Highway Hypodermics

Melissa Price

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 thank the nurse for her flexibility and let her know that we will contact the facility to see what could be done to ensure that she will not get floated beyond the 10 mile radius as was agreed upon.

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 let them know that floating the L&D nurse to the NICU is out of her scope of practice as she does not have adequate training. I would only allow for her to float as a traveler to floors she has experience in .

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 notify the housing department right away. In situations such as this , our housing department would place the nurse in temporary accommodations until another suitable apartment opens up.

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 check with Nurse Asthmatic to see if she had planned on returning after she recovered or if we were to consider other locations for her. We would contact the facility and advise them of the nurses health and see if they would be able to hold the position until she recovered. In either case, we would do what was best for both parties.

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:

In uncommon situations such as this , checking with the facility to see if there is a similar position open for the nurse would be the first step. If this is not an option, checking other local facilities would be an alternative solution.

Question 6:

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

Answer 6:

Travel nursing is a fulfilling and empowering experience that requires flexibility , patience and hard work . Communication is key when locating the perfect assignment and makes for a smoother transition for both nurse and recruiter.

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