Tough decision. Could use your thoughts.

[alaskaman]

CC RN here. was working Monday busy...two patients both on multiple gtts. one very unstable. had gotten a couple emails from employer (AMN Travel) saying a cable box was left in the apt by a former nurse tenant now due or she would have to pay $400. Said they could come by pick it up that night after work or anytime next am. back and forth. their housing manager calls me at work says they are going to enter the apt without my consent to get the box. we agree to leave box outside door. it got picked up yesterday late pm.

emailed recruiter that night describing issue. she had previously told housing manager that I was not comfortable them entering. long/short. I go back to patient bedside after my phone conversation and I must refocus which was challenging to do...

This is the 2nd time AMN has interrupted me telling me that I must do something threatening either my pay or privacy.

I talk with Manager yesterday of AMN and she is all about the apology. Says VP is getting involved. I say it was very disengaging to have to deal with this issue and does AMN know what I do? blah blah totally ****** (less so this morning). have pretty much lost all confidence in AMN but the recruiter is stellar and pushing this to them big time.

have other options, don't want to throw baby out with bathwater....but also don't want to be disturbed like that at work EVER again.

advice appreciated. thanks.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

don't answer the calls. Return calls later. If they do not get the picture then leave the agency

[merlee]

Very simple - - if it is not work-related, it waits until YOU have the time to answer the problem.

And your privacy is very important. They should not expect you to interrupt your work time for non-work-related issues, especially when it isn't even YOUR problem.

Best wishes!

[greenfiremajick]

don't answer the calls. Return calls later. If they do not get the picture then leave the agency

I agree. OP has the control over whether or not they're interrupted while at work, by choosing to answer and call back, or not....

[DH.nurse]

But, the urgency with this call was that they were going to enter the apt - which they might have done if the call wasn't addressed. You made it clear that you're not comfortable with that, so hopefully something like that won't happen again. Hope situation improves after going to the manager and her including the VP. Good luck.

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

I don't take any calls at work unless its an emergency, period. I will check my phone when its quiet or around the time my children get out of school just in case someone misses the bus, but thats it. A cable box is not an emergency and entering an apartment to get it seems absurd. I'm sure it couldve waited until the next day. Seems like this place has some mixed up priorities. If they put you up in an appartment and then go in whenever they feel its an emergency, I would be more than a little upset too. Maybe if you lay down the law they'll get the picture. Good luck!

[Penguin67]

Seems to me that this problem is belongs to the RN who left the cable box, not you. Her emergency doesn't constitute an emergency on your part.

[Heidi the nurse, BSN, RN]

Landlords have the right to enter the apartment, don't they? I know mine always did. Why wasn't the cable box issue taken care of before it because "an emergency"? Some work places get irate if you get personal calls at work - they are paying you to deal with this mess that should have been taken care of in off work hours. I would probably be mad enough to let the person who left it in the first place get the $400 fine.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

The $400 fine is the other person's problem. Your apartment is your apartment. The landlord has no right to let anyone in, period. The employer will have to wait.

Don't answer your phone at work. Besides, can you even have a cell phone on at work?

[alaskaman]

Thank you for your responses. I have decided to leave AMN. I do not have confidence that they are trustworthy. I keep my cell phone with me I do have children and I float between units. That said I appreciate your tips.

To me it's not a question of answering a phone however it is a relationship between me and the company who I (as a traveler) make money for. That relationship has to be solid and now it is utterly destroyed.

I feel most comfortable in letting them know that we should part company prior to the contract end and will make it clear that if I leave without obligation to them I will hold them harmless in this situation. If they (as I suspect that they will) be again angry and insist upon their "rights", I will file a lawsuit to claim the remainder of my contract from them citing their conduct and threats. I am confidant their legal department will advise them to settle. Either way, while I have an outstanding recruiter I think that AMN as many corporations can has lost its way and unfortunately so.

They asked me to be available for the VP in the morning. I am going out with my gf for breakfast instead. I will call the manager who called yesterday and talk with her about the best way to end this for myself and their company.

It's so sad when the love of power overwhelms the love of nursing. Maybe they will learn something from this event.

Thanks again for your replies. They are educational and helpful.

[alaskaman]

Just a final note, I did seek the advice of an attorney and the right of privacy of the tenant supersedes any right to enter the apartment by either the landlord or the travel nurse company except at a time of an emergency.

[nurse.sandi]

I agree. If it is not an emergency than do not bother nurses at work. That is the bottom line. I heard some not so good stuff about that company. Good luck moving on.