I want to quit my travel assignment after 1 month

Published

I hate my assignment. This is my 1st travel assignment and the working conditions really suck at times. The place is a dump, the docs don't seem to care, nurses call out all the time, nurses have left witout giving me report, I get 1-2 admissions/shift and get tripled and quadrupled at times....this is an ICU keep in mind. Last night was the worst though...It was my 5th night in a row and my shift was over at 11pm. 4 nurses called out for the 11-7 night shift. Around 10pm the nursing superviser came to the unit and told me i was being mandated by the director of nursing to stay until 7a.m. Lets just say I did not take this well and basically told her that that her or the DON had no authority to decide this. I called my company and they told me this could not happen. I called the superv back because she is expecting me to stay and told her that they wanted to speak with her. She called the DON again and they called me back and said i was right they could not force me to stay. Of course in the meantime the charge nurse and other staff nurses are furious with me for not wanting to stay. I don't want to go back....I hate my job. :cry:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That sounds awful! If I was told I had to stay for a night shift I would refuse. Staying allows that hospital to continue with their poor management and awful staffing issues. How can one avoid a situation like this in the future when taking travel assignments?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This is something that you need to discuss with your agency immediately. Be aware that you could be responsible for the housing for the remainder of your contract if you leave early as the agency has signed a lease for the apt, if they are providing one for you. And the agency does not need to provide transportation home for you, or reimburse you the expense if you drove.

It is always very important to check out the facility that you are being placed at and know what is going on there before you leave for your assignment, and actually before you even accept it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This is part of the "dark side" of travel nursing -- it's not that uncommon that the facilities that are willing to pay the huge amounts of $$$ to use travelers have to do so because working conditions there are so bad that local nurses won't work there and they can't staff the hospital otherwise ...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, Rehab, ACU-Telemetry.

I would agree with Suzanne. Do your research before accepting an assignment. Travel companies are the one's who know the 'ins & outs' of hospitals, etc. Your company should of known how bad the hospital was, because they have a 'contract' with them. I would try my best to 'suck it up' and 'stick it out', or look into another travel company. Try your best and not let this ONE BAD assignment, stop you from wanting to travel again. And pass the word around to other travelers, so that they don't have to experience what you went through.

Kathy

Up Vote Up Vote ×

thread drift... how can you leave an icu or any other nursing floor without someone else to cover your patients? isn't that abandonment? i understand it isn't safe to stay but can you just leave?

dan (still under the influence of education)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i am well aware of laws, such as "abandonment". i don't want to lose my license. I did not walk out. a nurse took report from me before i left. if they refused to take report i would have stayed until 7am when they had more staff.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You did not abandon anyone, that was never the point. You just need to contact your agency to see what they want you to do. Suspect that they knew how things were when they placed you there in the first place.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
i hate my assignment. this is my 1st travel assignment and the working conditions really suck at times. the place is a dump, the docs don't seem to care, nurses call out all the time, nurses have left witout giving me report, i get 1-2 admissions/shift and get tripled and quadrupled at times....this is an icu keep in mind. last night was the worst though...it was my 5th night in a row and my shift was over at 11pm. 4 nurses called out for the 11-7 night shift. around 10pm the nursing superviser came to the unit and told me i was being mandated by the director of nursing to stay until 7a.m. lets just say i did not take this well and basically told her that that her or the don had no authority to decide this. i called my company and they told me this could not happen. i called the superv back because she is expecting me to stay and told her that they wanted to speak with her. she called the don again and they called me back and said i was right they could not force me to stay. of course in the meantime the charge nurse and other staff nurses are furious with me for not wanting to stay. i don't want to go back....i hate my job. :cry:

what company are you with? its not in your contract to be mandated. i wouldnt go back until this is all cleared up and the hospital is going to follow your contract. if not, find a new assignment, there are tons of companies and tons of jobs....you dont need one that is stressful...thats not what travel nursing is all about. you should be able to take a voluntary quit with no penalties...

...best wishes...jodi

recruiter's names are not permitted to be posted. your name also edited to protect your safety here.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Please be aware that if one cancels their contract, or the facility cancels them, then they are responsible for the payment of the remaining rent on their 13 week contract as well as do not get travel expenses home covered either.

It is not a smart thing to do without having large penaltied incurred. This is why you always check out a facility before you go to it or sign a contract to be placed there. Extremely important to do, just because a friend went to the same city, there can be many differences in facilities and how they are run.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

How about breaking a contract when the agency hasn't provided you with any housing? I'm wondering b/c I am currently in an assignment that scares me to death (for my physical safety as well as my license) and thinking of breaking it. I have my own lease with the apt complex that I found on my own. What kind of penalty could the company impose if I backed out? I've only been at the facitlity for 2 weeks. I agree with other posters that you should "suck it up" as much as you can when you can. But this place is making the front headlines on my local paper. You're right about checking hospitals out before agreeing. I stayed in touch with other travelers about assignments but this one got me completely blindsided. I had NO idea how bad it could be.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You need to contact your agency and discuss this with them, each has their own contract specifics that you agreed to.

Were you aware that there were any issues with the facility in the first place? Did you do your research on the facility before you signed the contract?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment