Float Pool Nurses

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Hospice, Palliative Care, HH.

I've been working float pool at a local hospital for about 6 months now. While I love the general idea of it, the variety, the higher pay, etc, I get very frustrated with splitting my 8 hr shift between two units. Is this the norm with float pools? I understand floating to different units but was not aware I'd be floated within my shift. I may start out on one floor taking 6-7 patients, then float to another floor after 4 hrs to take another 4-5 patients, and somewhere in that time between reporting off and receiving report I have to fit in a meal.

Your thoughts?

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Specializes in Intensive Care Unit.

My mom is a nurse also and did float pool for 5 of her 30 years in nursing. Splitting floors is definetly common, and she use to do 12 hour shifts and go to THREE floors sometimes.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Seems dangerous to me with an inconsistency in care, but I also understand that the float nurse is filling a need.

Kara RN BSN: what is that picture you have posted?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Hospice, Palliative Care, HH.

Thanks for your prompt replies! Maybe it's just something I have to accept. It's just very difficult assessing, charting, passing meds, not to mention the "unexpected" that always occur when taking a team, and do it all in 4 hrs, just to start it all over again with another group of patients. And BTW, I say "float pool", but I am the lone RN in this "pool". Not a big hospital, just under 200 beds...guess that's one reason I can't stay on one unit. Thank you again for your input. It helps with understanding this new role I have and will be better able to accept that it is what it is.

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I float and sometimes I do get sent to another floor. It does suck sometimes. It doesn't happen too often for me. The thing that frustrates me is a lot of times I get the hardest patients. But then I realize that I don't have to come back there the next day.

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Specializes in LTC, Med-SURG,STICU.

When I was in the float pool I would let who ever was in charge of my assignment know that I was taking my break before I went to my second assigned unit. I knew once I got to that unit for my last 4 hours there was no way there was going to be time for a break. It is just too crazy getting report assessing and getting my pts settled. Before I knew it it was time to give report to the next shift. Good luck...

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Hello Capco56,

I work in the Float Pool of a small community hospital and I find that for the most part they try to keep me on the same floor for my 8 hour shift. I should note that in this hospital there is 2 Med/Surg units, 1 ICU and 1 ED and that at this point I am only able to do Med/Surg. As a Float RN I receive the same pay and benefits as any other nurse so there is no upside in that sense. I will say that its nice to get to know the staff from both units and by floating I tend to stay out of the drama. On an unrelated note I am finding already that Adult Med/Surg is not going to be my be-all and end-all to my nursing career but it will do for now.

!Chris :specs:

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i work in a large teaching hospital. float nurses are floated every 4 hours unless that unit needs you more than 4 . 11-7pm usually guarantees you will stay on the same unit those 8 hours. sometimes 12hrs but i wouldnt say it is unusual to go to 3 different units in 4 hours

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