Who is my boss?

[Blackcat99]

I just started doing private duty in the home nursing. At the nursing office, there are recruiters and there are nurses. However, the only ones in contact with me are the recruiters. Is the recruiter considered my boss or what? I am confused. Thanks

[caliotter3]

The nursing supervisor and Director of Patient Care Services are your bosses. The recruiters only manage your assignments. Do not get yourself in a position where they have to get involved with your day to day job performance although they may try to convince you that they have more power than they really possess. Try to stay on good terms with them because the nursing supervisor will not necessarily know or care that the recruiters are withholding offering work to you. In a true private duty situation, of course, the patient is your boss. There are no agency middlemen.

[ArwenEvenstar]

The nursing supervisor and Director of Patient Care Services are your bosses. The recruiters only manage your assignments. Do not get yourself in a position where they have to get involved with your day to day job performance although they may try to convince you that they have more power than they really possess. Try to stay on good terms with them because the nursing supervisor will not necessarily know or care that the recruiters are withholding offering work to you. In a true private duty situation, of course, the patient is your boss. There are no agency middlemen.

I agree with above post!!

With the terms you are using Blackcat99, I am guessing you are working for Maxim. Like the above post said, don't let the recruiters convince you they have more power than they actually do! They are not health care workers....most have college degrees related to things like sales and marketing. Most are also very young and lack general life experience. It is imperative you are discerning, assertive, and have good personal judgment. I would not discuss anything with them expect the schedule. If you have medical or nursing concerns regarding your patient, make sure you ask for the nurse supervisor!! The recruiters are not qualified to understand or address medical or nursing concerns, YET THEY WILL OFTEN ACT LIKE THEY DO!! So...beware! Also - DO NOT rely on the recruiter to pass on a message about a medical or nursing issue to the nurse supervisor!! The recruiters are NOTORIOUSLY unorganized and forgetful, and likely will forget to do it. That could put YOUR reputation or license in jeopardy.

[caliotter3]

The recruiters compete with each other to be promoted to accounts manager with their own office. Be careful when you leave messages, as often they will "forget" to pass on messages to each other as well as to the nursing supervisors or the accounts manager.

[Blackcat99]

Thanks Caliotter and ArwenEvenstar for the clarification. The recruiters are usually nice but sometimes they act like they are "the boss." I didn't know for sure if they were or not. So they are just recent college graduates who are competing against each other. Interesting.

[caliotter3]

It took me awhile to figure out that they didn't necessarily work well with each other and why.