Float Pool as New Grad

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Hi All! I was just offered a position as a Float RN nights at a major hospital in NY as a New Grad. The Float Pool is for Med/Surg and Tele units. Is it a good idea to accept Float Pool as my first nursing job, or will I get overwhelmed too quick and too easily? Please help, I am at a loss. Thank you for any insight.

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Caveat: I do not have personal experience with working in the float pool myself, but I have talked to people who have because I have been considering starting there myself! 

I think the real question is, how much support do you get? The people who I have spoken with who started float pool as new grads said that their hospital provided them with lots of support, additional education, and long orientations to the floors they would be floating to.

Another question you might want consider is how do you personally handle transitions or stress? If you think you would do best with a more consistent setting as a new grad, then maybe switching units on a regular basis is not for you! Good Luck! 

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Specializes in Ortho /Neuro /Trauma, Resource Pool.

Hello! Long time reader and first time poster here. I currently work in a float pool (med/surg only). I spent two years on an Ortho/Neuro/trauma floor which I feel has prepared me somewhat, but the float pool is still quite a bit different for me due to exposure to different patients (which I have enjoyed learning new things from). I agree with the previous poster that float pool can be workable as a new grad with adequate support! My previous hospital actually had a new graduate residency program for their float pool. I would definitely ask what training will look like should you accept a position.

I don't know about your hospital, but resource nurses create their own schedules where I work. (With a few requirements such as a certain amount of weekend hours /holidays / etc.). This is why I ended up taking the position. I have been in my float pool job for about 8 months now and have been enjoying it.

Keep in mind, if you don't end up enjoying float pool, you may end up finding a unit that you really enjoy working on. Most hospitals will allow for internal transfer after 6 months or 1 year.

 

Good luck!

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Specializes in expertise in hospital leadership.

This doesn't sound like you would get the structure you need for learning. Float nurses are supposed to be ready to adapt and jump in with little orientation. Do they not have a GN program?

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55 minutes ago, Floor Peaches said:

Hello! Long time reader and first time poster here. I currently work in a float pool (med/surg only). I spent two years on an Ortho/Neuro/trauma floor which I feel has prepared me somewhat, but the float pool is still quite a bit different for me due to exposure to different patients (which I have enjoyed learning new things from). I agree with the previous poster that float pool can be workable as a new grad with adequate support! My previous hospital actually had a new graduate residency program for their float pool. I would definitely ask what training will look like should you accept a position.

I don't know about your hospital, but resource nurses create their own schedules where I work. (With a few requirements such as a certain amount of weekend hours /holidays / etc.). This is why I ended up taking the position. I have been in my float pool job for about 8 months now and have been enjoying it.

Keep in mind, if you don't end up enjoying float pool, you may end up finding a unit that you really enjoy working on. Most hospitals will allow for internal transfer after 6 months or 1 year.

 

Good luck!

Hi Floor Peaches. 

That's my biggest concern: the training is only 8 weeks, even though I am a new grad. I'm not sure I will be able to learn that much in 8 weeks. Thank you for the advice!

 

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54 minutes ago, keward01 said:

This doesn't sound like you would get the structure you need for learning. Float nurses are supposed to be ready to adapt and jump in with little orientation. Do they not have a GN program?

HI keward01,

it is considered a program for new GN, however the training is only 8 weeks before being on my own on Med/Surg and Tele floors, and it is for Night shift when the Managers and Educators are off. That is my biggest scare. 

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On 9/14/2021 at 2:18 PM, Triplepoint said:

Caveat: I do not have personal experience with working in the float pool myself, but I have talked to people who have because I have been considering starting there myself! 

I think the real question is, how much support do you get? The people who I have spoken with who started float pool as new grads said that their hospital provided them with lots of support, additional education, and long orientations to the floors they would be floating to.

Another question you might want consider is how do you personally handle transitions or stress? If you think you would do best with a more consistent setting as a new grad, then maybe switching units on a regular basis is not for you! Good Luck! 

Hi Triplepoint, 

And my biggest concern if the training/orientation period which is only 8 weeks. Thanks!

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Specializes in RN, BSN.

Hi @Jules2385

I'm currently interviewing for a position on the float pool as a new grad and came across this post. Can I ask what you ended up doing? 8 weeks seem awfully short but I also don't know what the average length of orientation is for the NY hospital.

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