Highway Hypodermics

Isaac Zambrano

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, I would make sure the 10 mile stipulation was written and communicated in the nurses Assignment Confirmation Form. Second, i would contact the facility directly and represent Flo to the best of my ability ie Flo is a caring dedicated nurse who wants to help your facility to the best of her ability but is not comfortable with the un-agreed upon changes. Third, i would inform the facility that if they have a need for a nurse to travel outside of 10 miles i would be happy to recruit for and fill that need.

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 would immediately inform the facility that the nurse does not have the correct acuity to be moved to a NICU unit and this is not only out of their contract but could potentially interfere with patient safety. If they have a need for a NICU nurse on a per diem basis i would love to recruit for it.

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 book the closest and most adequate hotel to make sure my nurse is not living out of their car. Secondly i would reach out to the multiple housing contacts that we use locally to find a better accommodating stay.

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:

This is where communication and a strong relationship comes in handy. Staying connected with our nurses is more than just finding their next assignment, its about insuring they are happy where you placed them. If i had a nurse who wasn't happy i feel confident in my ability to uncover that and adjust accordingly to make sure something like this does not happen.

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 immediately own the situation. I would never send someone without 100% confirmation but hey mistakes happen and if they did i would admit to it. The best i can do is work to back fill an assignment and compensate any expenses. I would take full accountability and communicate the errors and the game plan to make sure it does 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:

Be honest! Communicate! Find the right fit!

Email this Recruiter!