Ever Walked Out On An Assignment????

Krither · Jun 26, 2006

Wow, that just sounds horrible.

I'm not even a nurse yet, but I would say that not all hospitals would be like that. They can't be, otherwise, wouldn't the travel nursing industry simply die out?

I hope you find a good way out of this!

jde8767 · Jun 28, 2006

Never "walked out" but quit. It was my first assignment. It was horrible. My travel agency said that it would look bad on my "record" and recommended going back. I was stupid at the time and believed everything they told me. I had made a list of all the unsafe things that were going on. They said it would cost me thousands to break the contract. I told them it was unsafe, and I did not agree in my contract to work in unsafe conditions. They asked me if I did incident reports on everything. Well, Of course NOT! I hardly had time to think, let alone mess around with their ridiculous system.

I finished the contract. I will probably never work in Florida again. And I do not recommend American Traveler.

I had the hours counted down on that assignment. :angryfire

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2006

Terra,

My regrets on the poor assignment.

If I recall, you have had a number of harsh assignments. Have they been with the same company, or have you changed companies?

If so, have you maybe considered revamping your interviewing technique, to weed out the bad assignments.

readysetgo · Jul 3, 2006

I am not an ER nurse, but I can imagine the shifts can get pretty hectic at times. However, that seems like a conspiracy to make or break the travel nurse for the fun of it with no interest in pt care, safety or anything else.

Call OSHA after you leave there. Get another agency. How long have you been traveling? Never walk out - they may turn you into the state for abandonment. When that assignment is over - run fast and far away from there and don't look back. I pray you make it through the next few days of the assignment. By the way, who was shocking the vtach pt?

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2006

I left a 13 week assignment after 30 days, once. I gave my recruiter notice. It was a lot like your ER assignment, only it was chronic dialysis unit. I wouldn't want a dog to dialyze in that place.

My recruiter begged me to stay, but I told him I just couldn't do it. It cost me several hundred dollars to break the contract; I had to pay back the rent money my agency had already paid on a 3 month apt lease. But, it was worth every penny.

My recruiter respected my decison.

I've since done three more contracts with this recruiter, and everything worked out fine.

ruthiebaby88 · Jul 24, 2006

i would recommend getting out if it's that bad - before anything really terrible happens with one of the patients -

frazkw · Jul 24, 2006

WOW!! I just signed up for my first travel assignment and now I am scared. I hope you are able to get out of that bad situation. Good Luck!!

JazzyRN · Aug 13, 2006

Ive walked out on an assignment before due to unsafe assignments and poor staffing. In my experience I told my clinial liason about how dangerous the hospital was and they released me from my contract without a problem. I also spoke with the hospitals management and director of risk management about the craziness of the situation there. I say definitly get out of these kinds of situations ASAP, because when something happens, it will be YOUR license in jeopardy. If I were you I wouldnt give up travelling altogether. Yes it was a bad experience for you, but not all hospitals are that way. Ive had some great travel experience, OK ones and this really bad one. What you can do is, do a little more research on the hospitals you choose to take an assignment with. Visit the facility, speak with the TRAVEL nurses there about their experience, which can be very different from staff. If possible, do some agency work there first, so you really know what your getting into. Good luck and dont let one bad experience turn you off to traveling.

autumnspell · Aug 15, 2006

:penguin: Hey,

Get out no matter what. If somethng bad happens you know YOU will be blamed and your license will be on the line. Even if you have to pay to get out of it, do it.

I used to work in an ER and it was busy beyond belief but nothing like that ever happened. We didn't have travelers then. Do you work with real nurses? It doesn't sound like it.

I can't imagine that your company would make you stay in an unsafe environment. That sounds as unethical as your coworkers sound incompetent.

autumnspell · Aug 15, 2006

:penguin: Hey,
Get out no matter what. If somethng bad happens you know YOU will be blamed and your license will be on the line. Even if you have to pay to get out of it, do it.
I used to work in an ER and it was busy beyond belief but nothing like that ever happened. We didn't have travelers then. Do you work with real nurses? It doesn't sound like it.
I can't imagine that your company would make you stay in an unsafe environment. That sounds as unethical as your coworkers sound incompetent.
never be a penguin in bondage

Nocmom · Aug 16, 2006

Get out NOW!

All you would need is to have a pt. die, and risk being sued, and losing your license. My license is my life and livelyhood. I have wanted to leave some really bad situations, but your's tops anything I have had to put up with. At least I had some really great nurses I worked with, and that is what kept me there. But your situation sounds too dangerous, for you and the patients. And if you have described that situation to your recruiter, and they advise you to stay in this unsafe environment, definitely look at another agency. Yours is not "Nurse Friendly"! Too many out there are! I can't imagine the cost would be that much, if at all, since you are at the end of your contract. GOOD LUCK!