float position as new BSN grad

mrdoc2005 · Nov 28, 2004

Congrats on the offer. I am still a student, but I think you can do it. Since the 3 areas are so closely related I dont think you will have that hard of a time.

fergus51 · Nov 28, 2004

Congrats on the offer and I don't mean to be a downer, but I think that's a bad idea. Less than 12 weeks in L&D alone is garbage. There is a reason why this is the most litigious area of medicine and I think the hospital is just opening itself up to a lawsuit if it expects new grads to function independently in all three areas with only 12 weeks of orientation, especially if you've only had 100 hours of clinical in these areas. I mean, that works out to just three or four shifts in each. I think mother baby to nursery is a fairly smooth transition, but L&D is VERY different and it isn't a good idea to have you moving between the three as a new nurse. Do you have any experience in fetal heart monitoring, vag exams, labor support, etc? If not, I don't see how they can really float you to L&D if you'll only spend 4 weeks or so training there.

If the hospital really wants you there is no reason they can't give you a decent start by giving you a good orientation. New grads often get taken advantage of in this way and I think it's terrible. You deserve better. There are so many posts on this bb that start with "I got this job, but wasn't ready to be on my own after orientation was done and now I go home crying every day". At the very least, PLEASE ask what they will do if you don't feel ready to be on your own when orientation is complete. Also ask how many preceptors you will have (more than 3 is a bad idea IMO) and what sort of formal learning you'll get (like classes for NRP). If they are willing to work with you should that happen, that's at least something.

stbernardclub · Nov 28, 2004

Hi...just wanted to ask you if there are other nurses working this float pool? If they do, ask if you can shadow along side one in L/D . I am not a maternity nurse, never interested me, but my best friend through school favored it, and got a job out of school doing exactly what your describing out in denver.Soon after she started it she was still excited about it, but one of the last times I heard from her she said the stress was really getting to her. Point is, new grads are going straight into icu's, ccu's and even O.R. I hope it works out for you :)

Hi,
I have been offered a position that floats between L&D, mother/baby, and nursery. I will be graduating within a few weeks and this will be my first job as a nurse.
I realize it will be a huge undertaking to learn 3 different areas and everything about them but also think it is an awesome opportunity to be exposed to it all and learn the different areas. I had over 100 hours of clinical time in maternal/infant in nursing school and have been to these areas. I love all of them (L&D was my favorite) and am excited that I will not just be in one area.
I will not have a home base but will float after a 12-week orientation within these 3 units. I was told after my interview that they consider new grad's for this position if they have the personality for it and don't need that comfort level of starting in one unit only. I guess I have a bunch of questions and would love to get your thoughts. Do you think this is do-able? Does float mean I will be the last to schedule my work days (it is self-schedule)? Has anyone worked float and what is it like?
It is a night position so I would think I would really get floated to all 3 areas but I wonder if one is more likely than the other?
Thanks,
Spec

fergus51 · Nov 28, 2004

I should say I do think new grads can go straight into OB. I did. But I had a good orientation.

BETSRN · Nov 28, 2004

As an LDRP nurse of many years, I think this is a BAD idea. You need far MORE than 12 weeks orientation to function safely in this area: ESPECIALLY in the L&D portion. I can see 12 weeks in postpartum and well nursery: a great place to begin and get your feet wet, so to speak. After you have had a good PP/NSY orientation and can function independently, THEN it's time to go into a lengthy L&D orientation. It takes well over a year of full time L&D to even begin to feel comfortable or have an entry level competance in this area. As someone else mentioned, this is a real litigious area and neither you nor the patients should be put at risk. You will be risking your license. Good luck. You will love OB.

USA987, MSN, RN, NP · Nov 28, 2004

I was a fairly new grad (4 mos.) when I went into L&D...but the way my facility works it is as follows:

I oriented in postpartum for 6 weeks. Then I solely worked PP for 5 months.

Then I oriented in L&D for 6 weeks. After my orientation, for 3 months I worked strictly in L&D. During that 3 month period I could only take one patient and I had a few mentors that would assist me with anything that I had not experienced during orientation, (ie. Mag Sulfate, etc.). After my 3 months in L&D I now rotate between PP and L&D. It's been 6 months since I've been "on my own" in L&D and I still have tons to learn. I don't rotate to the nursery at all. Some days I do well, but other days I still experience those reality checks...last week I had my first true "crash" c-section....the baby was out 16 mins. after the section was called...I was shaking for 2 hrs. afterwards.

I still haven't been trained to scrub or circulate sections. I have oriented to recovery though because I have my ACLS.

There is so much to learn in L&D and PP...not even including the nursery (I would assume it's the well baby nursery and not the Special Care Nursery). If I take a week off of work...it does take some time for me to catch my bearings up in L&D. I couldn't imagine floating between all three. It takes some time to become proficient in each area.

Good luck! :rolleyes:

SpecFuz · Nov 29, 2004

Thanks for the input. I'm not sure really what to say, except that I agree with everyone. I think it will take me a year to feel comfortable working on any unit no matter how long the orientation period is.

I find it difficult to imagine that they would let me float if I am not at all comfortable at the conclusion of 12-week orientation period. I will not put my integrity or license at risk. Thanks again for the input.

BETSRN · Nov 29, 2004

If you DO allow yourwelf to float after only 12 weeks, you WILL be puting your license on the line, believe me! WE do terrible things to out new grads and what you have described is a terrible thing! I don't mean to sond lke such a downer, but I hate to watch what nurses do to their own. It is no wonder these new grads burn out!

palesarah · Nov 29, 2004

Just weighing in in agreement with the other posters... I was hired onto an LDRP unit straight out of school. I oriented to mother/baby for 3 months. The I oriented to L&D for another 3 months. After that I worked mostly labor with a resource person for 4 weeks, was determined to need more orientation, and was given it (two more months with a different preceptor).

At the end of my first labor orientation, I still didn't know what I didn't know, which is a dangerous place to be in such a highly litigous field. I could perform the tasks independently but wasn't always thinking critically. I've been off orientation for about 8-9 months now (spent about 3 of that orienting in the level 2 nursery though) and I think I ask more questions now than I did when I came off my first labor orientation!

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 29, 2004

I echo the above. Sounds like a BAD idea. OB is so specialized and such a litigious area of nursing. Caveat Emptor. And best wishes.

actioncat · Nov 29, 2004

Adding one more "nay" to the pile here. Twelve weeks is not enough time to orient on all three units. And, it certainly is not enough to orient and then expect a new grad to float.

I do med surg-- no floating-- and had 12 weeks to orient.