First Assignement

[Diary/Dairy, RN]

Hey there all - I am one month into my first assignment here at NC Baptist Hospital. I interviewed for a cardiac position, but got placed onto a trauma floor. - OOOOOPS!!! I talked to my recruiter about it last week and she was very surprised. She plans to follow up with the facility. Meanwhile, when I got here, I brushed up on my trauma, traction, collar, knowledge base - Should I have called my recruiter that first week?? I honestly believe that there is nothing here that I cannot do or become familiar with, but should I have called earlier?

Just seeking opinions.

[OkieICU_RN]

Well, I'd say it depends on what's in your contract and if you really want to press the issue. If you have ICU experience, you should be well able to handle any kind of pt, as you said you are doing. I'm more trauma/surgical focused and so I hate to do cardiac, but will do it if that's where they put me.

I'd say for the future, if you are serious about working only in one area, say so.......but........you may not be the candidate of choice because hospitals want flexibility with their travelers.

Weird though that they didn't even tell you it was a possiblity during that interview.

[Diary/Dairy, RN]

Well, I am not upset about it - I consider this a learning experience (and I like learning), and the staff here is very helpful, so when I do not know something, I am completely comfortable asking questions. If there was a lot of judgemental help, like being mean for not knowing something, I might press towards getting the assignment changed. As it is, it's not a bad assignment and I am learning and making myself more marketable, so it's all good.