Float Nursing

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · May 17, 2015

float nursing can be interesting

i would think one would need significant nursing expierences

some times "get dumped on".......

sometimes affords a more flexible schedule

advsmuch08 · May 17, 2015

I'm not a float nurse but I've worked with plenty and have had to float to other floors. Typically the floors that need float nurses have had call-offs, didn't schedule enough people for the census, or have had a big turnover of employees. It's not right but float nurses tend to get the less desireable assignments. I don't recommend it for an entry level nurse because it's better to have consistent resources for assistance and support. When you float, you may not be familiar with each floor's policies and procedures, not to mention just where they store equipment. On the plus side, there is a lot of variety and you get to meet many people.

GuEsT78 · May 17, 2015

When I worked nights as an assistant to a nurse in pediatric Hem-Onc I rarely floated since my expertise there was too valuable. But a few nights out of fourteen, the nursing student I shared the position with and I were both on duty, which freed one of us to float. The hospital had a float list. When you hit the top, you floated and then moved to the bottom of the list. That made floating fair. They did the same with coming in early or staying over late. The existence of that list hinted that most staff would rather not float.

At that rateâ€”about once a month or soâ€”floating was fine. I got variety and the exposure to other parts of the hospital meant that when I began to burn out after 16 months on nights, I had a much better feel for where I wanted to go. Babyland (under one) had marvelous nurses, but the inability of tiny babies to say what was wrong with them scared me. Instead, I went to the teen unit, where kids with chronic issues often understood their care needs better than their doctors.

That ability to try before you settle down would be a good reason for starting at a hospital as a float. You learn the staff, the unit's leadership, and the work involved throughout the hospital and can make a more informed choice when a non-float position you like comes up. It also means you get to know more people throughout the hospital. That always helps.

The downside, as other have noted, is that floating as a new RN will put you in situations where your skills might not be up to the demands. That is true even if the other nurses on the unit give you their least critical patients. And woe be unto you if they give you their most difficult patients.

Floating within a hospital is far less stressful than agency nursing, where you bounce from hospital to hospital. Wherever I floated at that large children's hospital, I knew what the code cart looked like and that it was always in the exam room. Lab procedures, how to get in touch with the on-duty residents in the middle of the night, and a host of other common procedures were identical on every unit. That reduces the stress of constant change.

If you do take a float position as your first nursing job, I'd suggest adopting a very teachable attitude. Make sure when you arrive on a unit that those you are working with know you're open to learning from their expertise. They can spare you a lot of trouble.

Farawyn · May 17, 2015

I was a float. You do need experience because you have to adapt. Also, experience will allow you to speak up and avoid being dumped on.

Coldfusion71 · May 17, 2015

The hospital where I work generally accepts 1 year of experience for floating. I think as a new grad it is doable, they give you 8-10 shifts of training so if you are receptive to direction you should be fine.

AJJKRN · May 17, 2015

I'm a floater for Med-Surg and soon to be Step-down in the adult world. We did try training/accepting new grads not long ago but found very few can make the cut and catch up to the level needed to be an effective float pool nurse. My work requires at least 2 years of experience first and you have to be "green-lighted" by float pool peers that are familiar with you before being considered for an interview. It does have a nice differential, you get exposure to lots of learning experiences, and a ton of education is required to maintain competent on every floor. You've also got to be easily adaptable to any situation and you've got to be able to play nice with others on the playground. One of the best perks is getting to stay out of each floors politics and having more freedom to just come to work and do your job! I LOVE floating, regardless of often being dumped on!

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · May 17, 2015

early in my career, maybe 10yrs........I worked agency, to supplement my full time nursing salary, little rough working different facilities, sometimes even as charge nurse.......if I did not have some experience, it would have been brutal......

joanna73, BSN, RN · May 18, 2015

I've worked with float nurses and we often have to float to other units where I work. I'm in management, so floating for us requires covering 2-3 units.

Usually 2+ years of experience is required to float because there is no time to train for skills or organization. You have to go with the flow. I enjoy floating but some people don't.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · May 18, 2015

A float position is not doable for a new grad. I floated after 20 years and it was a challenge.

Bo,RN · May 18, 2015

I worked as a float nurse for 5+ years and loved it. I only left float pool because it was PRN only and I needed more hours. The biggest Pro's for me were knowing I would work the next shift and I most likely would be on another floor and would not have the same (possibly difficult) patient's again and becoming comfortable in different departments. I could work ICU, postpartum, ER, Medsurg, outpt. Some of the Con's were the next shift I most likely would be on another floor and would not have the same (possibly great) patient's again and not knowing until I arrive at work where I"d be.

dudette10, MSN, RN · May 18, 2015

I can't imagine being a new grad in a float pool. Time management is a big issue for new grads, and float pool requires you to get your bearings quickly...like in five minutes or less! I would suggest at least 1.5-2 years experience before jumping in.

I think it's easier being float pool for one hospital, rather than an entire system of hospitals. I work all floors in one 300-bed hospital, and I love it. I know everyone, everyone knows me, and getting dumped on is not as common as system floats or agency. There is one floor I feel that my assignment has been consistently more difficult than the staff's assignment, but you make it work.

The differential is awesome, I set my own schedule, and I get full-time hours. Also, the self-cancellation policy is liberal, and there is no shift minimum per month. I could take a month off if I wanted to, but, of course, I wouldn't be paid because I don't have PTO.