[mitchellrn]

I am 4 year RN and have recently completed a 2 week per diem assignment in CA. It went pretty well, but I was at 4 hospitals in 4 days. That was challenging. I cannot take a long travel assigment b/c I have 2 small chidren, and I would like something where I could be at the same facility for at least the majority of the time. I have researched travel nursing some and they ask for a 2 week commitment. I am having a hard time getting a company contact. I have sent e-mails and left messages for Strike Nurse USA and haven't had any return response. I am hearing that there is a strike in the San Franscisco Bay Area. If anyone knows of a good company that staffs for strikes, I would appreciate the contact information.

Thanks,
mitchellrn

[Kimbalou]

Have you crossed a picket line before? You're pretty gutsy to ask about places that staff for strikes!! Why not just work in a hospital where there isn't a strike going on? Wouldn't that be easier??

[caroladybelle]

Originally Posted by Kimbalou

Have you crossed a picket line before? You're pretty gutsy to ask about places that staff for strikes!! Why not just work in a hospital where there isn't a strike going on? Wouldn't that be easier??

The poster did not ask that - she asked about information about staffing strikes. She has also explained why.

We do not have to like what the poster asks, but respect the choice.

Perhaps, teeitupTom will pop up to give advice.

[Kimbalou]

Originally Posted by caroladybelle

The poster did not ask that - she asked about information about staffing strikes. She has also explained why.

We do not have to like what the poster asks, but respect the choice.

Perhaps, teeitupTom will pop up to give advice.

My point was, I think there are ways to find jobs without crossing a picket line. And no, I don't have to respect the choice. Believe me, I have had my issues with a strike in the past...
and to answer the OP, i don't know of any strike ocurring soon.

[NurseyBaby'05]

Originally Posted by caroladybelle

The poster did not ask that - she asked about information about staffing strikes. She has also explained why.

We do not have to like what the poster asks, but respect the choice.

Perhaps, teeitupTom will pop up to give advice.

caroladybelle, you're bad! ( . . . . . . but funny . . . . .)

[TinyNurse]

USnursing is probably your best bet if you are looking to staff strikes. Their site posts current as well as prospective strikes. Just make sure they have all of your info/credentials so that you are ready to go at a moments notice.

[dawnyrn]

I know that everyone has a unique situation in life and I wouldn't judge someone that crossed a picket line to work because they may be under such financial hardship that they have no choice at that time. Having said that, I think that crossing a picket line is generally wrong. It undermines everyone's ability to negotiate safe staffing ratios, higher pay and better working conditions that we can ALL benefit from and make nursing a better profession. If you have any other choice, don't scab on your nursing colleagues. They strike because they have been pushed to the limit and crossing the picket line shows a lack of respect for your OWN work and the profession.

[mitchellrn]

I did not mean to ruffle feathers with my question. Only wanted some helpful advise on travel companies. Didn't really want anyone's opinion on anything else. But since this has apparently opened a can of worms, let me say a couple of things.

I live in the Southern US and there are no unions here and no one fighting for the rights of nurses. Believe me I have been in situations where I sure would have liked to had someone fighting for me. As a new grad I worked nights 7 on 7 off, on a 27 bed Med Surg floor. I was the only RN, working with 2 LPN's and a NA. It was NUTS.....to say the least. There were shifts that I was doing really good to see some of those patients twice in a shift. Thank the Good Lord I never had a bad outcome. It was truly putting my license on the line, and I transferred from that area as soon I had a little experience under my belt.

I personally don't feel that nurses taking care of patients during a stike is interferring with the nurses pull for their issues at all. Patients are sick and need care. The issues with the full time staff is a separate issue. The facility would never realistically consider staffing their entire facility with agency nurses year round. What a nightmare!!!! The facility really has no other option but to make their staff happy and get the issues settled....And the quicker the better.
The nurses have their issues and they have every right to strike. However, did someone tell the patients that they should hold off on their illness until the strike is over and the nurses are happy. I don't think so.

As for the comment from Caroladybelle. I didn't ask for your respect for my decision.

As for Dawnyrn.....your reply is a contradiction in itself. First you say you wouldn't judge, then you say crossing the picket line shows a lack of respect for your own work and the profession.
Is that not judging?????????????????????????????????????????


Neither of you know me nor my values or work ethic. I became a nurse for a reason. I feel like I am doing a ministry with my work. I have a great respect for the traditional nurse and what nursing once was. Too many nurses I see today did not get into nursing for the right reasons and are not serving the purpose that I believe nurses should serve.....what the profession was intended to be ...to meet the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of patients. I strive every shift to be the nurse that makes a patient feel better ....simply by providing a warm smile, a listening ear, a soft voice of encouragement, along with skills and knowledge. I am an excellent nurse and my employers, patients, and coworkers are proud to have me in this profession. So with that said my decisions are based on my feelings and opinions and what is best for my family. So whether or not I will work a strike .....I haven't decided yet. I am researching travel companies along with companies that cover strikes. Whatever my decision, it will not be influenced by your opinions.

[TazziRN]

OP....I respect your right to your opinion/values/ethics, but I have to say I have funny feelings about someone who looks for strike positions. You're right, the pts deserve the best of care, but at the same time I feel that this is a slap in the face of the striking nurses. You may be expensive for the hospital, but not nearly as expensive as not being able to find coverage for these pts.

[dawnyrn]

You said, "The facility really has no other option but to make their staff happy and get the issues settled" If it's so easy...why don't they do it everywhere???? Why did you ever have a night with 27 patients that you only saw once if it's so easy to get employers to bend to the whim of employees? I said I didn't judge and individual for making the decision. But yeah, I do think it's wrong. It's only my opinion though. You should have expected a backlash by posting about strike nurse positions on a public forum catered to a unionized profession. Geez. Know as much as possible about CNA and what this strike is actually about before you cross. Go to http://www.calnurses.org/media-cente...temID=31777255 to read about it.
Also, there is a hospital in the Bay area that is staffed almost 80% with travelers and temporary staff, so yeah, its already happening.