Okay, so I took my first assignment at John Hopkins in Baltimore and I've been there for three weeks. Well, I travel with another nurse that was contracted with me for 13 weeks on another unit. Well, after three weeks, I thought everything was going well. However, I heard that they hired 7 more people for the unit, so I knew that I probably wasn't going to be resigned, which was fine with me. To make a long story short, a couple of days ago, I received a call from the quality assurance nurse telling me that both of our contracts were cancelled due to "clinical issues." They basically came up with lies about different circumstances and really dumb issues that were not even clinical related such as coming in 15 minutes early (the time I was told in orientation and by my recruiter). Basically really dumb things. So, anyway, I have no clue what to do. I have been living in this apt for 3 weeks, my roommate and I both got our reimbursments for travel and license and she has received two checks for the living stipend. My recruiter told me that the research has told them they are putting the reason as "a scheduling problem" and she is finding us a new assignment. I asked about the housing situation as I'm still here and she has told me to hang tight and have a nice weekend, she would call me on Monday.
So, has this happened to anyone? Do you think I have to pay the money back for the travel because the hospital cancelled us? Do I leave the apartment now and go back home until they find another assignment for me?
I have to say, this does scare me. Should I look forward to this all the time? I've never heard of what can actually happen to me. The hospital didn't even warn me or tell me there was a problem. I didn't even get to rebuttle.
If you think we do travel nursing just for the "financial advantage" youre crazy. We put up with schedules that are given to us without reguard...schedule changes, sometimes not so nice housing, not knowing who anyone is, doctors or administrators, being lost in new cities. I do it for the experience. I have better skills and knowledge now than ever. I am more outgoing and flexable than ever. You base your judgement on one person who is not willing to learn....and thats sad for you both.
Also, we dont see the money that hospitals "shell out" for us. We dont make that much more. We dont get vacation pay, sick days or even 100% paid benefits. We go sometimes months without seeing our friends and family. So when you get "sick and tired of paying these high fees", just remember what we give up and live without just to help in your staffing crisis!
Amen to that. I travel to be there for my family as they are scattered from Alaska to Florida. I have a gyspy soul and love to travel. There is so much in this beautiful country of ours to see and do and I'm very fortunate to have a job that allows me to see the world. I did not become a nurse for the money and in 19 years that has not changed. In most of the hospitals I have been to, there have been major issues from nurse manager up to administration. It is nice to be able to go and do my job for 13 weeks and know I don't have to deal with all the problems the regular staff has to deal with.
Just as not everyone wants to be an ICU nurse, OB nurse, or Med/Surg nurse (or whatever your specialty is), not everyone wants to be regular staff. It is a good thing there is enough room in the nursing industry to need both regular staff and travelers.
There is a lot of hostility in what is statistical fact. It is not my right to judge what the figures show. Furthermore I am a nurse; I just happen to represent the side of nursing where executive and management take over.
You are telling me that you did travel nursing as a speciality then? To broaden your experience and make you a better nurse? That you do not receive more money then staff nurses who commit just like a partner in marriage for the long haul?
Travel nursing is higher paid, and more dangerous on many levels including the nonconsistency of staff; the ability to know one can "fly the coop" or break a contract. If our profession is to uphold integrity, prepare the foundation for a new generation of nursing professionals then we must END these overpaid and alienating positions.
The nursing shortage is an epidemic get a job and stay there. You can go back to school, progress within an organization, but the costs of these positions are damaging to the acute care setting, the nurses who are committed to working as a team, and the clients and insurers.
Furthermore, you might change agencies for all of them offer vacation, bonuses, insurance, and taking the family along for the ride!
Thank you!
Karen G.
Also, we dont see the money that hospitals "shell out" for us. We dont make that much more. We dont get vacation pay, sick days or even 100% paid benefits. We go sometimes months without seeing our friends and family. So when you get "sick and tired of paying these high fees", just remember what we give up and live without just to help in your staffing crisis!
Yes, I chose to travel for more experience. I had been a nurse for seven years when I chose to travel....and NO we dont get all that money that is paid out. Its sad to see that you think we are not a valuable resource to hospitals. We dont get vacation pay and full benefits. And no my whole family cant come along (2 sisters, 1 brother and a mom and dad who miss me). As well as a husband working for the Navy...being 3 hrs apart all week isnt easy.
But maybe if a hospital paid more and offered more opportunities to "move up the ladder" then yes, I would consider being perm. But where else am I going to learn a wide knowledge base on skills, how other hospitals do things and maybe even better and safer ways of caring for patients. The way I see it, when and if I chose to settle down at one hospital, the skills and knowledge I will bring in are invaluable. Could be the difference in saving lifes or saving on costs. I function as a valuable part of teams when on assignment. I often have staff members ask ME how to do things or use certain equiptment...because I know how!! I have used it at another facility. When other staff and even patients see that we are travelers...they automatically associate that with knowlege and experience, someone they want taking care of their loved ones because we are smart, educated and more well rounded than someone who is stuck in a dead end job for years. Sure you think its great they have been there for years, but do you ever think they might be burned out, have assignment overload?? And burned out nurses provide crappy care. A travler is fresh, friendly and outgoing...follows policies/procedures. Its sad that you concentrate on "saving money" than saving lives. Travel nurses provide relief for those hospitals who care enough about their employees to bring in help and bring down nurse to patient ratios. Kudos to those managers who care enough about there staff to bring in help!!
If you think we do travel nursing just for the "financial advantage" youre crazy. We put up with schedules that are given to us without reguard...schedule changes, sometimes not so nice housing, not knowing who anyone is, doctors or administrators, being lost in new cities. I do it for the experience. I have better skills and knowledge now than ever. I am more outgoing and flexable than ever. You base your judgement on one person who is not willing to learn....and thats sad for you both.
And.....you forgot to mention having to put up with staff that has attitudes like the above poster to your post. Working with people like that poster is the main reason I left staff (after 4 tries at different hospitals) and started traveling. Sometimes some people just don't want to work an extended period of time with those that have 'attitude' problems; but, love the profession and what they do so much that they start traveling.
The statistics are the proof I am not the enemy and they also prove your statements are entirely wrong. Perhaps if you took off your wings and stayed put you'd learn that you owe this to the profession; perhaps if you researched where to work, and what was offered you would get valuable training or tuition for a degree and become professional nurses. Perhaps you'd learn if you did what the majority do, stand proud for, and are safely able to practice.
For the statistics prove you wrong; research them yourselves. I would not work for a corporation that hired travel or per diem; it is my choice as a professional to benefit clients as a whole and to provide cost effective care; support for my staff who knows there is support because they are a part of a valuable team.
I never once insulted either of you; the hostility is yet another question mark; are you afraid that if you did attempt employment of a permanent nature that eager impetus to "fight" might rear it's ugly head well not for me to be concerned about, but the profession as a whole is lacking due to this. Check your agencies if you want more; it is available along with free malpractice insurance!!
Night night!
Karen G.
And.....you forgot to mention having to put up with staff that has attitudes like the above poster to your post. Working with people like that poster is the main reason I left staff (after 4 tries at different hospitals) and started traveling. Sometimes some people just don't want to work an extended period of time with those that have 'attitude' problems; but, love the profession and what they do so much that they start traveling.
I have some better than this. My life is a soap opera. My X roomate in 2000 decided to take a complaint out of my agency employment file and send it to state on me. I did not have good representation and ended with a complaint still on my license. It states that I did not put a bed up at 45 degrees and make a funny statement and nothing happened to the patient. I had the contracted patient at 30 degrees but he would not bend. I spilled a glass a water as the patient smacked his lips as I went to give it to him. He was black and so was the nursing assistant that wrote me up.
Now, my life is ruined in nursing. I am going to a free lawyer to seek help to get it off my record. A certain type hospital that this happened at has seeked me out and fired me twice from nursing travel contracts making sure that I do not ask for employment in their facility. While I have never been to court in my life or been in a law suit. Last summer I had a successful nursing travel contract and got a good reference. I do have several good ones, thank god for something. Now two more nursing contracts happened. I got paid less money then, two people under 50 and had to pay double on my housing which was very poor. To take an update on my ACLS I had to pay for Pals which I did not need. Then, the most rescent contract I was given, was not enough money to pay for my housing and I got sick and was up all night with a flat tire so I lost the job again. I do have a Maine nursing license and I am from a small town there and have property. I am going home as I cannot get work here. I have been black balled from several agencies and one other hospital type. Only
to have this carry over to other hospitals. If I had the strength I would end my life. That is too easy. I am going to have to give up nursing. I have lost everything. Anyone want to hire a nurse and not abuse her. Now, no one near my home will hire me either. All I want is work. I have not done anything bad. Nursing used to be fun and I loved it. I have no other way to make money and I have lost my retirement as I had to spend it to keep my home.
I love to travel because I am 100% nurse and 0% politician. I love my patients and they always feel the same. Where is that Team/family crap that Karen whoever is talking about when they get rid of you because someone just like her realizes that they can get two new grads for what they are paying you? Or when they sell the hospital AGAIN to avoid ever having to honor the retirement plans they promised when you accepted the crappy pay position because you thought you were getting security in return? Real security is earning 2-3 times more money, having 0 debt, self paid health insurance, and a paid in full mortgage BEFORE the age of forty. I worked on the team for years and got kicked in the slats over and over for my troubles. There is no I in team but there is an M and an E. Screw the team beyond my eight hour shift. Medicine has become a business and as a result nurses are more business like. Get used to it.
PS
If you really think you can get rid of agency/travelers you need to check your statistics. In a few years you'll be begging for anyone you can get. Whoot!! Whoot !!
You said a NA wrote you up; since when does this count without a licensed nurse either a witness to or signing off on? Your life is not over, and you cannot give up; perhaps this type of nursing is not your calling--maybe you do need the stability of one position that you can handle with a good mentor at your side when you start.
Check with your state nursing board when you get home. See if you can attain a mediator to work with you. We all know as professionals consistency works best; and it sounds like you need and deserve this in your life.
Sometimes we are tested and it seems you have had your share. I encourage you to continue your desire to be the nurse you can be, and not let this crisis affect your today and tomorrow.
Thanks,
Karen G.
I have some better than this. My life is a soap opera. My X roomate in 2000 decided to take a complaint out of my agency employment file and send it to state on me. I did not have good representation and ended with a complaint still on my license. It states that I did not put a bed up at 45 degrees and make a funny statement and nothing happened to the patient. I had the contracted patient at 30 degrees but he would not bend. I spilled a glass a water as the patient smacked his lips as I went to give it to him. He was black and so was the nursing assistant that wrote me up.
Now, my life is ruined in nursing. I am going to a free lawyer to seek help to get it off my record. A certain type hospital that this happened at has seeked me out and fired me twice from nursing travel contracts making sure that I do not ask for employment in their facility. While I have never been to court in my life or been in a law suit. Last summer I had a successful nursing travel contract and got a good reference. I do have several good ones, thank god for something. Now two more nursing contracts happened. I got paid less money then, two people under 50 and had to pay double on my housing which was very poor. To take an update on my ACLS I had to pay for Pals which I did not need. Then, the most rescent contract I was given, was not enough money to pay for my housing and I got sick and was up all night with a flat tire so I lost the job again. I do have a Maine nursing license and I am from a small town there and have property. I am going home as I cannot get work here. I have been black balled from several agencies and one other hospital type. Only
to have this carry over to other hospitals. If I had the strength I would end my life. That is too easy. I am going to have to give up nursing. I have lost everything. Anyone want to hire a nurse and not abuse her. Now, no one near my home will hire me either. All I want is work. I have not done anything bad. Nursing used to be fun and I loved it. I have no other way to make money and I have lost my retirement as I had to spend it to keep my home.
YOu spoke of stats. Let you not forget that it is sometime cost efficent for a hospital to hire travel. Often the postions are only for temporary inflex of patients. Like Az , Fl in the winter. Then the snowbirds head back North. So would it be wise for a hospital to hire fulltime nurse for this time period?? I think not. Also the hospital doesn't have the overhead of Benefits for travelers. If you could or would waive your Benies you could make more per hr. So the cost is level. I am sure as nurse and your not an account that you don't actually know the true bottom dollar. my .02 worth!! lol
Now, no one near my home will hire me either. All I want is work. I have not done anything bad. Nursing used to be fun and I loved it. I have no other way to make money and I have lost my retirement as I had to spend it to keep my home.
jlynn325
32 Posts
If you think we do travel nursing just for the "financial advantage" youre crazy. We put up with schedules that are given to us without reguard...schedule changes, sometimes not so nice housing, not knowing who anyone is, doctors or administrators, being lost in new cities. I do it for the experience. I have better skills and knowledge now than ever. I am more outgoing and flexable than ever. You base your judgement on one person who is not willing to learn....and thats sad for you both.