Highway Hypodermics

Tanner Langemeier

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 of all, let Flo know how much I’ve appreciated her flexibility and willingness to take on these challenges. That being said, I would not ignore that her current situation is not what we agreed upon when she signed on for this assignment. I would see what we could do to get her through her current placement, and beyond that, I would do everything I could to ensure that something like this wouldn’t happen again so long as I’m Flo’s recruiter. I would want Flo to know that her needs are heard, acknowledged, and her going the extra mile will also not go unnoticed.

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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:

Beyond liability concerns, I believe it would be entirely unfair to Betty and unsafe for that facility’s patients. I am confident that our company would advocate for the well being of Betty and the well being of that facility’s NICU patients and then further suggests that the facility find a qualified nurse that could float down to the NICU in Betty’s place.

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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:

I would definitely see if we could get an immediate housing alternative lined up (a hotel, for instance) until we can find suitable longer-term housing for Nurse Roach.

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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 would check in to see if there is any way we could get this nurse compensated in any and every way for this unforeseen medical emergency and the time from her assignment that she missed. Should the nurse choose to stick with me, I will do everything possible to prevent future environments from causing health complications.

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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:

As the nurse is already there, I would check in with my manager and see if there is any possible way to get the contract approved. If we cannot get approval, and there is no way for this nurse to continue with the assignment, I would then see if we could get Nurse Roulette reimbursed for her trouble and immediately find an alternative assignment.

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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:

Just be open, patient, and communicate any and all possible concerns or thoughts with me. I want to know everything I can be doing better as humanly possible, and I am so eager to learn and make this process easier for everyone involved. Work with me. Let’s walk and talk our way through this!

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