Lack of communication between facility and travelers?

[hgraves64]

Hey Everyone,

I started my first travel assignment this January. I regret signing on for 6 months, because the SSRS manager does not update any of the travelers on new policies or education requirements by the facility. I've been blindsided so many times in the past few months by random employees on the floor with questions about modules or training that I was supposed to have done. When I relay this back to the SSRS manager, she's completely out of the loop and takes days to reply with even a bare minimum, unsatisfactory answer. I told my Nurse Recruiter and expressed my wish to cut my contract short, but we can't. In fact, she forwarded my email to the Agency's Clinical Manager for the Facility, who really didn't seem to care, and only said she'd talk to the SSRS manager (not helpful - I already have tried).

It feels like everyone just wants to "pass the buck", and no one wants to listen to my ideas - which would be establishing someone who communicates regularly with the in-field travelers about policy changes, or put out a monthly newsletter - anything informative would help!

Is this lack of communication common with travel jobs? I feel like I am dumped and forgotten, left to fend for myself in this assignment.

[NedRN]

Yup, extend if you like it after three months. Worst assignment I ever did was 6 months sight unseen.

Communication is often strangled by several issues, of which one is that the agency may not be able to directly to the hospital, but through a third party vendor manager. In general though, professional issues are best handled by the professional, you. Just as you would do if you were staff.

I admit I am not really getting your problem though, why do you care about people questioning you? I see the issue with not being updated on policy changes of course, and if your manager doesn't care, try taking it up with the nurse educator. They have a process where they have to get everyone on the same page, and they will have a big problem with accreditation if that is not documented, and potentially a big legal problem if a patient is harmed. Try to find out what the process is for staff, they may have overlooked contingent staff. A number of hospitals in my experience assign you a local email address, and it is now your responsibility to check your email for updates, usually with an electronic in-service where you are presented with content and have to pass a quiz.

[hgraves64]

Nope, no email updates from either my SSRS manager or through my agency. I'm just frustrated that I'm not getting updated by the Management personnel, as I assume it is their job to do so. I only find out well-after-the-fact by the facility's staff. I like the idea of seeing if a nurse educator could help. But is this lack of communication a typical problem working as a traveler in general?

[NedRN]

Interhospital communication, no, not in a well run hospital. Between agency and hospital, not uncommon, especially before the assignment starts. Last minute misunderstandings about requirements before starting is commonplace, often leading to a delayed start. These misunderstandings also happen between the agency and their travelers too. All depends on how well run things, and the specific traveler and recruiter communication and the professionalism of everyone.

[hgraves64]

I'm hoping I can get my next assignment with a well-run hospital, then. I think a lot of their communication problems with policy updates also comes from working with an antiquated half-paper, half-electronic system. I'll certainly have a lot of questions for my recruiter for next time. If I have the same recruiter, that is. This one is my third one in the past three months (the first two left the agency altogether). I guess agencies can have high recruiter turnover, too, but I digress....

[NedRN]

Some recruiters shop agencies just like travelers!

You need to shop around and find recruiters that are not only stable (for a while), but ones you communicate well with. This is the most important factor in success as a traveler, at least until you have a lot of experience, and perhaps even after. Much more than the agency brand, or the assignments they have access to. Three in three months is a communication disaster, clearly not waiting to happen in your case. Breaking in new recruiters (usually you will get the least experienced recruiters in such a shuffle unless you request different) is not fun.

[hgraves64]

It was rather strange, I'd thought, for the first recruiter to leave before I'd finalized my contract. Then, the second one vanished, too. The only notification I get is by the new one, announcing, "Previous so-and-so left our company. I'm your recruiter now."

[NedRN]

New recruiters are similar to some new travelers, they quickly realize that it might not be the right job for them.