travel nursing nightmare

Nurses General Nursing

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so I am a travel nurse. have been for a year now with the same company. to make a long story short, I am stuck in hawai'i. yes, I used the words "stuck" and " hawai'i" in the same sentence. last week I found out that someone in the contract department decided to change my availability to days/nights from my stated days/evenings. the local hawai'i office received one contract, i received another different copy. now am being asked to be flexible, my day shifts have been cancelled by the hospital becuase they dont need day nurses, they need night nurses. i cant work for any other local agencies becuase i was advised by my recruiter to "walk through" my hawaii license application instead of applying for a permanent one. this temporary license has a stipulation that i can only work for my agency.

so, i have not worked for 2 weeks, going on 3. the local office is trying to get me booked at other hospitals but since i havent been to their orientation i have to wait. i dont know if i am going to get paid for every shift that is cancelled. i cant go sightseeing and enjoy the city becuase that means spending money i might not have. my landlord wont return my deposit if i leave. and to top it all off, i bought tickets for my mom to come out here and visit all the way from new york. in total i am going to be at a loss of almost $3 grand if i leave. which in turn will be more costly to me becuase of the geographic matter. i want them to remiburse me for all my acquired expenses. but, i am afraid to tell them i want to leave fearing they will say i am not cooperating.

does anybody have any suggestions? legal or otherwise?

well, i only worked 20 hours lat week. this week so far 20 as well. i did an orientation for another hospital. i have not received my permanent license, so i cant really do any per diem work any where else. which by the way i heard they pay up to 45/h for weekends.

i consulted with 2 laywers and both have told me to go back home and sue them for fraud and to recup fees associated with that. so, there are no flights to san diego until this weekend and after that they are in the 800-1000 range.

i have decided to stay for a month and then leave. i will consider legal action depending on how much money i am out.

does anyone have any idea where i can launch a formal complaint? besides this forum, of course.

be careful which agency you pick and the offers they make you. i personally know of a group of filipino nurses who came over through an agency and were forced to work in an institution for children on vents and they were short staffed, overpaid, underworked and even treated as housekepping staff. get everything in writing, confirm salaries, and get references from other employess, they cant deny you seek information on them. good luck!

Tough situation.Do You have a copy of your signed contract? If you do, which is cheaper staying with no work and puting out for living expenses ,or losing your deposit? Can you swap Moms ticket for a ticket home for you? If you have a copy of your signed contract you could probably take them to court and be reimbursed for at least some of your expenses .Depends on the contract you signed.I'd have an attorney look at it and advise me.That won't be too expensive.Also ,What company are you with so I can avoid them ?:banghead:

Specializes in Telemetry Step Down Units. Travel Nurse, Home Care.

When life gives you lemons...order tequila and give me a call.

Good Luck

:redbeathe :yeah:

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