[pbajil]

What's the consensus on this? A critical care nurse position that pays more if you agree to float around to tele and m/s as well as critical care. A miserable existence or a good way to make more $?

[cardiacRN2006]

No thanks. I'll make less money to stay out of Med/surg/tele.

[meandragonbrett]

Depends on the hospitals. Some hospitals have critical care float pools (and they don't consider tele to be part of critical care). I'd most certainly jump on the opportunity to float MICU, SICU, TICU CVICU, NeuroICU, and ER. Although, I would NOT enjoy floating to NeuroICU even for a moment.

[RNperdiem]

I have taken the very occasional float to med-surg and tele.
Here are a couple of things to consider.
Will this be your full time work?
How experienced are you in ICU?
Have you ever worked med-surg or tele? If so, how long ago?
Are you familiar with the particular med-surg and tele units, and what do you think? Good ratios? Support staff? High turnover?
Where is the demand for floats higher now-ICU's or less critical units? If there is a big imbalance, you may rarely go to ICU.
If you join as an ICU floater, can you later decide to include med-surg and tele?

[elizadream]

rec'v $5/hr extra for float pay. If you are floated to a unit where it's common knowledge that the place can't keep staff RN's-then your day is going to suck BAD!! It's not worth it. We keep a book tallying whose turn it's going to be to float and it's such a DOWNER to come in and find it's YOUR turn to float to this hell.

[putmetosleep]

Had a co-worker who decided to do this---she ended up (jokingly, no offense intended) calling herself the "floor whore".
Enough said.

[RNontheroad]

I have had to do this at several assignments that I have taken. It stinks. (although being paid more to do it would help dull the pain!)
I think the worst part is trying to prioritize for 5-6 patients. It is a whole other way of doing things.