! :)

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