Float Pool Nurses

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.

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?

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.

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.

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...

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

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