BSN, RN, CNOR
Author’s note: To keep the parties and locations involved anonymous, the time this article was submitted has no relation to the timing of the events described or my current work status.
The Oxford Language Dictionary defines the term “contractor” as a noun meaning “a person or company that undertakes a contract to provide materials or labor to perform a service or do a job.” The person in this blog is me. The company is my recruiting agency providing a contract with a set hospital for my nursing services for a set amount of time. I agree to that contract to work until the noted date under a series of set circumstances.
Approximately 10 weeks before starting this article, I packed up my belongings and drove a copious number of miles to set up a portion of my life in my never-seen-before apartment. This scenario is nothing new and has been done numerous times in the name of travel nursing and taking travel contracts. Taking a chance at the unknown, this contract was in a desirable location I have only been to for short vacations. I’ve wanted to spend time in this location for many years as part of my work travels and immerse myself in the environment. The next day, my contracted assignment began. I prepared myself for what was to come while living away from home and having adventures.
When an assignment isn’t what you expect, counting the days until the end is a regular occurrence. The end is a relief when you can turn in that badge with a (hopeful) smile and briskly walk out, knowing you will never need to return. When an assignment is what you expect and more, you would love to stay longer and try to arrange for that to happen. If you’re approved for renewal and the terms are what you are looking for, it’s a relief once the paperwork is signed. But this isn’t what happened in my situation.
I had the third scenario — enjoying your present assignment, immensely enjoying your temporary area, and eagerly hoping for a renewal approval, only to hear those dreaded words, “The contract for [your current assignment] is not being renewed.” The reasons are irrelevant. I heard those words, and I am pretty bummed about it. As the title reads, I do not want to leave. But I also cannot stay. I am a contractor, and my contract is ending with no renewal. I still have time to enjoy on-location, but not as long as I initially thought.
When the topic of travel nursing is spoken or written about, the allure of the lifestyle is at the forefront: the excellent pay and what it did for said person. The myriad rad places you get to experience. Vans and recreational vehicles (RV) have also been spoken about. Not many people talk about the toll it can take on the person and their life. You’re away from loved ones and familiar surroundings. The guilt of your loved ones that you are away so much. And especially the constant uncertainty always seems looming.
When an assignment and place you had so many plans for has been cut shorter than expected, sometimes there is no “Plan B.” What do I do with myself? I don’t know where to go next. Will I even have a paycheck after the end date? Do I go back home? Go on a nice vacation? Seeing the sad look on your co-workers’ faces when you say you are finished on [end contract date], and they ask why you did not get a renewal—having to tell your landlord that you will be ending your lease. This does not even count the residual thoughts of whether the decision was personal. I love being a travel nurse and have no plans to stop anytime soon, but it is still a tough pill.
I understand that this is what comes from being a contracted travel nurse. There are times when the contractor has the upper hand in negotiations as much as the place giving the contracts, and sometimes, there’s nothing the contractor can do but move on when their contract is finished. If anyone is looking into pursuing travel nursing, these are the types of events you could encounter and need to work through. Nothing is guaranteed.
For the time being, I‘m going to wallow in my healthy level of woe and do what I was trained to do: finish my current contract, go on as many local adventures as I can, adapt to the situation, and keep looking forward. Another adventure and assignment await me. Each assignment is a new learning experience that needs to be fully embraced!
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