Healthcare Traveler - July 2008 - (Page 60)

Starter’s Kit T H E B A S I C S O F T R AV E L I N G Professionalism on the road Should an awkward situation develop or persist, don’t hesitate to bring it to the attention of the unit supervisor. The bottom line: Your wages are a matter between you and your employer. Cell phone usage At the right place and time, cell phones offer a wonderful means of communication. Yet if you’ve ever witnessed a coworker checking her voicemail or responding to messages when a patient needs attention, you may often find yourself longing for the days before they existed. Simply put: Use of such technology is inappropriate while on duty and at the bedside. Travelers are sent to facilities in critical need of support, so save cell phone calls and text messaging for break times. If a call is truly urgent, however, you must find a qualified colleague to oversee your duties, excuse yourself from the area, and complete your conversation in a timely manner. Additional assistance Lila Johnson much,” and proceeded to disclose her hourly rate and the housing allowance that was given to her every week! I was mortified. You should never discuss your salary with permanent staff or even other travelers. Aside from being unprofessional, talk of pay is often a prime reason for contention among colleagues. If they’re considering healthcare travel, some clinicians may genuinely be curious about the pay scale in given locales. Still, it’s best to respond with something like, “I’m sorry, but I’m not at liberty to discuss my salary. If you’re interested in reviewing healthcare travel as a career alternative, though, I’d be happy to give you my recruiter’s name and contact information.” When regular staff members are in a bind, they are sincerely appreciative of travelers who offer to lend them a hand, particularly when such assistance extends beyond scheduled hours. If you’re able to do so, volunteer to help out when needed. Your coworkers will likely be happy to return the favor if you have something unexpected crop up, and the simple act of providing added assistance will demonstrate that you are part of the team. W Photo: Getty Images/Sandy Jones hen you take a new assignment, one of your goals should be to shine professionally. Here, based on a decade of experience as a mobile nurse, I am pleased to share a few tips with regard to keeping your skills, competence, and character to the highest standards as you go from one contract facility to the next. The rumor mill While it can be tempting to “get the dirt,” do not indulge in idle gossip. This kind of chitchat is unacceptable and often toxic to the work environment and relationships with staff. Instead, try setting a positive pattern by refusing to participate in such negative conversations. In addition to ensuring you are not involved in www.healthcaretraveler.com Your hourly rate Recently, a regular staff member asked another travel nurse and me how much money we earned. While I informed her that I do not discuss my salary, the other traveler said, “I don’t care; it isn’t that 60 Healthcare Traveler July 2008 http://www.healthcaretraveler.com

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Healthcare Traveler - July 2008 Editor's Desk Contents By the Numbers Paws for Thought In a Flash Field Notes California Love Affair Taking Your Home on the Road Drug Update Clinical Tips Cityscape Advertisers' Index Name It When In... Good for You Big Deals Tax Facts Going the Distance Contest Rules Starter's Kit Allied Corner Classifieds Tales from the Road

Healthcare Traveler - July 2008

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