Float pool, ideas on making it better

How about attempting a different floatilla of nurses specializing in their own preferences? It would also provide more accurate and safer nursing care to the specialty units. Like a med/surg float pool, an ICU/ICCU float pool, a NBnursery, etc. You get the idea. Maybe a deal on holidays required, also.

And of course, the hireon bonus usually works wonders!

Our float pool consists of full-time and prn nurses. The full time pool nurses are guaranteed 36 hours per week, and are eligible for all benefits. The prn pool nurses earn more money, but are only eligible for 401K matching, and aren't guaranteed any hours, although you can schedule as much as you want.

Both sets have to work one weekend shift per four week schedule, and are self-scheduling. To be a pool nurse, you have to be able to work in at least two patient care areas (i.e. ICU, ED, medsurg, tele, L&D, etc) and be proficient. You cannot be floated outside your areas of expertise. For example, I'm an ED and Cardiac Emergency Center nurse, and those are the only two places I work, I cannot be pulled to any other area.

The full time pool nurses work two summer and two winter holidays, the prn pool nurses only have to work one summer and one winter holiday.

I love it...I am prn pool, I work at least 36 hours per week, and have only been cancelled once in two years. If you work a specialty area, you know where you are working when you show up. The tele or medsurg pool nurses get their unit assignment when they clock in.