"Floating" to other departments???

fergus51 · Feb 3, 2003

The floating thing wouldn't bug me if I was allowed to work as an NA. But, you definitely need to get taken off the med surg rotation and be clear that you only want full time in OB. I would also ask about the floating policy (who floats first from OB, do they rotate who floats, etc).

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 3, 2003

Its very common for hospitals to expect OB to do one of two things when they are slow--- (and it is seldom reciprocated when WE need it, but that is another thread):

1) either take medical/surgical patients (female) on their floor to relieve over-crowding of surgical floors (mostly lap choleys, GYN's and supposedly uncomplicated other assorted surgeries).

OR----

2) float to other floors to help when the OB census is not high enough to justify keeping all staff on that floor.

That is my experience, anyhow, in all the places I have worked, especially in smaller hospitals They have to pool resources, and floating OB nurses around sure does seem to fill that bill, fair or not. I don't like to float either, but unless you are a "closed" unit, you will likely be expected to do it if you want to work. Either that or be "low censused", "downsized", in other words, be home on call, rather than at work. You will find in OB, it's either FEAST or FAMINE in the way of census and work load and it's a fact that won't soon go away---- so I recommend you get used to it. It's VERY different than Med-Surg in that aspect. Your med/surge skills unfortunately make you a PRIME CANDIDATE TO FLOAT to med-surg floors. But!!!!! Make sure they are being FAIR about it...and that *all* your coworkers are doing their share of floating, too. Sort of sharing the wealth, if you will. WE used to track hours floated by nurse to keep it fair. Good luck and welcome to OB. I hope you enjoy it.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2003

Our OB nurses don't float to med-surg.

When they are slow they are canceled. They don't get paid, or might get on-call pay if put on call, and must use vacation time.

Many people are in a position where the love being canceled and it doesn't bother them. If it were me, I would float. But I never mind floating, I'm kind of weird like that. I guess it's because having to be in charge so much I don't get to float that much and when I do, it's a pleasure.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Feb 4, 2003

Our OB is a closed unit. They are self staffed. Before they were closed they floated to peds...which most of them hated.

As for the weekend...welcome to nights LOL Your weekend is Saturday-Sunday I take it. Friday night usually doesn't count on the weekend unfortunately.

Maybe hang out and see what the others think...as the new one on board, I wouldn't rock the boat too much....yet.

MelRN13 · Feb 4, 2003

We have to "float" to all areas of the hospital. It's usually not an everyday occurance, but we have a book that we go by to determine who's "turn" it is. Alot of times the LPNs are getting pulled to act as an aide because we have such a terrible shortage on nights. Which is usually a nice relief, because LPN's at my hospital are "med" nurses. So, in all actuality, when you get pulled in this fashion you have a smaller patient load AND less responsibility.

kimmicoobug · Feb 4, 2003

The hospital I hope to get a job at when I graduate also floats their OB nurses. However, when OB is low staffed, they get floats from other units. When I graduate, I actually want to be floated. I would like to try to remain versatile in my practice. This hospital tends to use nurses who float as med nurses on the other units, in case that OB nurse needs to get pulled back to OB.