When a Travel Assignment Isn't What You Were Told
Write down exactly what differs from what you were told, raise it with the facility first and your recruiter straight after, and only then decide whether it can be fixed or whether you need to leave. Your profession's code is clear that a job arrangement does not override your clinical judgment, and talking it through with an experienced traveler is one of the steps the physical therapy code itself names.
How do I tell a hard first week from an assignment that is wrong?
Every new assignment is uncomfortable at first: a new EMR, a new building, new people, a caseload you have not met. That is normal and it eases. Something different is going on when the job itself is not the one you agreed to:
- The setting or patient population is different from the one in the offer.
- The supervision you were promised is not there, or your supervisor is a traveler who is leaving.
- The productivity target can only be met by cutting visits short or documenting care you did not give.
- You are asked to work beyond your competence or your license.
The first is a learning curve. The rest are problems to raise, and the last two are problems you cannot simply absorb.
Who should I raise it with first?
Start with the person at the facility who runs your day, usually the rehab director or your supervising therapist. Many mismatches are simple misunderstandings that a short conversation fixes.
Then tell your recruiter, the same day if you can. Your agency holds your contract, and it is the party that can talk to the facility about terms. Keep it factual:
- What the offer or job description said.
- What you are actually seeing, with dates and examples.
- What would fix it.
Put it in an email as well as a call, and keep copies of your offer and any written description of the role. A clear record helps every conversation that follows.
What do the professional codes say about pressure to cut corners?
They say your judgment comes first, whoever employs you.
- The APTA Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapy Profession, which covers PTs and PTAs, says they "shall not knowingly enter into or continue any employment or other arrangements that prevent them from fulfilling professional and ethical obligations to patients and clients," and that documentation must accurately reflect the services given.
- The ASHA Code of Ethics says SLPs "shall exercise independent professional judgment in recommending and providing professional services when an administrative directive, referral source, or prescription prevents them from keeping the welfare of persons served paramount."
- NBCOT's code of conduct for OTRs and COTAs, printed in its renewal handbook, says certificants "shall be accurate, truthful, and complete in any and all communications" with clients, employers and regulators.
None of these tells you to walk out on day one. They tell you what you cannot trade away to keep a contract.
If you want an experienced traveler to talk through an assignment that isn't what you expected, ask for a mentor here: Find a Mentor.
When does leaving an assignment early make sense?
When the problem touches patient safety, your license or honest documentation, and the facility and your agency cannot or will not fix it. A slow week, a messy EMR or a colleague you do not click with is rarely worth ending a contract over.
Before you decide, read your contract's terms on ending early and talk to your agency, so you know what leaving costs and how to do it properly. Give notice in writing and keep your record of what happened. If you saw something that has to be reported, the codes above point you to the right authority, from a supervisor up to the licensing board.
How can a mentor help in the middle of an assignment?
The APTA code lists "consulting with mentors" among the ways to deal with a problem at work, and it is often a quick one. A mentor who has worked the same setting can tell you whether what you are seeing is normal, help you plan the conversation with your supervisor and recruiter, and tell you what they did when it happened to them.
Mentors on this site are experienced travelers in your discipline. In their mentorship role they are not acting for any agency, so the advice is about you and the assignment, not about where you sign next. Tell us your discipline and what is going on, and you can talk by phone, text or email.
Frequently asked questions
Should I tell my recruiter or the facility first?
Usually the facility first, because many mismatches are misunderstandings your supervisor can fix in one conversation. Tell your recruiter the same day, in writing, since your agency holds your contract.
Can a mentor tell me whether to leave a contract?
A mentor can share what they did in similar situations and help you weigh it, but the decision is yours, and your contract and your agency set the terms of leaving.
Does the APTA Code of Ethics apply to PTAs?
Yes. The Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapy Profession says it guides the conduct of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in all practice settings.
Sources
- APTA, Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapy Profession (PDF), read October 22, 2026
- ASHA, Code of Ethics, read October 22, 2026
- NBCOT Certification Renewal Handbook 2026 (Certificant Code of Conduct), read October 22, 2026