Highway Hypodermics

Misty Wilson

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 apologize to Nurse Floating Flo and reassure her that this is what I am here for, and I will handle this situation for her and advocate on her behalf with the facility. I would then contact the facility account manager and remind them of the terms of the Nurse Floating Flos contract. If there was a change that was needed, then I would be sure to communicate that with Nurse Floating Flo and make sure it is reflected in her assignment confirmation.

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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:

Health Providers Choice has a Clinical nurse Liaison to assist should situations as this arise. I would immediately connect nurse Betty with our Nurse Liaison to evaluate her skills to confirm if she is competent to float to the NICU. If she is not willing/capable of floating, I would contact the facility’s account manager to notify them that it is outside of Nurse Betty’s scope of practice and that she is not to float to the NICU. Health Providers Choice would never put our nurses in an unsafe situation.

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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:

Nurse Roach: I would reassure Nurse Roach that I would do anything I can to assist her in finding alternate housing. I would immediately begin calling nearby Hotels or other suitable housing options. I would then contact the Housing management to make them aware of the situation and seek a refund on housing.

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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:

I’d sympathize with Nurse Asthmatic and continue to check in on her to see how she is feeling throughout those two weeks and provide her with our short-term disability paperwork to ensure she was receiving some income while out on medical leave. If Nurse asthmatic is willing and cleared by her doctor to continue working to fulfill her contract, I would notify the facility and let them know when she would be able to return to fulfill the remainder of her contract.

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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:

Health Providers Choice has many steps to prevent something like this from happening; we always require a written offer as well as an assignment confirmation. We also stay in constant communication with the facility during the onboarding phase. However, if this situation were to happen, I would immediately try and rectify the situation by contacting the facility to get a contract in place immediately or look for an alternate assignment to start ASAP.

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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:

I think the key to travel nursing is keeping an open mind, flexibility, and eagerness to learn new skills. I’d say communication and getting the required documents to create your profile are the most important things that could make my job easier in finding you the perfect assignment. The quicker I have what I need, the faster I can get you submitted to the desired positions.

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