Highway Hypodermics

John Marshall

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, Nurse Floating Flo and I would look over our contract and the contract that facility signs to make sure everything lines up with the 10 mile radius. After that I would check to make sure everything else is okay with the assignment. Then I would take it to my account manager to have them discuss the issue with the hospital, and follow up to make sure everything is taken care of.

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:

Within all of my confirmations I make sure to include that the float policy is "within nurse's skillset only" The facility would be breaking contract if they require her to float there.

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:

GET OUT!!! in the first text! Then I would call her right away, while emailing my housing coordinator that we need to find options for Nurse Roach. While on the phone with Nurse Roach I would do my best to calm her down and make sure she knows that we will find a place for her to sleep that night after her LONG drive.

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 I would send her a hand written card and something in the mail! Then I would call her and see what she wants to do. I would suggest cancelling the assignment since it is not a safe work environment and we can find her somewhere else, like we have been for the past 3 years.

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:

If this ever happened to me and one of my nurses I would be heart broken and would call her right away to talk through everything that took place. I would not blame anyone but myself for letting something like this sneak by. I would also ask that my manager or someone from our leadership team calls her as well to make sure the nurse is aware it was a fluke and that it would not happen again.

Question 6:

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

Answer 6:

I try to be upfront and honest with the nurses I work with. I know there are a ton of other great recruiters out there. If a nurse is working with multiple companies just keep track of where you are submitted to by which company. So that we don't double submit and make everyone look silly. Other then that, you guys are cool in my book!

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