It’s always scary going to a new place and to adjust to a new work environment where you’re surrounded by people you don’t know. However, from my experience as a travel nurse, it usually didn’t take long to find people that I felt comfortable with who helped me get up to speed quickly.
However, if you continue to feel that the assignment is not a good fit for you, it isn’t that bad because you know that you will only be there for three months. Knowing that you can leave after three months is a lot more tolerable than being miserable at a place where you are a permanent employee. I know many nurses that are unhappy at their workplace and continue to work there anyway. It’s not a good feeling because it seems that it will never end. As a travel nurse, it is easy to tolerate just about anything because you know that it is temporary.
From my experiences, I found that most places were pretty nice. If you are really worried about fitting in and being part of the team, you might want to ask during your hospital interview how often the facility uses travelers. If the hospital frequently uses travel nurses, the permanent staff will be much more accustomed to accepting new staff members and helping you to fit in.
Friday, April 25, 2008
What if I go to an Assignment and I Just Don’t Fit in?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I experienced this problem with an assignment in a facility that promised a one level of patient acuity and delivered a higher level than my Skill List indicated I had, then did not provide initial support to assist me in getting to an acceptable place of success in this unit (no orientation). On Day 2 I was told 'either you're up and running like everyone else or out in 3 days', also news to me. The last straw was that the RNS in the dept had an avg of 20 yrs there and were far to busy with their pts to help me. I was asked to leave on Day 3 when I didn't perform like 'everyone else here' in a 30 bed Level 3 Trauma Unit that averaged a 4:1 care ratio (I was told 2:1 or 1:1 in a critical case and they all turned out to be critical) My company did not stand behind me, did not attempt to locate another dept within the hospital that met my skill level, did not attempt to find me another position and basically threw me under the bus 3000 miles from home. I did locate another position, with another company, on my own in a nearby area,(but not what I would have chosen, nights and weekends working as the lone RN in a critical care area), but it cost me 2 weeks of my own $$ in housing, shipping cost for belongings, phone costs, faxing docs to the new agency and more than a few sleepless nights. Be careful in choosing your agency and use a Blog like this to investigate the company you may be considering, a facility, etc. This occurred on my 2nd travel assignment after a great 1st experience, so I learned a great deal but it cost me and was very upsetting and stressful. I'm much more careful in incorporating details into my contract and have backed away from any company who is not willing to put all their verbal representations into a contract. If they tell me 'it's just a formality, or 'that's not part of our contract' - then run, not walk, away because you leave yourself open. I'm also flipping the I/V process in a professional way, back onto the interviewer to get a feeling of what the facility needs, and I require an interview with the RN I will be reporting to, because there is a world of difference between HR or a non-working Director and the actual Unit RN who will be evaluating your work daily. It's not worth risking your license, your reputation, or your emotional stability to do any work you do not take pleasure in, that you are afraid in, where you feel taken advantage of EVER. I used to think I could do anything for 13 weeks, but I know differently now. Not only did I learn I can't, I know I won't. Like is short and in a bad setting, you are only taken down. If it's not for you, start looking for another assignment. When asked, I say very honestly, it wasn't as it was represented to me by the agency/facility and I did not feel safe in the environment. It hasn't cost me any job that was right for me yet, and I've had 3 more since then.
Just wondering what company this was so I can stay away from it. I am a first time traveler and recieved my contract today that stated "required to work overtime/days needed by client" and will pay a "$15 per hour penility for any hours less than 468 hours" and "required to float to any unit or sister organization of the client". Just wondering would an experienced traveler sign this kind of contract?
Post a Comment