Highway Hypodermics

Samuel Feyka

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 address the situation with the account manager specific to this contract, and try to sort things out. If the situation were to continue, I believe an adjustment in pay would rectify the situation due to the issue.

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:

If this instance is beyond the scope of practice you are comfortable with. I would not allow Nurse Betty to jeopardize her license.

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 be there to console with Nurse Roach. We would both work together and include our housing department, to find a solution to the issue.

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:

My initial call is going to ensure Nurse Asthmatic is in well health. From there, I would be contacting the facility to be crystal clear about the situation at hand. Unfortunately things do happen and the nurses health is the most important thing. We can always find a replacement..

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 be completely transparent about the situation at hand. Underlying issues do happen occasionally but if first day instructions were present, we could avoid the situation in front of us. Be supportive and help find the next assignment! We have to keep moving forward..

Question 6:

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

Answer 6:

One of the most important things is to be transparent and flexible. Most facilities do bring a traveler in because they need help in more than 1 department so do not be afraid or timid to float. Communication is also very important because we can only be as excited as you are for your assignment!

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