Theres always a first time....

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

Halfway through my first day today I get an email from my dept manager. She is expecting me to go to another hospital in their chain to fulfill my contract because they have a critical need now. No thanks....

I initially interviewed for both hospitals with each separate manager. I signed with the one i did for many reasons and did not want the other contract with the other facility. They are trying to bait and switch. My recruiter, contract manager and traveler manager for the hospital all agree tbat it is BS. I will find out tomorrow or friday what happens.....

Anyone have something similar go down? Or have it attempted? What did you do, what would you do?.

Personally I will walk if they dont fullfill their end of the contract or make amendments to the current one with no call and weekend shifts being a deal breaker....

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No matter those small details, I wouldn't go unless the pay reflects the urgent nature of the opening. Their only other option is to pay rapid response rates and wait another week or two so they are indeed taking advantage of you. If this is California (I believe you posted that elsewhere), you should not take less than $80 for a critical need and perhaps a good bit more.

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

It is and my starting rate is already above that. I am contracted for 4 10s. I told them I want the same weekly pay with 3 12s OR 4 10s with a higher overall rate. Still no weekends or call though.

Its basically a "work at the other hospital or there is no contract" type of situation. I wont let them walk over me though. There are plenty of immediate needs out there right now that i can hop on within a couple weeks.

Fortunately my recruiter and the contract/client manager agree with me. This is a hospital issue and not a me issue. The manager just called to try to smooth things over but I told her it was an issue that needs to be resolved now....

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Before I became a nurse, I was an even higher paid welder. We had it good back in the 1970's oil boom. Welders lived in the same neighborhoods as physicians. Our skills were in demand, and we did not take any guff. I once quit three jobs in one day! To give you an idea of our earning power, I once went offshore for three weeks and then bought a new car cash with my check (cars did cost less relative to pay back then).

So the idea is, if travelers don't put up with this crap, it might not benefit one traveler right now, but it does improve things for the entire workforce. Easy to say, but hard to do.

It is definitely a good time to be an OR traveler!

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It is definitely a good time to be an OR traveler!

No kidding. When will it be ICU's turn?! Definitely jealous.

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

I guess I never updated on this. It worked out for the better. They honored my contract and upped my overall rate. I am at a hospital with easier parking access now and a broader case range. I am the only traveler(working nurse actually) there now with set day shifts and no call/weekends. I am at the end of week 3 now and they are asking for extension. I usually wait until I am 8 weeks in for that though, especially on a 16 week contract.

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That's great! Happy to take over when you stop extending.

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