Do you ever have to float to another floor to charge on that floor?

[mooremds]

I'm just curious how many hospitals actually make their nurses do this. Our hospital floats some of the more experienced nurses (I'm one of those with only a year experience) to other floors and has them charge on those floors because they're the only RN with more than 6 months experience. It doesn't seem safe, and something I'm not very comfortable with. What's your opinion?

[roser13, ASN, RN]

That's awful and makes absolutely no sense.

However, if it's a toss-up between an experienced RN and a less-than-experienced newer nurse, guess I'd take the experience. But it would really suck to be "float charge."

[JoanKayRNBSN]

You are right - it is not safe, but I have seen it happen.

[PedsRN2theHeart]

I am a PEDS gal to the heart. I was sent from Peds to Onco as Charge RN, very uncomfortable situation for me! Needless to say, I no longer work there.

[smoke over fire]

We are floated to similar units where the regular nurses (even those with more experience than I) don't feel "comfortable" being charge. They have refused training and the ones who are willing are the least experienced graduate nurses. Our union is working through a grievance with this. So in the mean time, when I float in I try to show the nurses who are willing as much as I can. I also debrief the willing after situations to try & explain why I proceeded the way I did.

You should keep a record of the times you protested your assignment and ask to sit with the manager. If you have a union, of course they can help you to create a business case and/ or grievance for a relief charge position to be posted so those willing nurses can be trained. If no union you can try making the same arrangement but you will need to find some help from the internet or another person to make the case. And of course without a union, administration can decline your request.

Good luck!

[wooh, BSN, RN]

Have done it. Have seen it done. To me, it depends on the type of unit going to and from. Basically same type of unit, just a lot of inexperienced (or unwilling) nurses? Not too bad. Different type of unit? Wouldn't like that.

[elthia]

I have done it before...I hate it. What in the world should I be doing as charge nurse on a ortho floor, when I barely can set up the CPM device or a trapeze setup with lots of help....what I know about setting up Bucks traction can be painlessly inscribed on my pinky nail in large block lettering. The other surgical specialty floors have to take in account for surgeries that are happening that day when making staffing/assignments which my floor doesn't...all open hearts go to the unit after surgery. Needless to say...the last time I was there, I made a complete mess of the administrative end.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Was sent from med-surg/heavy ortho to the "medical" (tele) floor...I don't read strips. The supervisor who called and asked me to come in knew that, and also knew the monitor tech that night, and reassured me that he was good. If I didn't know the supervisor well enough to know that she wouldn't hang me out to dry, I never would have gone in on a day off...BUT it was the sort of place where favors were traded, and they'd been good to me. It was an uneventful shift, except for MY heart rate being a mess most of the night