Ever Walked Out On An Assignment????

gitterbug · Aug 16, 2006

In the end it is your license. Do what you must do to protect it. These companies know the really terrible places, they know your complaints, they have heard them many times before.

Being a professional does not mean you have to continue to take this type of abuse. Inform the company, the HN and HR of your last day. Be firm. Keep your eyes on the future. Other assignments will come. Good luck.

lmessajumper · Aug 20, 2006

I left an assignment early once. My check was direct deposited and they took out the last month's housing expenses that were owed. It did not effect any future jobs with hospitals or agencies. The great thing about traveling is that if you don't like to place, you are only there for a short time. If it is dangerous environment, you might want to get out now, if you can afford it. Cover yourself by reporting the conditions with your agency. If it an assignment you just don't like, I suggest sticking it out. Anyway, life is too short to be unhappy.

Trvln Nurse, RN · Aug 25, 2006

I've had good assignments and bad assignments. When you find yourself in a bad assignment...that's when you find out how good your agency and recruiter are. If they don't back you up 100% Then I'd leave that agency. That first story is the worst I've heard. Personally...I wouldn't have stayed that long. I won't risk my nursing license. I'll work very hard...but I won't risk the license. If I was in a situation like that where I had stuck it out until the last two weeks....I'd either quit then and see how the agency handles the matter...which I'd have well documented. Or....I hate to say it....if I didn't take option#1....a two week sick call would be more than tempting. Personally...I'd be honest with the recruiter and the job manager. I've done this in the past...and it has worked out well for me. I've had that happen to me twice now....with two different agencies....and lucklily they both supported me. I've heard otherwise from other nurses working for other agencies though.

dhogan · Sep 12, 2006

I also left an assignment after 30 days. It was totally unsafe. 8pts was normal. Atleast half were totals, some fresh post-ops and usually 2 in restraints. And this was most nights I worked. I told my recruiter and the company talked to their management, but nothing changed. Finally, I told my recruiter some horrific stories the other nurses told me and she email them that day and told them I would not be returning. She said they would pay the fine because they would not put their employees in any unsafe enviornments. She found me a better assignment and I love it.

Misty1 · Sep 13, 2006

I also left an assignment after 30 days. It was totally unsafe. 8pts was normal. Atleast half were totals, some fresh post-ops and usually 2 in restraints. And this was most nights I worked. I told my recruiter and the company talked to their management, but nothing changed. Finally, I told my recruiter some horrific stories the other nurses told me and she email them that day and told them I would not be returning. She said they would pay the fine because they would not put their employees in any unsafe enviornments. She found me a better assignment and I love it.

Thats a good company doubt mine would do that. They have me in a roach infested low income housing development that isn't safe so doubt they'd stand by me in a bad hospital situation.

SCGreywolf · Sep 23, 2006

Where in the heck are you? I think you might best change your interview technique or review possible assignments with others on this forum. I have been travelling off and on since 1986 and I have only had three assignments that scared me. One because of the staffing, one because of the incompetent docs that ran the unit and one because I got in over my head (didn't have the knowledge I thought I did). But I never quit. I have had assignments where I didn't particularly like it there but only those three (out of 43 assignments) scared me.....and it was MY fault on two of them 'cause I got in a hurry for an assignment.

The wolf

aginggracefully · Sep 23, 2006

TERRA RN!! I am about to start travel nursing for the first time. PLEASE tell me the hospital where you had that awful ER assignment!! I know there are some dreadful places out there and I want to avoid them!!

nekhismom · Oct 2, 2006

I walked out on my second travel assignment. I was considered a "registry" nurse with this agency, so I was expected to work at various facilities in a certain area. THe agency promised me hours, hours, hours, then only gave me TWO hours in two weeks! :no: I had a lot of hassle about other things, too. The pay was ok, but not great, and worst of all, the housing was in a cheap, moldy motel. The agency kept trying to book me on units that I was not qualified for, had no training in, and repeatedly told them I could NOT work without orientation. I attribute it to the agency itself, not my recruiter specifically. My contract stated that if I failed to complete the assignment for any reason that I would owe them for housing costs, but it was worth it to get out of there. I wasted a lot of time, money and effort to prepare for that assignment, but it would have been much worse to sit around half way across the county and not work or make any money at all.

Janet_B_RN · Oct 2, 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?

I won't bother to reply because yours could have been written by me!

Janet_B_RN · Oct 2, 2006

I was going to reply to this post, but you said exactly what I was going to!