Hospital Terminating RNs for Travel Nursing

[traumaqueen1993]

My hospital is implementing new policy that states that any nurse who wishes to take a temporary travel assignment for Covid-19 relief in hot spots will be terminated. As if that isn’t enough, they’re making those nurses ineligible for rehire if they resign appropriately. We are in a small city with about 300 cases thus far. Our hours are being cut, bonuses and raises will not be distributed this year, and we are expected to perform with dwindling PPE. I feel that it is completely unethical to deal such extreme consequences for nurses who want to 1) help those who are in dire need, and 2) maintain a comparable income to pre-covid.

I’m curious to hear about what other hospitals in low-risk zones are doing about nurses wanting to participate in relief efforts. I would also like to know how one would go about fighting this while remaining anonymous to the establishment for which I work.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

@NedRN is the expert. As another poster suggested,, follow up there!

[walkingon, CNA, LPN]

Slightly off topic here, but how does one join a union when there are none locally? I live a union-busting at-will employment state. Is it possible to join one elsewhere?

[dinah77, ADN]

6 hours ago, walkingon said:

Slightly off topic here, but how does one join a union when there are none locally? I live a union-busting at-will employment state. Is it possible to join one elsewhere?

What state do you live in? Some unions are local to the state, and others cover multi-state regions.

You may live in an at-will state, but there are federal laws to protect you from being dismissed for attempting to unionize.

Whatever specific union is in your area would be able to give you tips.

Unfortunately, you cannot just join a union. Your options are to go work at a workplace that is already union or unionize your workplace

[walkingon, CNA, LPN]

Thank you for the information! Wasn’t sure how it worked. ?

[AnonymousSuper]

What's that I smell?

A wrongful termination lawsuit...

If you want to leave, then leave. Be professional and put in your 2-4 weeks.

If they terminate you due to something that's your god given right to do then one should consider investing in legal counsel...

[ICUyall, BSN, RN]

I’m at a point where literally nothing surprises me. I think what your hospital is doing is beyond shameful! My hospital system, though scandalous in many ways, is allowing individuals to take travel assignments in the hot zones without losing their jobs. But I think that’s also dependent on specialty and if they are getting their hours or not. The only rule is they can’t be gone for more than 3 months.

[Flum Mox]

Hospitals are just like people, and some nurses. There are good hospitals and some bad. My opinion is that your hospital is a bad one.

Hospital has a business to run. They are not there to provide you a job because you have a “calling” to be a nurse. They are there for the patients and if the census is low, you are flexed, but not terminated so they can keep you when they are no longer slow. If you travel and not available, they could just end ties and look for someone who will be there.

There are some travel assignments that are local. You won’t benefit as much but it may be better than staying at the bad hospital. You’ll gain experience at the other facility and there may be opportunity to join as staff. It may be better than your current place, it may not. You get to try them out.

good luck.

[DannyBoy8, RN]

Start naming names. If nurses are too shy to provide specifics given past details you've shared about yourself, create a new account and out the bast4rds.

I'd love to send a lump of coal to your CEO's doorstep.

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

On 4/15/2020 at 4:11 AM, A Hit With The Ladies said:

I've heard it's worst in Florida than nearly anywhere else for nurses. I've heard horror stories about how big for-profits like HCA and other systems staff, and unlike states like Texas and California there isn't a nursing shortage in Florida (for some reason) so the healthcare execs have more leverage to exploit nurses!

A lot of these types of hospitals will TRY to make you bend to their terms-a bit harder to enforce-especially if you call them out on it.

I worked PRN. worked my own schedule, just had to commit to two weekend shifts a month-my choice which ones. I worked two other jobs. Sometimes I shared this information, sometimes I didn’t. It was my choice.

Unless you tell them you are giving them your two week notice for a travel assignment then how the hell would they know? Unless you tell someone....their cutting hours-it’s business. You need money to pay your bills-again it’s business decision. For all they know your quitting because you want to stay at home and live off savings, binge on Netflix, rearrange your sock drawer, DO NOT TELL them about the travel assignment unless your travel company is going to contact them. If possible, switch from staff to a lesser commitment.

I dealt with a big company before. I was PRN, they tried to drag me into FT/PT staffing rules. I called their bluff. They spoke with HR. I never heard anything else about it, went back in on my next scheduled shift, no issues And left when I chose to do so a year later. now I don’t work in acute care anymore. Sick of the political BS and attempted abuse of power. The should be providing proper PPE before they think they can tell you what you can do on your time off.

[RN1007]

I had a very similar experience recently. My director gave me confirmation that I could go PRN without any hesitation so I could take a 8 week contract. I signed the travel contract and got taken off my current work schedule because I got her OK. Well my other coworker inquired about doing this as well and my manager suddenly escalated it to all of the higher ups (HR, CNE, CNO) and they ultimately said we couldn’t do PRN and that if we left to take this contract, we would be a “disgrace” and this would be seen as a “disloyal” act to the organization because we are in the midst of a pandemic and are short staffed and would be on a black list for all the organization. What frustrates me is that others have also left in the midst of this pandemic for school or even for contracts in NY, so why are we being reprimanded for trying to chase an opportunity? I feel that we got played so dirty and it’s just a huge power move on their end.

[toomuchbaloney]

4 hours ago, RN1007 said:

I had a very similar experience recently. My director gave me confirmation that I could go PRN without any hesitation so I could take a 8 week contract. I signed the travel contract and got taken off my current work schedule because I got her OK. Well my other coworker inquired about doing this as well and my manager suddenly escalated it to all of the higher ups (HR, CNE, CNO) and they ultimately said we couldn’t do PRN and that if we left to take this contract, we would be a “disgrace” and this would be seen as a “disloyal” act to the organization because we are in the midst of a pandemic and are short staffed and would be on a black list for all the organization. What frustrates me is that others have also left in the midst of this pandemic for school or even for contracts in NY, so why are we being reprimanded for trying to chase an opportunity? I feel that we got played so dirty and it’s just a huge power move on their end.

Disgrace?

Disloyalty?

Nah. They are playing on your emotions.

[juniperdewd]

And yet for 45 years the GOP and subsidiaries from faux to limbaugh have been attacking unions. people ought to realize there is a reason unions came into existance.

On 4/15/2020 at 7:17 PM, dinah77 said:

You may live in an at-will state, but there are federal laws to protect you from being dismissed for attempting to unionize.


good luck with that especially in states controlled by rightwing "right to work" laws and legislators.