Assignment not as described

[Lady_Leijing, BSN]

So I'm on my 3rd travel assignment and I've encountered a hitch. Without going into too much detail, I took a job that was supposed to be a level 2 NICU position that "may occasionally float to newborn nursery". I've worked in the NICU exactly 1 night so far, and I've been in the nursery for the last four weeks.

I mentioned it to my recruiter, and he's emailed their contact with the hospital (no response yet). He thinks that, since they were less than honest about which unit needs staffing, he can get me out of this contract without penalty, but I'm unsure.

Has anyone else encountered a situation like this? Should I stick it out or try to get out of this contract and move on?

[NedRN]

What's the gripe? You are being floated to an easier unit right? You are not going to lose your skills in 13 weeks.

But know you know to grill the manager during the interview about the likelihood of floating, or to insist on a no-float contract. Stick it out and chalk it up to a learning experience! Enjoy and explore the locale. That is one reason you are traveling one presumes.

[RNNPICU, BSN, RN]

Just stick it out. This may just have been a rough patch for the other unit that was unforeseen. Typically travelers are the first to float. I have known some travelers to float for several shifts in a row. Just stick it out, you may pick up some new skills for your next assignment. You may even find a baby that should be in NICU but was in newborn nursery.

[Lady_Leijing, BSN]

On 2/11/2019 at 4:41 PM, NedRN said:

Enjoy and explore the locale. That is one reason you are traveling one presumes.

Ah, this things that happen when we presume... I actually started travelling because of a job shortage in my home town. 5 nursing schools and 2 hospitals does not leave much room for changing jobs. I've continued travelling for the experience and the pay. While I know I won't lose my skills in the 13 weeks I'm here, being in a newborn nursery again is making me feel like I'm back at the job I left a year ago.

On 2/11/2019 at 5:12 PM, RNNPICU said:

Just stick it out. This may just have been a rough patch for the other unit that was unforeseen.

One of the other travelers here has only worked NICU 3x in her whole assignment, and she's leaving in a couple weeks. I was even told on my first orientation night by my preceptor that I will probably be spending most of my time in nursery. She was in a bad mood that night, so I hoped she was exaggerating; she was not.

On 2/11/2019 at 4:41 PM, NedRN said:

What's the gripe? You are being floated to an easier unit right? You are not going to lose your skills in 13 weeks.

Easier is relative. Most ICU or step-down nurses would not say floating to a med-surg unit is "easier".

I've gone from having 3 babies that are totally in my care and constantly monitored to 4-6 babies that are in rooms spread out across the unit and are primarily being cared for by their parents. I spend a LOT of time reteaching and trouble-shooting breastfeeding. Anything I do that needs equipment requires me to push it down the hallway to the patient's room. I have to do all the clerical paperwork and put in the pediatricians orders in addition to my charting.

I'll probably stick it out. As I said, I'm not sure I really want to cut a contract short; I can't imagine that looks good, even if it's not my fault. It's suppose to get really busy in the next month, and they are paying me extra to staff me as NICU, even though I'm working in nursery. I just never thought that "occasionally" floating to newborn nursery would turn into almost always working in newborn nursery.

[NedRN]

Chances are good that you are getting nursery pay and not NICU. This hospital has learned that they can get a higher trained person for the same cost. That gives them more flexibility, and professional depth for free! All part of the game.

And part of the game is to sign up with different agencies. If you have only worked for one agency, it is possible you are not making what you are worth. You don't know what your market value is in any given location talking to only one agency.