Really horrible working conditions with NO support

[squatsandPB]

I've been working full-time with a float pool (a nursing resource team) within an acute hospital for 2+ years (In Ontario, Canada). We pretty much float to every unit of the hospital.

When I first started this position... it was a dream. Great supportive management and easy going nurse educators. Even though we have to be very flexible because we're pretty much thrown into anything I always felt like we had support.... if things got out of control there was someone to turn to it.

Unfortunately, when we go to certain floors we OFTEN get dumped on and many of the regular staff aren't always willing to help. That is something that seemed to always come with being a float nurse but our manager would always be on top of it and when and if we went back to that floor we would see an improvement.

As of the last 6 + months our manager has now taken on more tasks... as a result I feel like we have just been thrown out there to sink.

You'd think being float staff we would have top notch managers.

I have had some HORRID shifts.. I don't mean just busy patient loads... I mean honestly unfair patient assignments... Everyone else is sitting and taking a breaks and me being the float staff is running my A$$ off. I had shifts where the charge nurse wouldn't even give me a hand and the only time she helped me was when the doctor came to the floor and stated out loud in the nurses station "Look she needs help"

I had one night shift where I was in the bathroom in tears because it was literally impossible for me to get everything done... I asked numerous times for help and everyone (who was sitting on the computer) was acting like I asked them to jump off a bridge. It was a horrible shift... it was unsafe for the patients, myself and it was beyond unprofessional. I emailed my manager... he did not respond.

This is the first time I've pipped up about a floor.. I don't like to complain but I know it's going to be an ongoing issue on that floor and I had to say something.

So now... I'm booked on this floor AGAIN and I can guarantee it will be no different... no help, no nothing. Every other time in the past when someone would address a floor to our manager he would no longer send them there.

SO, what exactly did my manager do? I understand people are busy but this is a HUGE difference from how he was before... he is letting all of this slack and we're all working in ridiculous conditions.

I honestly have no idea what to do... I can't keep working in these conditions with no support. How can I provide the best patient care? I don't know who to go too

Everyone has been complaining about new ongoing issues with management. The managers on the floor do not give a **** about us and neither does our own now.

[TU RN, DNP, CRNA]

I am sure facilities vary, but in ours, resource nurses get close to $50 per hour AS THEIR BASE and that is not even including shift diffs and weekend diffs (TX), and yes, I do understand that floating between medsurg realm of oncology, bariatric, surgical, medical, nephrology, telemetry would be pretty hectic and there is no denying in that. But when they work with me, they do exactly the same things I do (actually if they are lucky that day with assignments and admissions, even less work). I give sympathy to resource rns and do think work assignments need to be fair but please, if you need to mark their work as "difficult" JUST because they are resource nurses, I strongly beg to differ. Of course, I will say they do have more chance of having crappy days than me, who is a staff rn working at my home unit, home turf, stable place, but that's why resource rns make more than 2x my money, most of times doing the exact same thing.

and @kungpoo: we don't have openings for resource rns at our place.

I am not condoning resource rn abuse, but I do want to make it clear that they do get paid A LOT more

As has been said already, they get paid more because they don't receive the benefits of the other full time staff. That is usually no health insurance, no place in the company's retirement plans, no PTO, and no sick time. On top of all of that, they aren't guaranteed their hours as they're the first to be cancelled when the census drops. They are also floated throughout the hospital (as others have mentioned) which means they never establish a comfort zone. They are always strangers (unless you get to know your per diems like me, I love our per diems )

They do the same job because they have the same title as you, don't expect them to do more because they make more. I already explained why they make more. Now that that's established, they're the same as you. The question of "fairness" or "unfairness" should never even come up when considering their assignments. Treat them like one of your other nurses. I'm not suggesting that you don't already, tarotale, but it seems like reason why they make more isn't registering with you and I get the feeling you might feel like they should work more for that compensation. No. The forfeiture of benefits translates as higher pay.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

In my part of the country, "Float Pool" does not mean premium pay... just indicates that they don't have a 'home' department and are expected to work in a lot of different areas. Pay is determined by job category... FT, PT or PerDiem. Compensation for all FT nurses (no matter what dept) is managed the same way, with essentially the same salary ranges. PT nurses can opt for higher pay in lieu of benefits. PerDiem nurses are paid higher wages and have no benefits.

OP is in a real pickle. If talking to the manager is not effective, the only recourse is to go up the 'chain of command' &/or file a grievance with HR. Also, be sure to use formal reporting processes if there are any incidents or safety/quality issues associated with those excessive assignments.

[tarotale]

As has been said already, they get paid more because they don't receive the benefits of the other full time staff. That is usually no health insurance, no place in the company's retirement plans, no PTO, and no sick time. On top of all of that, they aren't guaranteed their hours as they're the first to be cancelled when the census drops. They are also floated throughout the hospital (as others have mentioned) which means they never establish a comfort zone. They are always strangers (unless you get to know your per diems like me, I love our per diems )

They do the same job because they have the same title as you, don't expect them to do more because they make more. I already explained why they make more. Now that that's established, they're the same as you. The question of "fairness" or "unfairness" should never even come up when considering their assignments. Treat them like one of your other nurses. I'm not suggesting that you don't already, tarotale, but it seems like reason why they make more isn't registering with you and I get the feeling you might feel like they should work more for that compensation. No. The forfeiture of benefits translates as higher pay.

I get what you're saying. To point out, however, the resource rns at our facility get FT position, and as such the corresponding benefits, and that includes insurance, pto, sick time, 403, etc etc. Maybe there is something that they miss in terms of benefits compared to me, but as far as I know, they don't. But hey, like you said, never having your "home" and going through places as stranger can't be that great, but thankfully our unit is very very friendly to resource rns, so I don't see anyone crying. The part about low census and being cancelled, you're probably right, but as our facility is placed in the heart of mega "hood" (if you will), there is never shortage of patients. I personally thank resource rns and all poor souls that have to float... personally, I HATE floating, but that's because I don't get any compensation for it. If they add couple bucks for floating, I wouldn't mind too much.

[squatsandPB]

We all make the same.. we definitely do not get 2x the salary lol. We all work for the same hospital

[wooh, BSN, RN]

No. The forfeiture of benefits translates as higher pay.

Y'all are arguing back and forth about things that differ from place to place as if you work at the same place.

I can tell you, at my facility, float pool used to make near twice what staff nurses made, base pay. And got benefits. Now they don't make that much more. But still get benefits same as everyone else. Actually, more benefits than some of us that work on floors.

That's not true at your facility, but in facilities where it is true, that CAN create resentment.

I'll also say, sometimes it can feel like the float is getting the crappy assignment. But that can be because floats aren't allowed to get certain patients on that floor. I go to an oncology floor and can't give chemo? I'm going to get the leftovers, which combined can end up being the crap assignment. But there's no other combo to give me.

Or just the lack of familiarity can make everything take longer so it seems like a heavier assignment than others.

And sometimes they really do get screwed. But we all get screwed on assignments from time to time.

I've got no solutions for OP, because management is caring less and less about nurses because we are becoming more easily replaceable everyday. Perhaps its time to look for a non-float position?