Assignment Nightmare

gr8rnpjt, RN · Dec 20, 2005

I have almost completed my first assignment and it has been a nightmare. My housing is ghetto, in an extended stay hotel which is basically a room with a little kitchen area, no place to put anything and its ugly. There is section 8 living there and the fire alarm goes off(its deafening)about 4 times a week(usually when I am in shower or asleep). I don't get my mail, staff is unprofessional and rude, etc. I could go on and on. Plus it takes me 1/2 hour to 45 minutes to get to work. Agency also overpaid me which I didnt realize because I get direct deposit and pay stubs went to my moms house. So now I have to pay it back. I have had had ZERO input into my schedule. For some reason a secretary in th nursing office is in charge of me and she refuses to call me back. I was told I had to work every other weekend, and one EVE and one Day as far as Xmas and NY was concerned. I have worked almost every weekend and she put me on EVERY holiday. That is NOT in my contract and I would never agree to that. It was changed to an eve and a day by another member of administration and then this secretary changed it twice after so I had to canceel my plans. My agency did not back me up on this at all. I have brought up the housing issue SEVRAL times and nothing has been done. Agency never calls me back. Plus I was told insurance was PPO and it is an hmo. How can you have an HMO if you are traveling? Does that mean if I move I have to change my primary doc every 13 weeks? The ER I am working in is fine.. its just everything else! Am I overreacting?????

It sounds like a nightmare! Can't you go over the secretary's head? IT sounds unsafe and I would say that if there is even one violation of the contract then the contract is null and void. Try to go over the secretary's head.

suzanne4, RN · Dec 20, 2005

Which agency are you working for? You can pm me if you do not want to post it here. What is exactly written into your contract? Word for word. Not what your recruiter promised, but as written.

I will seen then if I can make any suggestions for you, but it is hard to give advice without knowing the actual specifics as written.

KatieBell · Dec 20, 2005

Sorry you are having a bad time of it. It is almost to the end of the contract, so I would suggest yougo with a different company for your next travel assignment and that you get things in writing. For example- I just accepted a contract- they have sent me photos and a phone number for the apt complex, I'll be in- so I've called and asked all sorts of questions. They even included a map with the fastest ways to get to work etc. I also called the NM and asked how scheduling is done etc- so I knew before I signed the contract. All companies should do this- if yours doesn;t then it is time to find a new one.

Now, on a side note:

I lived in Section 8 housing for a lot of nursing school, it really offends me that you would insinuate that section 8 people are in some way undesirable or offensive. Many of these people are very hardworking people just trying to make a living and support a family.

NurseJacqui · Dec 20, 2005

It was not meant to be of offense to you. A lot of people on public assistance are hardworking but a lot of them also aren't. I grew up poor and have lived in many poor urban areas and I have never been on public assistance but I know a lot of people who have and unfortunately it is often abused. Sadly you are probably the exception to the rule. I say this based on things I have seen and heard from people I know receiving section 8 and various other forms of public assistance. Straight from the horses mouth. But that is neither here nor there.Sorry if I offended you. Not for nothing, I feel I am entitled to quality SAFE housing nonetheless. There have been drug busts here and several fires. Plus, my room is entered even when I have the "do not disturb" on door. There is no security at all and I have been followed to my room on several occasions by a group of guys who were clearly not there on a business trip. As for the secretary, I went over her head and got my schedule changed and she just changed it back. Apparently she is assigned to take care of scheduling for agency nurses.

nightingale, RN · Dec 21, 2005

TerraRN:

I am sorry for your awful experience; I hope you will be willing to try another assignment. This poor treatment is not the norm.

I do want to point out to all posters..... please stay on topic.:)

Moderator Staff Member

TravelRNMike · Dec 21, 2005

I'm on my second assignment, and have just renewed for another three months. I had some scheduling problems in DC (worked 10 Friday nights in a row!), but out here in CA, there are Union based regulations against such abuses. I hope you'll give it another chance, but FIND A NEW COMPANY! You are making your recruiter and his/her bosses money, and if they aren't working to fix problems you are having, there are PLENTY of others who will!

NurseJacqui · Dec 22, 2005

My agency is not calling back. When I do get ahold of my contact person he basically yes's me to death and says he will get back to me and never does. I told him I wanted new housing months ago. He told me on Monday that the housing person was fired and that he would spend some time on Tues and go over things with me. Nevet happend. Phone calls not returned. I called today and after being on hold was told he would get back to me in a half hour. Its too late for me to go somewhere else because this contract ends in 2 weeks and I need a job and a place to live. I use my mothers address but I havnt lived there in 10 years. I guess I am learning the hard way. I mean they pay well but everything else sucks.

suzanne4, RN · Dec 22, 2005

My agency is not calling back. When I do get ahold of my contact person he basically yes's me to death and says he will get back to me and never does. I told him I wanted new housing months ago. He told me on Monday that the housing person was fired and that he would spend some time on Tues and go over things with me. Nevet happend. Phone calls not returned. I called today and after being on hold was told he would get back to me in a half hour. Its too late for me to go somewhere else because this contract ends in 2 weeks and I need a job and a place to live. I use my mothers address but I havnt lived there in 10 years. I guess I am learning the hard way. I mean they pay well but everything else sucks.

I hope that you are not considering signing another contract with them. You can easily go to another state, especially one that has walk thru and get set up right away. It is not too late. I will be happy to help you in any way that I can, but definitely do not sign another contract with this agency.

NurseJacqui · Dec 22, 2005

Like I said, I have no choice but to do another assignment with them. I am staying at the same hospital which is fine. I really like the ED I am working in and the people are great(except for that secretary) but a lot of these problems have come to light recently and I dont have time to find a new agency. My contract ends in less than 2 weeks. I am only licensed in NY and NJ . I don't have time to find another agency or get another state license. I don't have anywhere to live, no furniture nothing. I am certainly looking into other agencies after this coming assignement ends but right now I have kind of screwed myself. I can't afford to be out of work. The housing is the biggest problem. Guy still hasn't gotten back to me. I am so miserable. At this point I am so apprehensive about this whole travel thing. I don't know who to trust.

NPAlby · Dec 22, 2005

Can't you get the housing stipend instead of accepting the housing arrangements they make for you? I know some nurses that had to stay at a crappy place for a short period before they found an apt but they we're receiving the housing allowance from the get.

You don't have to answer but who in the HECK are you using? I really would like to know what company works so sh**ty . Can you work into your contract to have a nm do your scheduling? I kind of got done the same way - working every weekend but they did comp me by giving me 3 weekends off in a row. Oh and I can tell them when I can't work, "Oh I won't be able to make it that weekend." I know it might not be the same at your facility but try asking for more or forget asking just tell them you won't work every single weekend. GOOD LUCK!!

NurseJacqui · Dec 22, 2005

Well I am making a little bit of headway. Finally got in touch with guy and he said he is working on the housing right now and will get back to me within the hour. So if that is fixed, it will be OK. A big problem is that the hospital I am working for is part of a system and has a separate department that deals with agency. I don't understand why the unit managers can't schedule their travelers but there is nothing I can do about it. I also got it written into my new contract that I work every OTHER weeknd. He yelled at me when I said I feel I have a right to go over the schedule with secretary. He basically said I am at their(hospital's) mercy. I know I am there to supplement the staff and that is fine but I still think I should get input. I am still human and still have a life. I don't think I am being unreasonable. So we will see what happens.