Miserable in my contract

NedRN · Jan 19, 2015

It is rare that a traveler can change the practices of an assignment hospital and it is big trouble to even suggest that. You may be having interpersonal issues and those can often be worked out. Is this your first assignment? It is very important to finish and have a "successful" assignment on your work history. That will assist you greatly in filtering options after this assignment.

It is always important to reflect on the bigger picture. All the staff nurses are doing fine, right? So can you. Look to see how they are doing their job, ask for tips (which will help not only task efficiency, but with staff relations). And fall back on the traveler mantra: you can do anything for 13 weeks, and unlike staff, then you are out of there! A month left is just 12 shifts or so, right?

There is no positives that come from quitting. Discovering that some travelers have terminated their contracts with no ill consequences (very rare) is not productive to think about. It is better to think about ways to complete the assignment or adjust your attitude to make it achievable.

Good luck to you.

Soliloquy, MSN, APRN, NP · Jan 19, 2015

MsConstrued! I remember your posts. Your first assignment was in the luxurious Hawaii and you loved it! I read your thread and got good vibes from it. I even read your blog. :)

I'm sorry you're having a hard time in Washington. To be honest, it was one of the places that I shy away from around this time of year, but it is close to California, a "Dream travel" place for many nurses. I agree with Ned...but you know what works best for you. :) One more month though...12 shifts and you're free to go wherever you want after that. :)

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2015

Unless your nursing license is truly in jeopardy, you need to tough it out. The penalties for missing shifts or walking out on a contract can be severe.

I was in a bad situation and I never even totally unpacked my bags. Soon I was at the six week mark and I decided if other people have survived this place then so can I. When I was asked to extend, I was polite and said thank you but we already made plans to go elsewhere.

You need to be laser focused on being good at your job. Tune out the other nonsense. It will go quickly and you will be a much stronger nurse and have a whole new appreciation for the hospitals and units who do things the right way.

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2015

For me the gray skies and gloomy weather in that area was unbearable to the point in which I was considering getting on an antidepressant. I was fine when I went to a warmer climate. I was told that a third of U. W. freshmen drop out due to the weather. Some of my coworkers went to tanning booths to relieve their symptoms related to lack of sunshine. It must have been a drastic change going from Hawaii to WA.

Soliloquy, MSN, APRN, NP · Jan 19, 2015

For me the gray skies and gloomy weather in that area was unbearable to the point in which I was considering getting on an antidepressant. I was fine when I went to a warmer climate. I was told that a third of U. W. freshmen drop out due to the weather. Some of my coworkers went to tanning booths to relieve their symptoms related to lack of sunshine. It must have been a drastic change going from Hawaii to WA.

Yes...when i do go out into the world of travel, my motto will likely be, "I can do anything for 13weeks...so long as the weather is in my favor." My morale for things always goes down when it's cold and/or gloomy I'm afraid to say.

Farawyn · Jan 20, 2015

Stick out the month. You can do it.

travelcrazyRN · Jan 20, 2015

oh do I remember this.... my first travel assignment was a complete nightmare. It was the worst 39 shifts I have ever had. I look back and think of all the redflags that I just didn't know about when I accepted the position. One being, I did not know to not accept a travel assignment that does not interview you first.

It was so bad I developed crazy high blood pressure and nose bleeds from the stress(I was in my early 20's and healthy until then). Several times I would go to start someone's IV and my nose would start bleeding. Just the slight movement of bending forward would cause the bleeding. I would take my blood pressure and it would be 200's/100's.

This is what I did to help me get through it:

I compartmentalized each week- I took it one week- 3 shifts at a time. It was easier than thinking four weeks in advance.

On my days off I made sure that I did something fun in the area. It made me enjoy why I actually chose to travel there.

I completely changed my diet to a low sodium diet to help with the blood pressure.

I walked every day after work, and on my days off to relieve stress.

I allowed myself to call out one day (the only penalty besides no pay was a small penalty to cover rent).

I ended up losing 25 lbs over those 13 weeks. Once the assignment was over no more high blood pressure.

In the end I am glad I completed that assignment but still cringe when I think of that assignment.

Also, never ever ever burn a bridge. You never know what will come back around. I absolutely HATED the the floor I worked on and swore I would never walk into that hospital ever again for any reason. Several years later and multiple travel assignments I ended up taking a permanent position at that same hospital in a different department and did not have one problem.

MsConstrued · Jan 20, 2015

Thank you guys so much for the positive advice! I will try to keep a positive outlook and stick it out.

Even though it's not many shifts left, I work 6 in a row with only 1 off in the middle of that so it's a doozy. I attempted to call out for a mental day after a particularly trying 3 days but got called back and given a horrible guilt trip so I ended up not being able to take a day off. It's only my second assignment and I'm a fairly new RN but I am proud of the fact that I can run circles around some of their staff nurses. Everyone complains there. Several of us cry on any given shift. They employ more agency than staff because no one wants to work there and now I see why! The staff nurses have called a union rep about their horrible staffing issues so that will be taken care of soon for those who are stuck behind.

I got back on my antidepressant because of the horrible weather here and also use the tanning bed! And started the DASH diet as well so that is all great advice! There is literally nothing fun to do where I live but luckily my fiance is here with me as well as our cats.

I am looking into a bigger hospital in the Seattle area now but I am considering taking some time off because of how burnt out I feel. I got so spoiled on my first assignment in Hawaii. I wish I could go back. I'm waiting on my California license which has always been the end goal of becoming a nurse so I am trying to keep my eyes on the prize.

So glad there is a place here I can come for support.

raindrop · Jan 21, 2015

I'm miserable too, but I'll get through it and so will you!!

wanderlust99 · Jan 22, 2015

Living in Seattle caused me great depression. I should have prepared for it. All I wanted to do was stay in my apartment and do nothing. As soon as I moved back to where the sun shines, my spirit lifted. I'll never go back.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Jan 22, 2015

Seattle was never on my short list of cities to take an assignment, it more so on my never list.

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