While not common, assignment cancellations can happen. In fact, if you read your contract carefully (which you always should!), you’ll probably see a clause in there that spells out how cancellations may be handled. If you have specific questions about your contract, always reach out to your recruiter for help. However, if you’re just starting to learn about healthcare travel, here are a couple things to know about contract cancellations.
Staffing Changes Can Cause Cancellations
The biggest reason a traveling healthcare pro might have a contract cancelled is because of staffing changes at the facility. Maybe you’re in a warm location known for a lot of snowbirds like Florida, Texas or Arizona. Once the weather changes and these folks go home, the demand on the facility changes and typically staffing needs change with it. If the facility’s needs stay low for more than a few weeks, the people in charge will take a look at how many travelers they have and reduce the staff accordingly. If you’re lucky, your contract end date will match up with the lower census, but if not, you might be cancelled before your contract is over.
Bad Personnel Fit Could Cause a Contract Cancellation
Another reason might be a bad personnel fit. You can’t always please everyone and it’s possible that personality conflicts mean that the hospital requests you leave before your contract is over. In these cases, it’s important to keep an open line of communication with your recruiter and the Triage clinical team (choose Clinical from the department drop down to find their contact info). The clinical team is made up of former travel nurses who can help you navigate awkward situations during a conflict. They’re available to help, but also to help protect you and your license if you’re placed in an unsafe situation.
Your Contract is Cancelled. Now What?
So you’ve been cancelled through no fault of your own. If you’re lucky, the facility will give your recruiter a short notice period, so that you can make a plan for the future, while still working.
But if you don’t get a notice period, work with your recruiter right away. Know that your recruiter is on your side and only wants to make sure you’re supported and back on the road as quickly as possible, if that’s what you want.
If you have some funds stashed away, you can always stay in your location and play tourist for a while. Or, you can head home while you look for a new travel assignment.
How To Protect Yourself
One thing that can help if you’re cancelled unexpectedly is having a fully filled out profile. Your profile is ready to go when you’ve uploaded a resume, references and recent medical records, including any vaccinations. When your profile is fully filled out, your recruiter can submit you for a job with just your approval. Having your profile ready to go also means your onboarding process is easier, leading to less time between assignments while your onboarding documents are processed.
While contract cancellations rare, they can happen. Having a plan in the back of your mind of how you’ll react to a cancellation means you’ll be able to move quickly and minimize downtime between assignments. Need a new assignment? Check out the allied and travel nurse jobs on our job board.