Highway Hypodermics

Jessica Gaskins

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:

Full court press: First of all, I would contact my client account manager here at PPR and let her know that Flo is being floated to facilities outside of the agreed upon radius. I would ask my CAM to reach out to her facility contact and let them know that the recent floating assignments have been outside of the contracted radius of 10 miles and that Flo needs to be floated to the agreed upon radius. Secondly, I would have Flo reach out to her manager and let them know that her floating contract is for a 10 miles radius, and that while happy to help where necessary, that her schedule needs to reflect the agreed upon terms. Hopefully due to her willingness to float the first few will demonstrate her commitment to her assignment, and the facility will reassure us that they will uphold her contract and no longer float her beyond the 10 mile radius.

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:

Betty will not be expected to float to a unit that is outside of her scope of practice.

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 the housing assignment was PPR provided/managed, I would immediately contact our housing coordinator and request that she be set up in alternate accommodations due to the condition of the original housing as soon as possible. If this was housing she secured on her own, I would immediately help her research alternative housing options in the area.

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 first ask the nurse how she would like to proceed. I would give her the option of notifying the facility of her medical condition and ask that they release her of her contract with proper notice, if that is what she wishes, while in the meantime help her find an alternate assignment in an area where her asthma won't be exacerbated. If she wishes to finish out her contract, I will loop in my CAM and have her reach out to the facility to notify them of her medical need to miss work for 2 weeks and have them assure us that they will not cancel her contract due to this unforeseen circumstance. If by chance, they do decide to cancel her contract, I will immediately find her a new assignment.

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:

I would call Nurse Roulette, inform her of the situation and already have alternative options for an assignment for her. Since she would fully QM compliant, a quick start at an alternative facility would not be an issue.

Question 6:

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

Answer 6:

Time kills deals and communication is key! Understanding that the industry moves quickly and that being able to reach a nurse in a timely manner can be the difference between an offer or a missed opportunity. Also, don't hesitate to ask questions and talk through the details, informed decisions are good decisions!

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