They canceled the contact after we're here!

caliotter3 · Mar 19, 2011

Reasons why I would not consider traveling. How much of this type of inconvenience can a person afford?

poolela · Mar 19, 2011

I know its a rant, but I have never canceled a contact. But you can bet every contract I've come across has no less than 3 clauses about the money owed by the nurse for canceling under different scenarios. Where are the clauses for our protection? I love to travel, and I understand companies are out for profit, but I'm sick of feeling like the companies are doing me a favor by giving employment and making sure they can institute practices that they themselves protect against such as loss of profit dt cancellation.

RN Zeke · Mar 21, 2011

Is there a company out there that we as travelers may purchase for our own protection? There should be if there isn't!!

RNERHOUSESUPOR · Mar 21, 2011

Is there a company out there that we as travelers may purchase for our own protection? There should be if there isn't!!

I'm sorry Cay but I hope there isn't. Why would I want to pay more out of my pocket to protect me from being a good nurse honoring my commitment to the hospital, company and patients??? I am very sorry for what happened to the original poster and will cross "Banner" off my list of places I will work, but I won't buy into the job insurance thing.

Rod

poolela · Mar 21, 2011

Its good to see some dialogue about the subject. I would like to see some compensation for nurses who are in this position. The hospitals receive compensation, but may cancel at anytime and we have no recourse. Unfortunately, travel nurses have no bargaining power as individuals.

What about reasonable expectation? If you relocate and finish an orientation, there is reasonable expectation that the garaunteed work hours will be made available.

poolela · Mar 21, 2011

I dont see how an insurance would detract from your quality of care as a nurse. Any kind of protection would be welcomed.

EmergencyNrse · Mar 22, 2011

Kaiser does this sort of thing all the time. I won't travel with them for this very reason.

A contract is a two-way street. You commit for a certain period to augment their staffing and they commit to you to provide work for the time agreed upon. I would first ask your travel company and then perhaps speak to a lawyer. You might be entitled to compensation for time and travel. Maybe breach of contract.

Next is to press your company for accountability. They need to work to make it right or say goodbye to them. There are so many good companies that 1) Don't set you up for failure. 2) Are straightforward and direct about expectations on traveling. 3) Own up to contractual obligations and provide additional travel dollars to cover expense. It's the responsible thing to do. They fix it or you leave.

I try to do my homework before I affiliate with any travel company. I research the hospitals offering contracts for problems and history. I speak to other travelers about different areas and hospitals before I ever accept a contract in order to avoid this kind of problem. I know it's just a matter of time before it happens but I'm trying to avoid it. It sucks...

I would love to know how this turns out; if you have any recourse or if they just have an "out clause" to screw travelers when they want. Please let us know so others might take steps to avoid this situation in the future.

RNERHOUSESUPOR · Mar 22, 2011

I don't see how an insurance would detract from your quality of care as a nurse. Any kind of protection would be welcomed.

I didn't say it would detract from quality of care. I just don't want to have to PAY FOR IT out of my pocket for something that would be no fault of my own.

I experienced one of those events, also in Arizona. Not the same hospital. I learned from it, I hope, but have you read every line in your contract? The ones where

"The employer will attempt to start and end the assignment on the dates indicated, but the employer and employee understand and agree that circumstances may require the employer to modify these dates. Employee can't change dates without authorization from the employer."

Now that seems like a very one sided statement. Taken from an actual contract. Yours may of may not have the wording but I would guess there is an out clause for the hospital or company.

Rod

pdrgeez · Mar 24, 2011

Basically, I think that any travel company or hospital can cancel you for any reason. I find that travel nursing is becoming more and more unpalatable because of these scenarios.

RNERHOUSESUPOR · Mar 24, 2011

What happened to the edit ability. Noted a typo in my last post on this thread and can't find the edit button to fix. The of should have been an or.

Rod

enchantmentdis, BSN, RN · Mar 24, 2011

I did traveling a few years ago, could not get into any hospitals except Kaiser. Man, was that a mistake. Did three separate assignments and two of them cancelled thanks to the bad economy and a patient who said "i don't want her as my nurse". Just like that-- Kaiser will cancel for any reason. Kaiser is extremely cut-throat and treats travelers like garbage. Now, i am relieved the assignments were cut; and now that travel agencies are calling i happily tell them, "No thanks, i have a full-time job and it is not in a Kaiser." Every agency recruiter i've talked to recently said they never hear anything good about Kaiser, mainly because they cut assignments without warning and the nurses are overworked at Kaiser's.