Below are a few horror stories from other travelers. Hope your assignments have been better.

 

Assignment 1: This was my FIRST traveling experience, which was an adventure!! I decided to trial travel nursing by traveling within my own state. It was a 13 week contract. I arrived to find myself scheduled for 5 - 12 hour days in a row. Being a true adventurer (or just downright nuts), I did it!! At that time a new schedule came out, and no me on it. DNS stated, only needed me for 5 days. Upon checking out of the quaint motel (okay so not quaint, more Bates in appearance and amenities (2 electrical outlet, circa Ben Franklin (had to buy adapters to charge my cell phone, which didn't work there anyway, no phone unless desk clerk home (She anwsered phones only until 10pm, then no phone at all), gas stove that needed to be lit with match, Fridge straight from the Ozzie and Harriet Show !)).

Anyway, my room reservation had been made for only 5 days!! It turns out the agency didn't wait for the signed contract, and the hospital didn't sign it after I got there!! Seems I'm! the only one that signed a contract!! I've been waiting now for 2 weeks for another job. But, the adventure was fun, the job was fun (had 4 Med-Surg, 15 long-term cares, and got to be the Rural ER Nurse). It was quite the adventure!! I have decided that travel nursing will work for me, and am now perusing some of the larger companies. It has taught me that I must remain flexible, and maintain the spirit of adventure! .

But, the adventure was fun, the job was fun (had 4 Med-Surg, 15 long-term cares, and got to be the Rural ER Nurse). It was quite the adventure!! I have decided that travel nursing will work for me, and am now perusing some of the larger companies. It has taught me that I must remain flexible, and maintain the spirit of adventure!

 The above was submitted by Gypsy.
 


 

Assignment 2: I worked at University Community Hospital in Tampa and would like to warn you all. I worked ER, and it was by far the nastiest, misrun place I have ever worked. They are not friendly to travelers and dump on them badly. You will hold 30 plus pts on any given night since they can not staff the floors. I never saw housekeeping come and clean the place, with dried blood all over the floors and cabinets. They put my schedule out 1 week then changed it the following without even telling me. Because of this I missed shifts and then blamed for not reading the schedule. None of the techs work, the leave the dept and act like they were transporting someone, most of the time to smoke or socialize. I HATED it there. Beware!

 The above was submitted by Cathy. Friday, Oct 18, 2002
 


 

Assignment 3: : I was an ICU nurse locally travelling in central North Carolina. I travelled around a four county area. One Friday night I was assigned 7p-7a in a 5-bed ICU at a very rural hospital. From 7p to 11p I worked with one RN and 2 LPNs. At 11p all the nurses went home except for me! When I questioned the safety of the situation the staff showed me the schedule and said 'see, the agency nurse is in charge.' I questioned the house supervisor about the judiciousness of the staffing. She said 'you're an ICU nurse aren't you?' I informed my company director of the staffing. She intervened and the facility agreed to call in another RN. The house supervisor stayed with me until the nurse arrived. I declined further assignments at that facility and the next day had long discussion with my company manager.

 The above was submitted by Elizabeth, Tuesday, November 26, 2002
 


 

Assignment 4: I decided to take a job closer to home, so I signed for a 8 week assignment. This wound care floor, turned into a nightmare. The assistants and secretary hated the travelers, no matter how nice we were to them. The secretary would talk about us to our faces, and scream at us, from across the nurses/doctor dictation area. There was only one permanant nurse there, that hadn't quit, and the rest were travelers, and agency workers. After the 3rd day, with no access to any machines, the agency nurse, who had been there over 20 years, stated that she refused to be the charge nurse. I saw her recently, at a strike. People called in sick everyday, and one evening, only two travel nurses were there to cover the entire floor. Dressings had to be done 3 times/day, vitals, you know the drill. An o.b. was placed on our floor, and was made to deliver a fetal demise, in her bed. The Dr. then clamped the placenta (undelivered), and left, stating "start a pit drip". Well! we weren't set up for that on our floor, so the super called for an O.B. nurse, who showed up 1 1/2 hrs. later. I decided she had to eat lunch, first. One woman was sent home, with a wound that smelled so bad, you could smell it from the door. Yes, the Doc knew. I saw 5 day old surgical wounds that burst open, and 6 organisms were cultured from it. The plastic surgeries were just plain scary.I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.

 The above was submitted by d.d., Sunday, February 2003
 


 

Assignment 5: yada yada yada

 The above was submitted by .... date 2002
 

I had 9 days of orientation! The same one their regular new employees get. The nursing staff are super nice. Grateful to have travelers. Great team work! My contract was for 3 12 hr shifts but, I am just finishing up my 4th 12 in a row, and though I was VERY BUSY, the experience was overall GREAT! I can't say enough about the teamwork and compassion these staff members have towards the patients, their families, each staff nursing member and the rest of the hospital staff. The MD.'s have been very nice...don't talk down to you...etc.... I know, there will always be one "BOTTOM HOLE" at every hospital, I just haven't met the "BOTTOM HOLE" yet.

The House Supervisors are all nice. The hospital is just overall great! There is only one complaint that I can see.... The shift I work (7p-7a) the have NO food for this shift to buy, so you must fix your own food to bring in. I just look at it as a savings acct. plus ...I don't buy food at work, and I have been eating left overs from home, instead of throwing it away!
The staff and Nursing Manager have all asked me how long I plan on staying and it feels like AND looks like this might be a 2-3 13 week assignment. They feel ok with it.

Their are so many places to see here in Pa. Close to Maryland, Washington,D.C., etc..... Will keep ya'll posted if thing change. By the way, I am with DEPENDABLE STAFFING,LLC AND THEY ARE SUPER! Would not change a thing. I am on the Med/Surg (M-2) floor. Happy New years!

 The above was submitted by Carolan. December 27 2002
 



 

Assignment 2: yada yada yada

 The above was submitted by .... date 2002
 


 

Assignment 3: yada yada yada

 The above was submitted by .... date 2002
 


 

Assignment 4: yada yada yada

 The above was submitted by .... date 2002