Why do staff nurses resent us?

RRN · Mar 12, 2005

Couldn't you include orientation time in your contract? We give travellers 3 shifts of orientation. Our hospital does float travellers first, since its in our contract but that's about the only real downside they have at our hospital that I can see. There were some complaining that regular staff doing OT were staying on the unit while they were floated, but it's just the way it is. Like I said, they chose to be travellers and I chose to be staff. There are pros and cons to each decision.

Opps double post...Sorry

fergus51 · Mar 12, 2005

Why would I include orientation time in my contract? I know how to swim. .Usually I'm training staff....

Well, cause when I said travellers should be shown where things are in orientation, you said you didn't get orientation. I would assume you'd want to know where things are beyond "There's the medroom". I would anyways. We like to make sure our travellers know how to find the bathrooms, the breakrooms, patient equipment, paperwork, etc. as well as familiarize them with our computer system, charting, p&ps and such when they first come to our unit. A lot of hospitals do things very differently so we've found a couple of buddy shifts are usually a great way to get travellers used to our unit and its routines. I don't know what kind of nursing you do, but there seems to be a LOT of variation in what different NICUs do across the country. What's acceptable and normal on one unit could be grounds for termination on another.

RRN · Mar 12, 2005

Well, cause when I said travellers should be shown where things are in orientation, you said you didn't get orientation. I would assume you'd want to know where things are beyond "There's the medroom". I would anyways. We like to make sure our travellers know how to find the bathrooms, the breakrooms, patient equipment, paperwork, etc. as well as familiarize them with our computer system, charting, p&ps and such when they first come to our unit. A lot of hospitals do things very differently so we've found a couple of buddy shifts are usually a great way to get travellers used to our unit and its routines. I don't know what kind of nursing you do, but there seems to be a LOT of variation in what different NICUs do across the country. What's acceptable and normal on one unit could be grounds for termination on another.

When did I say I work in a NICU??? You really should try not to *** u me.. I said I rarely work in hospitals..Aren't NICU's in hospitals??... I work in clinics..They are like franchises.. They all look pretty much the same, do things pretty much the same. In a unit about the size of a large house it's hard to hide things from me..

And like I said .. I know how to swim.

And the sign that says staff bathroom was a dead give away.

fergus51 · Mar 12, 2005

I didn't assume you worked anywhere. In my post I said I didn't know what kind of nursing you do. I thought you might want an orientation beyond "there's the medroom" because apparently the op wasn't told where everything was during her orientation and it was obviously a problem for her. So I was just asking if travellers can't include orientation time in their contracts if they want it. Then I explained why our staff need an orientation. That's all. If you don't need an orientation, that's great.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2005

Some travelers have come with a "how can you work here for such low pay, I make $10.00 more an hour than you and I could never work here. This place is horrible, I can't wait until my contract is up. Up North we wouldn't do things like that, you are so backwards here" kind of dialogue, which needless to say can be alienating.

I worked on a newly opened unit for a couple of years and we had 80% travelers (in fact at first I was the only staff member of the night shift) until we could hire staff and it was a mixed bag of people. Some were awesome and fun to work with, others were alienating and lazy.

I've always tried to be welcoming and fair. Many travelers say they get the worst assignments and get more admissions than staff.

Good luck in your travels.

RRN · Mar 12, 2005

Some travelers have come with a "how can you work here for such low pay, I make $10.00 more an hour than you and I could never work here. This place is horrible, I can't wait until my contract is up. Up North we wouldn't do things like that, you are so backwards here" kind of dialogue, which needless to say can be alienating.
I worked on a newly opened unit for a couple of years and we had 80% travelers (in fact at first I was the only staff member of the night shift) until we could hire staff and it was a mixed bag of people. Some were awesome and fun to work with, others were alienating and lazy.
I've always tried to be welcoming and fair. Many travelers say they get the worst assignments and get more admissions than staff.
Good luck in your travels.

Very true.. Most travelers are just like staff.. Some are good some aren't.

BTW I do chronic hemodialysis.. That's why I don't need much orientation.. Heck I haven't given a "new" med in probably 6 years.. Let's see I can probably count the number of different meds on just my fingers.

EPO, Zemplar, Venofer/Ferrelicit, Carnitor, Vancomycin, Gent, Fortaz, and Tobra,, Opps how could I forget our fav. Heparin.. Yep I just made it without going to my toes.

We do have a traveler out in NV where there are NO perm staff so she is training all the new staff so at the end of 13 weeks the unit won't need travelers... Deja vu for me.. The unit told me that 2 years ago..

Travelers are a bandaid over an open cut.. The hospital or clinic or whatever doesn't look under that bandaid for 13 weeks.. When the traveler leaves the hospital/clinic looks, finds a gaping wound and puts another bandaid on it.

Don't blame the traveler for the problem. Blame the institution.. I'm working in the same company as I did at home.. For a travel company.. My motto is the same as the Frame Oil filter.. "You can pay me now or you can pay me later...Later usually costs more".. In my case to the tune of 62%...

If I had been paid what I was worth to begin with I would never have traveled.

mattsmom81 · Mar 12, 2005

I haven't traveled perse but have been doing agency per diem work for decades. I've noticed a real souring of the attitudes towards travel/agency in the past 10 yrs. I suspect staff is just so frustrated and so powerless they take it out on 'outsiders'.

They can usually get away with it too...if the traveler/agency nurse objects, says no to a ridiculous assignment, or speaks up to rudeness, they can get that nurse DNR'd and usually nobody will stand up for the outsider. We're a disposable group they can safely knock around.

I wrote a thread recently in the agency forum about this issue. Its gotten a lot harder out there to just go in and do a good job due to the attitudes, expectations and dysfunction.

But...I've moved to a new area now and hoping things will be better here. We'll see. :)

dazzle256 · Apr 1, 2005

Hi I do travel nursing right now.
Although I get on well with the other nurses most of the time, I get more help from the other travel nurses on the floor.
Sometimes there is an attitude of "sink or swim".....
Why?
When I was staff I was glad to see travel nurses - more help.

I've never done travel nursing but I've seen it. You'd think the nurses would appreciate the help.

MQ Edna · Apr 10, 2005

Ok here is my deal--why should the nurses be jelious because travelers make mroe money than them, when they should be thinking "Ok less chance of me getting floated or cancelled" LOL...look at it like this-

do LVN's resent RN's for making more money?!?! usually not, that's why if possible they go back and get their RN, but dont hate the person because of their title!

And for the record, no names mentioned, there is one thing when you are experienced and know your stuff....but come on do you have to get COCKY and RUDE? just my opinion that is not needed!

NP2BE · May 7, 2005

I
I wrote a thread recently in the agency forum about this issue. Its gotten a lot harder out there to just go in and do a good job due to the attitudes, expectations and dysfunction.
But...I've moved to a new area now and hoping things will be better here. We'll see. :)

Amen! This is not just r/t to travel/agency nursing. I am a new grad, and am generally appaled by the way so many people have treated me and some of my classmates throughout nursing school and externships, which will undubtedly continue throughout my period of being a new grad. Its like if I am not a servile humble student who speaks softly , looks at the ground and pretends to know nothing, then I can expect tons of attitude and even had attempts by one evil nurse to sabotage my last clinical for no apparent reason. On the other hand, many nurses have been wonderful and I thank them for keeping my spirits up. The spectrum is extremely varied and I will never treat a new grad or student this way. I don't treat people that way so why make an exception? I plan to travel nurse after I work my contract out in 2 years, and expect the same sorry attitudes, but at least I will be a nurse, and making good money.

Blackcat99 · May 7, 2005

I've never tried "travel nursing". It sounds great but I have seen how hostile regular staff nurses have been toward "travelers." These same hostile regular staff nurses then piss and moan about having to work overtime. If they would just treat their "travelers" nicely they would want to return and then regular staff wouldn't be hassled to do overtime. :angryfire :uhoh3: