1st Assignment 1st Day

Specialties Travel

Published

So I finally decided to try travel nursing and landed my first assignment. So far the I am not overly impressed with the hospital or staff but I'm hoping its just too early to tell. I am also new to this game and feeling a bit put off my some of the early reactions of staff. The charting system all scripts for the ED is not user friendly, or perhaps it is my lack of being able to jump right in with minimal orientation. Anyway, this was an experiment to see if I have the ability to be a successful traveler. I am hoping to be able to adjust quicker and the true test will be tonight as it is my first night off orientation. My background is 10 yrs as a nurse and 6 years in ED so I felt I was qualified to work as a traveler, however I get reactions from staff like...are you new to the ED...I don't know if this is my newness as a traveler or they have hired people in the past who have been. Any advice for a new traveler would be appreciated.

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Ill tell you straight-up, the first 2weeks at any travel job--SUCK! My best advice is to "roll with the punches" and do your thing. The staff will come around, they're probably just feeling you out to make sure your not a turd.

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Specializes in ED, Clinical Documentation.

I agree with Tango, first two or three weeks are rough. Keep smiling and don't let them see you sweat. Don't talk about how you "used to do things". You can do it! :)

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Thank-you Tango and Glee for the words of advice. I went into this with all the best hopes for a positive experience, unfortunately it has not been what I had hoped for. I think I may get the boot. I was "talked to" by the charge this morning about my inability to "keep up" and negative feed back from others at the facility as to my ability. I have struggled a bit with the documentation which full time staff and others at the facility agree is not user friendly. I know that I am not as fast as I normally am so I understand her comments. I just wonder now...does this mean I am going to be released? I asked her point blank that very question to which she responded..."I don't know...that's not up to me, I've never had to do this before." I called my consultant to inform him, he didn't have much to say, just to keep him informed. In spite of the fact that I went into this with my eyes wide open to the possibility of cancellation, I did not think it would happen because of job performance. What a let down! I'm trying to regroup, just not sure where to go from here. I don't intend on quitting, as I told my consultant, just would hate to be fired from my first travel gig.

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I think your gut feeling might be right & I would start looking at my options for an exit strategy. Have you updated your resume? You might want to do that as well as contact the other recruiters you were working with prior to taking this assignment. If they do keep you, it will be only be until they can get a replacement in there.

What is your housing situation? Whose paying for it? Are you in a lease? If you are getting terminated, hopefully they do it before you pay or get charged Feb rent!

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I have already done what you suggested, I've contacted the other recruiters, just informed them of the end date of my contract. Do I tell them I was cancelled? ..I took the stipend and signed a three month lease. I was going over everything last night and I know I have to give at least 20 days notice so it looks like I will be stuck with the February rent. I'm questioning my decision to travel at all, maybe I should just start applying for perm jobs again. I don't even want to go back but I know I can't quit or I'll have to pay even more.

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That sucks you signed a 3month lease.. Usually housing & travel $$ are the places you lose out when this type of thing happens. If it was me, I would just tell the truth and let the recruiter know you need something sooner than later. If you are giving them an end date of next month, they wont find you anything until next month.

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So it happened, I was cancelled. Now I'm stressing big time, and I'm not sure if I should even attempt another assignment. My current recruiter was nice enough, but says he can't find me another assignment until the company reviews my evaluation. Of course I'm not going to get a good one! He says he will go to bat for me, but I've already contacted other agencies, just not sure I have the confidence right now to try another travel job. Definitely a blow to my self esteem.

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Youve gotta do it, unless you can go home and pick up your old job with relative ease? You probably need to take a break from that recruiter & company as well.

They shouldve had the foresight to see this happening and been ready to go with another job/exit strategy for you.

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I am going forward with attempting to secure another assignment with a different company, I figure I have nothing to lose. If it works out I can stay in the area and keep my current lease. I just have reservations about my ability to succeed in travel. I was hoping to right this off as bad luck and not even put it down as a former job, however I was informed by the new recruiter that it would show up on my background check. I'm a bit embarrassed to attempt to try and return to my old job, however if things don't pan out I may not have a choice. I am basically going to apply to every job opening I see.

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Yeeeah, you cant go home with your tail tucked between your legs--- YEAH RIGHT! Dont be too proud, stuff happens. The best thing to do is be honest about it (including yourself) & chalk it up to a learning experience and get back on the horse. The reason I say, including yourself is earlier you said "I was canceled" ahhhh the sooner you say "I was freaking fired" the better. Everyone gets fired, it happens! Your recruiter is right, you need to put it down and face it. You may find out your not the only one that has been FIRED from that location.

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I was fired before, just never in a nursing job, and it sucks! I am reticent to travel again, but I have to secure a job pronto so I'm lining up what I can. I find it funny that as soon as I told my current recruiter I was looking for other jobs through another agency, he suddenly told me about an assignment before the review board had approved his company to continue with me. Interesting, isn't it? I am sure am learning a lot about this travel stuff, not sure I like it. I hope to have a perm job again ASAP. As far as going home with my tail tucked between my legs, that is a last resort, as I was not happy in my former position , that's why I decided to do travel. I am applying at another hospital in the area...also found out someone with another recruiter was fired from the same hospital..

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