[roseynurse345]

I just got hired at rehab center, but it is a float position. I am brand new grad with hospital experience as an aide. Is this a good idea? I know floats get crummy assignments and I'm wondering will i get the help I need. Thank you!

[LHLPN]

Are you floating to different team assignments or different areas of the hospital? I agree being a float can be challenging at times but you also get a broader base of experience, develop better time management and pt relation/communication skills. Anywhere you start should give you an orientation period to feel comfortable with the areas you will be floating. Helping the other nurses is the best way to get help yourself when you need it. I was hired as a float and it was hard but now I float to all three units at our rehab hospital, know more patients and get to interact with all the different staff members. I also have more opportunities to see and learn new things since my patient load is diverse. I am starting school for RN this fall and I feel very prepared thanks to my experiences and the nurses (good and bad) I have seen in action. Good luck, Are you in physical rehab or psych type rehab?

[kelly911]

Floating is not all that bad. You get a lot of experience. You don't always get the crummy assignments because they recognize that you are not familiar with the floor. There is much more to be said about floating than not. Most nurses that do not float only have experience in one area and are nervous and apprehensive about floating of change in general. You will be able to roll with it and you will learn that generally no matter where you are nursing is nursing.

[Fiona59]

Some units actually gave me the easier assignment as a float pool nurse. If the med nurse was off, I would be given the wound care assignment because there was less pressure time wise. The regular staff at least knew who they were looking for when it came to med administration.

But there is a lot less politics involved in being a float.