Highway Hypodermics

Tamara Lane

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 be an advocate for my nurse and relay our concerns to the client. I would advise the client that we were trying to work with them but we will no longer be able to accommodate float requests outside of the 10 mile radius of our housing.

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 communicate to the hospital that the NICU is not in her scope of work and that she is not the appropriate nurse to float to NICU. Patient safety would need to be the top concern.

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:

First of all, I would immediately call Nurse Roach and tell her to exit the apartment with all of her belongings. Next, I would ask Nurse Roach to drive to a hotel that she feels 100% comfortable staying in for a few days. I would contact the hotel and provide payment. I would immediately locate another apartment and ask Nurse Roach to preview the unit and proceed with the rental. I would not expect Nurse Roach to stay in any housing that is at that level or close to it.

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:

In this case I would explain the situation to the client. I would suggest that it is best for us to find a replacement for Nurse Asthmatic. I would not feel it is in Nurse Asthmatic’s best interest to complete the assignment. I would swiftly look for another assignment for Nurse Asthmatic that offers a more suitable climate.

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:

Actually this does not happen with our agency. We would never send a nurse contract or to an assignment without a client/agency contract.

Question 6:

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

Answer 6:

I work with great travel nurses that make my job fun and rewarding! I think when we all communicate often and ask for what we need our jobs become even easier.

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