Unfair and unequal

Sunshinegirly · Apr 2

I worked as a travel nurse back in 2000/2001. The worse assignments were typically given to travelers and we were the first ones to float. And, yes, sometimes I would float twice in one 12 hour shift. Clinical managers and/or charge nurses don't know if they can trust you. It takes a while before they do. Many healthcare systems treat travelers the same way. Frankly, it doesn't matter what you look like. All they know is that you are a travel nurse and they will not be overly welcoming until they know you better.

WhirlyGirlNurse · Apr 2

Hi, Krgilli1, I'm sorry you're uncomfortable and feeling unsupported. Just to get through their shifts, though, a traveler has to have a thick skin and not take stuff personally. It would be nice to be immediately encorporated into the unit's core staff's friendships and trust, but in the real world, a traveler has to prove their competence first. And yes, in many units, a traveler will be the first to float and be called off, and the mere presence of a traveler reduces the availability of overtime for permanent staff, which can lead to resentment, although it shouldn't be toward the traveler. It's a management issue. Sunshinegirly said it best--it doesn't matter what you look like. Of course, I'm speaking generally and have no experience with your current assignment's environment, whether it's one of inherent mistrust of nurses of color, but I would be surprised if that were the case. Having been a manager and wrestled with staffing issues, I would have been blind to the skin color of a traveler; I just wanted a competent nurse on the schedule.

krgilli1 · Apr 4

Thank you both for your input. I received it and appreciate your feedback.
To add, I've been a traveler for years and yes for the most part we're typically floated first and treated the same however it doesn't make it more OK. We're groomed to acceptance. Which is why the culture doesn't change. I am very confident and comfortable in my profession however I'm very humble. I don't move as over confident nor do I perform incompetently. Whirlygirl you are absolutely correct you have to have thick skin and keep it impersonal however a nurse should never be targeted, berated, and disrespected that's flat out bullying. Let's keep it completely realistic, bullying is a huge problem in nursing sadly and it causes burnout and race always play a major role in how the treatment is delivered and the type of discipline if you dare to advocate for yourself. Most experienced nurses have performed leadership roles and "trust" ladies, unfortunately should not be a factor in who's being floated. Where is the moral or ethics in that thought. Most nurses aren't traveling to become apart of a core staff friendship and furthermore, trust or not, as long as the scope is applied appropriately and safely that's what matters. We're educated skilled professionals. We're supposed to encourage, build up, and educate one another that's how competence is cultivated. We're not supposed to dismiss and push one out or to another unit until a manager, core staff or charge becomes comfortable no matter how accepting it has been in the field.

Britaw18 · Apr 4

Yes KRGILLI I agree with you completely... some nursing staff members are bullies because of the pay rate that travels are offered when they have the same opportunity. Bulling in nursing is a problem one should not have to prove their competence just to be treated fairly . Travelers use to be appreciated for helping the understaff facilities however they're given the unfair assignments and told to have tough skin . We are all working on a job caring for people we should all work together and be kind to one another because ultimately we are a team. Unfortunately traveling to certain areas we're African American women are not respected is another challenge in it self. The best advice I can give is get nursing insurance and document every unfair incident because unfortunately you are your own advocate.