Float pool as a new grad? Any thoughts?

I've been in the float pool now for about 6 months and honestly, I love it. I've always said I could never work as float but it just kind of fell in my lap and now I can't imagine only working for one floor. With that being said, I've been a nurse for over 3 years and I couldn't imagine starting out in the float pool as a new grad. My hospital hires new grads to float also and most of them seem to do well though. I think it helps if you're fairly outgoing and make friends easily. New nurses need a strong support system and I guess you can find that working in the pool same as anywhere else. I'm just not super outgoing so I would've silently drowned as a new grad float, no doubt. I think it's definitely good experience but I still think working on a med/surg floor alone would probably be better. I don't know if I helped answer any of your questions but if you have any other specific ones I'll be glad to try. Sorry for any grammar errors or rambling, it's bedtime 😁.

I am really interested in floating once I finish nursing school. I just keep thinking of how cool it would be to always have a new assignment; new coworkers, new patients, etc. I also feel that floating is beneficial because you're constantly practicing your skills, not just falling into the same habit/routine as you would if you were stuck on one floor.

Of course, I don't have experience in this firsthand, but it's just how I look at it.

I'm interested to see what floating nurses say about this.

Like everything, there will be pros and cons.

I could see this working for a new grad if the hospital is willing to invest in your training as a new grad. Where I work, float pool has a 2 day orientation. A new grad will require more, and depending on the number of departments you will be floated to, how many preceptors would that take?

For this to work, the floors will need a culture of being kind to float staff and not dumping the least desirable assignments that the regular staff want to avoid. It is difficult enough to be new without being given all the sundowners, the demanding families and everyone on isolation.

The new grad would need to be assertive enough to stand up for their rights and make good use of the charge nurses and delegate appropriately to the CNA. These are med-surg survival skills, and as an outsider a float nurse needs to master these skills.

For this to work, the floors will need a culture of being kind to float staff and not dumping the least desirable assignments that the regular staff want to avoid. It is difficult enough to be new without being given all the sundowners, the demanding families and everyone on isolation.

A few of my friends that work at different hospitals said that the floater actually has a right to refuse a patient and request a different one if they are not comfortable caring for them (d/t lack of experience on that unit). Whether this is the case everywhere is doubtful, but I did think it was interesting that the floater had a choice.

Although I do feel that it makes sense; I'd rather have someone with full-time experience on a particular unit to care for me over someone who bumbles around all over the place.

My system hires batches of new grads for the various float pools. Women's, Surgery, and Medicine each have a dedicated pool. Orientation is good and there are buddy shifts.

in reality, it's the only way in these days with hiring freezes.

The pro's are no home unit, no gossip or drama to get involved with.

I don't think it's a good idea. It puts a lot of pressure on your license. Going to unfamiliar floors when you're a new nurse could be a recipe for disaster.

What kind of orientation are you getting?

At my hospital, you are exempt from floating for first 6 months. I wouldn't float as a new grad.

In one of my old hospitals, the new grads were actually hired into a float pool. They spent a certain amount of time orienting in all of the units they would float to. The new grads could only get hired to specific units if there was availability.

Not sure yet but it seems new grads at this hospital are largely not allowed to specialize without doing a year of med-surg. So they are hired on a float pool program. Unfortunately for new grads in my state, jobs are not plentiful. I might not be in a position to say no. This is a Magnet institution and pretty well respected in my area. We will see what happens

Thanks everyone! Med-surg is truly not what I wanted to do but no job is not an option. Floating will be....interesting. we will see how this pans out!

When I graduated I only wanted ICU or a cardiac Unit that was ICU/progressive. Basically I wanted to get to the point of recovering fresh hearts.

Took ok a long time but finally accepted a job in a float pool, at a level one trauma center. Before graduation as cna/tele tech, I had worked at two hospitals simultaneously. One hospital I was core staff on a unit that was 96 beds and essentially 7 units combined into one, it's own float pool really. The other hospital I floated. So I was experienced at floating but not as a nurse. I couldn't find the core staff in the icu/ccu so I figured any core staff would be better. I didn't want to be so scattered as a new grad, so when I only could get the float job I wasn't afraid, but I was hesitant. I got one week per unit and three weeks in the icu. total of 8 weeks orientation.

I get floated mid shift occasionally.

I take 3 patients in the icu

I get first transfer and first admit on the other floors unless there are other float pool people on the floor. Generally the charges on the floor treat float pool like **** so their core staff can have easier nights.

i don't know what floor I'm going to until about an hour before work and it can change by the time I get there.

core staff for the most part is incredibly lazy where I work so sometimes I'll get behind doing their work for them.

I get more money to do all that.

I love the change.

If if you can handle all that then go for it.

I could see it being doable provided you get adequate orientation. As the saying goes, what doesn't kill you makes to stronger. I'm sure you will get a lot of very good, diverse experience. I have worked float pools where it was wonderful. We did self scheduling so we knew in advance which floor we were going to and the nurses we would work with. I always chose shifts where I new the staff these floors were supportive of float personnel. Really nice to the float staff and appreciative of the help. I never felt like I was dumped on. Is there anyone you know in float pool now that you can get the scoop from? I would be proactive and get ACLS and rhythm interpretation before you start so you'll have a boost in confidence. It should be ok. Do your time and then move on to L&D. Have a great attitude! No complaining until you get into your car to drive home. If you are feeling panicked resist the urge to vent. Hit the bathroom, have your meltdown and then return to the floor bright eyed a bushy tailed (as my dad would say) even if you don't fel it on the inside. You only have to to bear with it a relatively short time.

Now, all the advice above doesn't meen don't ask for help if you don't know how to do something, Look it up first so you have the P&P in hand. Ask for help but say, "I've never done this procedure before but I have looked up the P&P on how to do it. I would feel better if I had an experienced nurse in the room w/ me for questions &/or moral support."

I think it will be a challenge but I think it will be doable and great experience when it's all over..