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?

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Specializes in Tele, Acute.

A few ?'s. RN or LPN?

Where in Hawaii?

Can you work night shift or evening/night?

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RN. I do not work nights. I can do evenings. in oahu

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Specializes in ER.

So, just so I know I've got this straight. You're in one of the most expensive places in the US and haven't worked in almost three weeks...because you don't want to work nights? :confused:

By all means, continue to work with your agency about a new assignment. But if I were you, I would work some night shifts in the meantime for poi money.

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yes, i am in one of the most expensive places in the country. accepted this assignement under the impression i would be working days shift. i do not have the option of saying sorry, this doesnt work for me, get in my car and go back home.

if you think i am the cuase of my problems becuase i dont accept their bate and switch deal, you are mistaken. i am asking for advise on how to deal with this situation without giving up my hard earned money i spent on housing, trnasportation and tickets. i dont expect you to know my work ethic, but i dont appreciate your assumption that i am staying home throwing a tamtrum. and FYI i havent been offered nght shifts either. the nursing shortage does not seem to be an issue here. or hospitals are severely strapped for money. or hawaiins are healthier than the rest of the country.

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Specializes in ER.
and FYI i havent been offered nght shifts either. the nursing shortage does not seem to be an issue here. or hospitals are severely strapped for money. or hawaiins are healthier than the rest of the country.

Sorry, guess I got confused by this..

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.

Best of luck to you....

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Specializes in OB.

Read your contract over very carefully again. If it refers to the "employee handbook" you need to read over that again as well. Unless it says specifically that employee will work only day and evening shift (with the hours stated), you don't have recourse. Somewhere in there it may say something that states you will work other shifts if assigned. If so (and look for tricky wording) you are kind of stuck with it. (What a recruiter told you doesn't matter if it's not in writing). I'm suggesting this because I repeatedly turned down Hawaii contracts for several years because the hospitals/agencies were unwilling to flex on this particular clause.

Keep in mind also that there is probably a statement in there somewhere that you are an "at will" employee. This means you can be let go at any time. There may come a point where you have to decide what it is worth to you to stand on principal or chalk it up to a lesson learned.

Have you contacted the BON to see how to convert your license to a permanent one? Is your housing arranged by the agency or by you? (Important because if they let you go they can tell you to be out of company housing in 48 hours). These are important considerations before you decide which way to go on this.

If you decide to work with them and try to do some nights, sit down with the manager and let them know that you have difficulty with that shift, but are trying to be a team player and ask for concessions such as nights all together, if that works best for you or no more than one night in a row if that is easier for you.

I know this isn't what you want to hear, but I've learned a bit in 12 years of traveling and sometimes it's just going to be something to know for the next contract.

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thanks,

yes, my contract states day/eve. but, the branch received a separate contract from someone in the travel office stating day/nights. my recruiter emailed my contract on 2/21, i signed it and faxed it back. the local branch office states they received their copy on the same day. i have not seen it.

i also have the email string where i told my recruiter i was not willing to do nights as part of the contract. the agency has already admitted wrong doing by stating i was never supposed to have this contract if i was not flexible. they also stated that they were going to investigate what went wrong.

in the mean time i have been available to work every day at any hospital on any floor. just not the night shift since it wasnt what i signed up for. as of right now i dont know if i am going to be paid for the shifts the hospital is cancelling. they havent told me what they plan to do if they are unable to fulfill my contract.

the BON said i will get my permanent license when all the paperwork is received. no rush process available. i arranged my own housing, but i will forfeit my deposit if i leave early.

i have gotten several responses stating why dont i just do nights. well to me its unsafe to jump into the night shift on the short notices they give me.

ultimately i feel corraled into an unfair position. i cant just change jobs. i am 3000miles away from home, family, friends and any other resource that could help me get throught this. i cant tell them, sorry this isnt working, bye. i dont have an apt back home. i made all arrangements to be here and ready to work. now i am being asked to be flexible, to be a team player under conditions where i dont have a fair choice in.

thank you for your advise.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I agree that you are in a tough situation. Would you consider working nights until a day shift opened? Is that an option? If not, then maybe get out now so that you don't spend more money?

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I guess work nights......

I like nights.

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no, healthwise for me its not an option. for those of you who find it easy to go between days and nights, that is your choice. thanks for your reply.

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Specializes in CVICU-ICU.

I have to say after that if I was "stuck" in Hawaii with no $$ and no way to get home I think I'd figure out a way to work nights and get some $$. 13 weeks is a long time to be in Hawaii with no $$ and I have to wonder how you will get the $$ to return home. I doubt the agency will pay for your travel back home if you havent worked.

I understand you don't like nights and I also understand you are attempting to stand your ground on the "bait and switch" tactic that you feel was played by the agency/hospital but there comes a time when the question has to be asked as to who is really getting taught a lesson by standing your ground. Im fairly sure the hospital will survive, the agency will survive and it isnt really affecting them much but can you say that you are not affected by your decision.

I work nights and I love it. On the other hand I DO NOT like days however if I had to work days or be without $$ or homeless I think I'd suck it up and do days.

If the hospital is in need of nightshift nurses then have you considered working ALL nights and adjust your schedule to nights. I am much more safe on nights then I am on days because I keep on a night schedule even on my nights off.

What might work is if you ask to work all your nights in a row..that way you'd be working at night and sleeping in the day but then you'd get all your days off in a row also so you would have the time to enjoy the beautiful state.

I understand its not what you signed up for but instead of making your time there miserable see if there is a way to make this work for you ...when life gives you lemons make lemonade or my newest favorite :

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

Good Luck

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