Highway Hypodermics

Lacey Cyphers

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 express my understanding of my nurses frustrations and thank them for their flexibility. From there, I'd immediately contact the account manager to get this problem resolved and let them know that floating was not discussed in the interview or contract. The contract will detail pertinent information of her assignment, and if Nurse Flo and the hospital wanted to make changes to the contract, I'd make sure the new contract would reflect that agreement.

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:

We offer a 24/7 clinical support for our nurses so that our nurses never feel like their nursing license is at risk or patient care is at risk. I'd make sure to connect with our clinical liaison (our Chief Executive Nurse) on the situation since she is not qualified to float to the NICU. I'd reach out to Betty and let her know that in no way is she required to float to other areas she's not experienced in that's not listed in her contract, and we'd never want her nursing license or patient care to be jeopardized. I'd make sure to connect with the account manager to ensure that this won't happen again.

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 immediately reach out to nearby hotels to get her out of that situation right away and make sure that I can find my nurse suitable housing. I'd also connect with her current housing to request something is done about this immediately - explore refunds, new housing accommodations, and fixing the situation at hand.

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:

Before signing or submitting to any assignment, I make sure my nurses know where they are going and what the contract will entail. In combination of understanding where the assignment is and my nurses health issues, I'd make sure to prevent issues from this from happening to begin with. Since the problem occurred on the contract, I'd make sure to connect on short term disability that our company offers, and figure out what my nurses bottom line is. I'd determine whether she'd want to come back to work or wants to discuss other opportunities. I'd also make sure to connect with the account manager and keep them informed of her health issues and see if they can hold her assignment while she recovers.

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:

Health Providers Choice prides itself on being fully transparent so that our nurses have no surprises while on assignment. We have excellent relationships with many facilities nationwide, and keep a very strong open line of communication to guarantee this wouldn't happen to begin with. With keeping an open line of communication, we do our best to tackle any issues before they arise. Provided that all of this is done beforehand and the issue still arises when the nurse arrives, I'd contact the facility to make sure we can secure a contract, and if that isn't feasible, I'd make sure to secure a contract nearby. I'd do my best to create a positive experience for the nurse.

Question 6:

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

Answer 6:

Building a relationship with my nurses is something I find very important. I will always be open and honest with my nurses, and definitely ask for my nurses to do the same with me. The more honest and direct my nurses are with me, it makes it easier for me to land them a job they'd be actually happy in. Setting realistic expectations is very important and effective communication sets us both up to succeed.

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