Highway Hypodermics

Michelle Ehrlich

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 immediately reach out to our account executive for the facility and ask them to connect with their client to confirm their understanding of what my nurse agreed to. If they insist that this is what they need I would call the nurse to review what he or she is comfortable agreeing to moving forward, and will arrange for additional compensation for the additional travel time.

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 will advocate for our nurse. If their skills do not match the specialty we will not jeopardize patient safety or a nurses license. I would put the nurse in connect with our CNO to help put her mind at ease and understand the important of working at the top of your license, but not above 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 am always available to my nurses, so I have no doubt I would answer the call. My first action would be to secure the nurse a safe and comfortable room for a night or two. Once he or she is settled in the temporary hotel room I would work with the nurse to find a housing option they were happy with.

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 start looking for a new assignment for this nurse while also talking to my other nurses about backfilling this contract. I would trust the nurses judgement and if their health does not allow him or her to complete the assignment I will work hard to find the nurse a better fit. Moving forward we will check the allergy levels at any new city we submit.

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:

We do not submit any nurses to facilities without a contract, so this would never happen. However, if we pretend that it did, my first steps would be to work day and night to find another assignment in the area. If we are not able to find a contract that the nurse was happy with, I would arrange for his or her travel back home and reimburse any expenses that incurred because of the mistake. I would continue to work to find the best assignment for the nurse. I would make sure nothing like this every happened again.

Question 6:

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

Answer 6:

Transparency on both sides is key. Be upfront with your desired time off so I can work as hard as possible to make it happen. IF you have any hesitation of negative feelings about an assignments, let’s talk about it before you sign! I want to make sure you are as happy as possible so that you can provide the best patient care possible.

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