North Collier/ Naples Hospital cancels travelers

[Critterpuss]

Both North Collier Hospital and Naples Community Hospitals in South Florida announced this week that they are canceling all Travel Nurse contracts at their facilities.

The majprity of the travelers had just started their contracts. It was supposed to be effective immediatly however the travel companies made them keep the nurses a few weeks, its only fair to give notice.

Please avoid these hospitals in the future if you are considering a travel assignment.

The staff nurses are now going to be saddled with the increase in pt ratio. Interesting to note: both hospitals completed major renovations, adding on a large amount of inpatient rooms. They lay empty due to insuffiecient staffing.

[rn1233]

This isn't entirely true! Most of the travelers contracts that were canceled were employeed in the ER. None of the travelers on the floors or the critical care areas were canceled. Although the hospital's "season" is ending soon many of these travelers have actual extended their contracts into May. However, these hospitals are notorious for frequent floating of all critical care travelers to the regular and tele floors.

[LadyNASDAQ]

I can believe it. I also know that the way to go is their per diem pools if you want to work there. I'm not a fan of Naples per se. It isn't built up enough for me.

Being a Floridian and I'm talking a native here... I would rather be in any part of California hands down. Better working conditions with much higher pay.

[moonrose2u]

when a contract is cancelled, (bear with me) is the traveller left out in the cold? what happens? is she responsible for any part of the housing if it was aquired by the agency? what about the cable, phone, etc..is she out all those deposits if she is cancelled say 3 wks into the contract? does the agency offer several other contracts to choose from?

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Beth Israel Deaconess in Boston did this 18 monthes ago. I was close to end of contract and already had another pending, so we just moved up the start date on the following one.

The traveler should not owe anything to the company, but we also generally do not get paid any for "losing time". But the cable and phone issues that we handle on our own are a loss. The company gets penalty money from the facility that covers their loss issues, we generally do not unless it is a strike contract.

Again, there are no guarantees in being a traveler. Occasional problems like this will occur.

Hospitals in the State of Florida are well known for being poor/unreliable employers. Please see the numerous threads on this, especially the "Salary Hall of Shame" one. Florida wins hands down on that one. (and I am a native Floridian and will say that).

What is ironic is that I was at an Advance Job Fair in Miami, just last week and they were reruiting people from the East Florida coast to work in that area, and providing an "Alligator shuttle" to transport them back and forth. I do not recall if it was Naples or Venice.

[Critterpuss]

It appears a few of the hospitals in the Southwest Florida areas are making an effort to get rid of the older, experienced nurses who are at the top of their pay scale, and top of vacation benefits> They are looking for newer nurses with little experience who will accept lower wages and hardly any vacation time.

Some of the senior staff members at Naples hospital are being asked to take early retirement.

Early retirement is starting to look attractive, since the nurse - pt ratio is going up and the acuity is very high. (older population)

Excellent patient care will be sacrificed so that the hospital can turn a profit.