Highway Hypodermics

Lindsey Schneider

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 first off let the nurse know how amazing she is to have floated between hospitals and how flexible and adaptable she was to help the company out. I would be completely understanding to how the nurse is now feeling, about having to float so incredibly often and far. I would let the nurse know that I am here to advocate for her and the best form of action to start off with is for the nurse to approach the manager and see if she can get a resolution for this issue. If this option does not solve the problem, I will let her know that I will immediately contact my client manager and we will reach out on her behalf to solve this problem. It is very clear that the nurse’s contract states floating assignments must be within 10 miles of her housing and to remind the facility that we need to honor the contract as it is stated. We would work through this until the contract is followed 100% and the traveler is then happy with how the contract was originally stated.

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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 for one, should not and cannot float to a unit that she is not certified to work on. Without proper certifications and experience, Betty cannot float to this unit. NICU is very specific on their certifications, without these no one should be asked to float to this unit anyhow.

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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 let her know that I am absolutely going to assist her in finding temporary housing. I’d let her know that we are a team, and I will not leave her high and dry to fix this issue on her own. Let her know it’s important for her to speak directly to whomever oversees housing. If she doesn’t get anywhere with this option, I will pull in my client manager to further assist on this issue.

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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:

We will relocate her IMMEDIATELY. Our travelers are not only our employees but also our friends and we have a responsibility to have their best interest in all realms of the assignment. When a traveler’s health or safety is compromised, relocating is the immediate response. I would absolutely send a get-well gift, letting my traveler know further how my heart extends out to them and what they are going through as well as letting them know that when they are fully recovered and ready to travel, I will be here to help assist them with this. I will want to have an over the telephone conversation with my traveler in regard to where are the safest places for her to go in regards to her health issues.

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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 reach out to the traveler immediately and take full responsibility for the issue at hand (someone must take responsibility, it’s not the traveler’s fault). I let the traveler know that we are ON this and fixing it as we speak. I would immediately involve my client manager to get this issue handled asap as she is already in route. I let my traveler know that I will be with her every step of the way while we fix this issue.

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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:

This is a partnership, a relationship based on teamwork and open communication. I am here not just to place you but to develop a relationship with you, as that is how and why things run so much smoother, both on the easy, fun end of things, as well as on the stressful, problematic side of things. Total transparency on both sides, so we never have any surprises when it comes to expectations and what a traveler wants and needs. Communication is key, I’m easily accessible and an over communicator to keep all running smoothly.

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