Questions about Travel Nursing

amy0123, BSN, RN · Apr 22, 2008

From what I've seen, Agency nurses were given an assignment based on someone who called out sick from work. So she would just take on the patients that were in that section she had. I didn't notice any different treatments to agency vs traveler. One friend of mine is working on a travel assignment that he often gets called out for due to low census. He started working per diem in a neighboring hospital to make up for the costs.

IMO every hospital and unit is unique in staff personalities. Some staff are helpful and friendly and while others aren't. Right now, I love my unit and staff. I could see myself working there permanently. Maybe because it strictly holds the Magnet status hospital standards? I don't know. I think there's no way in knowing what the unit is like until you're actually there. You may get a lucky break. Some nurses are just very burned out, over worked and really need a long long break. If the assignment is 3 months, then just try your best to hang in there.

SheaOBRN · Apr 23, 2008

It just depends on the hospital and unit! As a traveller you are expected to hit the floor running-with minimal orientation. They need help and need it now (usually)! Just ASK QUESTIONS and if you have downtime, practice the charting system! The attitudes differ everywhere-the staff can be wonderful and supportive and give equal/fair assignments. Or they can have the "justa traveler" mentality going where you float first, get the worst pt's, etc. I try to look at that situation by telling myself that this pt is lucky to get me because nobody else wanted it and I am skilled enough to work with what is going on. I also tell myself its only 13 weeks if it is an everyday occurence and I can always see the light at the end of my tunnel!

OH yeah-ask what the nurse:pt ratio is....ask ask ask

sfn2008, RN · Apr 23, 2008

not knowing the unit patient:nurse ratio,

:twocents: the hospital often has an ideal ratio... but ask to speak to one of the nurses that works on the shift you are being assigned. they are asking for a traveler so that the don't have to work the regular staff outside of what they consider safe patient ratios. on a week-end "anything goes" hospital would staff for a 1:4 or 1:6 and ends up with 1:8 or 1:10..

working on new units with minimal orientation

:twocents: i don't know what it is like now that "everyone and their brother" is traveling these days, but this is what travel nurses do.. they are expected to know patient care and learn on the cuff each hospital's routine. some hospitals are more prepared than others with orientation. some are mandated by state law. if you feel comfortable in your patient care skills,

that is the important part. if you are not, the regular staff will chew you up and spit you out.

and with possibly a new computer documentation system,

:twocents: this is a given. and it is so frustrating to try and find or enter lab work on a new system. all the more reason to be nice to the other staff who will need to help you a lot in the first weeks.

possibly being given the difficult patients no one else wants,

:twocents: until the charge nurse or nurse making the assignment gets to know what you can do, you are going to have to take the patient load that is the most stable. this might mean an old stroke or a dnr with lots of adl needs.. this isn't because you are being dumped on.. it is because registry and travelers need to show what they can do before they are trusted with someone that could be harmed or neglected by a nurse that is incompetent. the staff don't know what you can do until you show them. in the beginning it might be hard, but so was your first 2 years in nursing.. right?

possibly minimal help from regular staff.

:twocents: management has brought in a traveler so that their regular staff will not have a higher patient/staff ratio. if you have the attitude that you are there to pick up the slack and help them, they might treat you better than if you think that you deserve to be treated a certain way. some hospitals might envy or even resent travelers because of the difference in pay and benefits.. but if you represent yourself as there to help them so that they can give safe patient care, they will be more willing to help you with the admit or a patient that is crashing.

are travel rns generally treated better than agency rns?

:twocents: i have done both agency and traveler. it depends on the hospital. some small community hospitals are better than teaching hospitals.. personally i prefer the small community hospital that has attending md's rather than residents.. but "to each his own" as they say. agency nurses are sometimes used for only one day but a traveler is there for 13 weeks. the staff knows that you are there to help them for a long enough time for them to make it worth their while to try and be nice. if you are agency you can say "don't send me back there again" to your agency. if you are a traveler you can't do that.

has anyone started a travel assignment where the hospital has decided they don't want you?

:twocents: never never never leave home without a signed contract! your contract might have a clause that allows the hospital to "test run" you for a few weeks, but after that they (and you) are "usually" on the hook. there are extenuating circumstances in every situation, of course, but on the whole the agency that sent you as a traveler will have a contract with the hospital that spells out these kinds of things.

and.... picking your travel agency is important. i used ppr in florida and they were great.

the telephone interview is crucial. have your questions written down before the call. document the answers and don't be shy if you have to speak to the nurse manager in the first few weeks to "clarify" the promises that you were given when you accepted the assignment. things like hours worked, shift rotation, patient ratio, overtime, floating, etc.

good luck