travel in my hometown at my old hospital

[catholicrn]

So I've come back home to go back to school and my old hospital is now using travelers. I resigned 4 years ago to travel and left on good terms. I gave my nurse manager 6 weeks notice and there were never any issues. I also had a good rep (no disciplinary, never late never called in etc..) Now the middle man is telling my current travel company that I cannot do a travel contract because I worked for the hospital previously. Has anyone ever heard of this? Maybe I could understand if I had just left like 6 months ago to now want to come in as a traveler. And perhaps if it were the other way around, like a traveler wanting to go staff. But this is pretty strange and the hospital has 15 openings just in ICU alone.

It has been suggested to me by my recruiter to ask a "friend" in one of the units if this is true. He thinks it's coming from the "middle man" not the hospital.

There is no one I know to ask except human resources. Not sure how appropriate this would be. It never hurts to ask but I'm not real sure how I'd go about that.

Any suggestions?? Thoughts??

I have also read the hospitals handbook (it's online on their website) and there is nothing that mentions any thing about this topic.

I'll appreciate any feedback and/or suggestions, Thanks!!

[NedRN]

Call your old manager. If she wants you, the policy won't matter.

But honestly, you are probably better off applying as staff. You will not be eligible for special tax treatment as a traveler as you are moving back home (unless your schooling is less than a year curriculum), your benefits will be much better as staff (or you can do in-house per diem), and you will have a better schedule. The hospital may also pay for a portion of your education expenses, sick time, possibly relocation, and adapt to your scheduling needs far better than they would allow a traveler.

Anyway, the hospital may have other policies that will prohibit employment as a traveler such as 50 mile or larger radius for your residence. Most hospitals don't want to contaminate their local pool, then other staff would become travelers.