Highway Hypodermics

Jessica Miller

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:

As the recruiter, I would reach out to the client manager (CM) to start communications with the Vendor/facility to see how we can get this fixed, and I would assure my traveler that I will advocate for them as this is not how the job was presented. I may have to ask my traveler to stick it out and at least give a 2-week notice if the facility still requires this of them. Then start looking for a new contract and find out whether the traveler would want to start immediately or have a break in between so I know what to search for and how to pitch.

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:

I would advise my traveler not to float to any department they are not comfortable with and let them know I will be reaching out to my CM immediately and have them reach out to the vendor to let them know that my traveler will not be floating to NICU as this puts her license in jeopardy and is not safe. If the facility insists, start looking for another contract for my traveler. Maybe ask CM to reach out to the vendor to notify the facility that requires this. Should we give a 2-week notice?

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 help my traveler find temporary accommodations until the property manager could clean the rental and fumigate for pests. I would ask if we can provide some upfront money for the secondary housing and take it out on the back end, as the traveler most likely already put down a deposit as well as the first and last month’s rent.

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 wish my traveler the best wishes for a speedy recovery. I would inquire if the traveler has communicated with her supervisor regarding the situation and encourage them to do this. Then reach out to my cm to let the vendor/facility know that my traveler will be out due to unforeseen medical issues and see how they want to proceed with the contract. We may have to end the contract and eat it on this one. In hindsight, knowing my traveler has asthma, I would make special note when searching for jobs to be more cognizant of where I am sending them, and I would not have sent them to this location.

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 contact my traveler and apologize for big time for the gross mishap. Contact my manager and cm to find out how this happened while simultaneously looking for another (legit) contract for my traveler within the exact parameters of what they thought they would be doing. And then apologize again to my traveler. ☹

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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:

Please be open and honest with me; tell me EXACTLY what you are looking for, and don’t leave any gray areas. Communicate, and be expedient when asked for documents or compliance. Ask me anything, and don’t hesitate to reach out anytime! I promise I will do the same for you!

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