Floating nurses

layna · May 18, 2003

Thanks to everyone for input on this subject! I am currently involved in the development of a float policy for our OB nurses. I do believe that floating guidelines need to be in place for the patients' sake. Nurses floating to other units should NOT be given an assignment unless they are currently practicing as a primary nurse in that unit (some of the nurses here do work in more than one unit on a regular basis). I also believe that with the help of the staff, there needs to be a clear guideline in place for the RN's who are floated related to what they can and cannot do- I found a great list of things like this in a Perinatal Compliance book I recently bought. We need to address the "floating fears" as mature adult professionals so that the needs of patient, unit and RN are met as best as possible.

If any of you have some written floating guidelines and want to share, please PM me. I would appreciate it. Thank-you!

yeyirn · Sep 2, 2003

Finally, I'm here....

Anyway, I was browsing the net in search for some things about being a 'floater'. It dissapoints me a lot because of the reasons mentioned from the previous responses. But I'd like to verbalize more on the aspect of uncertainty and uncomfortable when being assign to another unit.

Our managers here just ignore that issue. They would always deny our needs. Probably because they themselves doesn't have the chance to be a floater. I hope that this will be addressed properly by the administration.

I'd like to reiterate further but, let me just adjust first...for being part of this discussion.

Thanks...

oramar · Sep 2, 2003

Could you just say "NO". It ain't gona happen any more.

renerian, BSN, RN · Sep 2, 2003

I had to float alot at the hospital when I worked there. ICU had that bump thing going on too. WE did not. I never felt bad about floating actually it was nice as when I did most of the time I was treated very nice. I did not mind most of the time.

renerian

MandyInMS · Sep 2, 2003

I feel like I'm the designated "Yo-Yo" on my shift..last night started off on med/surg with 5 pts..was moved to Geri-Psych about 2230..then moved again to CCU around 0200 due to 2 new admits.Normally I don't mind working different areas.I like the change of pace.But 3 diff areas in 1 night..geeeeeez..didn't know if I was comming or going.Oh, and I'm the only one who seems to get moved around..which is unfair..If I can be a YoYo why can't others take turns doing the same ? -sighs-

yeyirn · Sep 4, 2003

I'm here again, guys....

Our story is like this....L am a pediatric ICU staff nurse, if our census is low, we'll be assigned in another unit. Fortunate for us if we'll be designated in another pediatric area. But sadly, most of the time, we'll be assigned to Adult ICU's. It always brought us uncomfortability, and even anxiety.....because basically its not our unit. It's not our place, and its very hard if you are not working in an area you're not familiar with. Anxiety would trigger low self-esteem among us. This somehow would cause us not to be happy when the time comes for us to report on duty. Instead of enjoying to giving care to our patients, we tend to loose interests in doing so.

Good for you, renarian. You are being treated well. But here, we're not, cause if we are, I think you'll here anything from me.

Its very sad that our managers here continue to ignore our predicaments regarding the matter.

Well, I'm now working on my Research papaer.....and its about floating or pull-out. After this, I'm planning to present this to our administrator. Hoping that they will emphatize and much more do something about this.

God bless.....

yeyirn · Sep 4, 2003

Me again,

Sorry, just have to correct some things......renerian, not renarian, and...."But here, we're not, cause if we are, you'll hear nothing....."

Thanks......

kathyann · Sep 19, 2003

I worked as a traveler for 2 years, and it was expected that we would be first to float, and I personally agree that this is the way it should be and agree that a policy to float temp staff first is the proper and acceptable thing to do.

Floating permanent staff first causes friction between permanent and temp staff, and it is already tough enough to go into an unfamiliar facility and work well with the staff sometimes when they are happy!

MandyInMS · Sep 25, 2003

Had a situation come up last night that reallyyyy peeved me..as I said in prior post I have floated to many other units within my hospital, and never complained toooo much..seeing as how I was the only staff member who was floated..I understand that we must remain a bit flexible so I have always just 'gone along' with it. The only area "I" do not feel comfortable floating to is the ER..to me it's a whole different specialty area and totally diff way of nursing.We were told last night we ALL had to float to the ER or take days off WITHOUT PAY.I do not feel comfortable with this at ALL.To be thrown to the wolves so to speak...say something bad comes in..myself not knowing the diff protocols/procedures ...but am expected to perform as an ER nurse...it just seems like a lawsuit waiting to happen to me..to me ER is an area that you need special training before being thrown there, and I feel my liscense would be in danger for agreeing to handle an area that I have no training whatsoever. I opted for day off without pay when my TIME comes up.It just angers me to feel pressured/bullied into a situation I don't feel comfortable with....grrrrrrrrrrrrr

fergus51 · Sep 25, 2003

Mandy, do you not have any recourse? Most hospitals I was in had to at least provide training if they expected you to float and take a patient assignment. Are you expected to work the same assignments as regular ER nurses without any orientation?

MandyInMS · Sep 26, 2003

No special orientation period or anything to that effect..work same as the reg ER nurses whenever they want to slap ya' down there...a 'learn as you go kinda thing' with all the responsibility ethically and legally..guess I'll have to find another job if they make me take too many days off without pay... although a day or so off would actually be nice considering I've tried to get a day off for 5 months now to no avail...2 of the other nurses on my shift have agreed to work there even though they do not feel comfortable with it either..just seems a point where sometimes you just have to say NO..no matter how unpopular it makes you :/

kimmicoobug · Sep 26, 2003

We have a float book policy, but the ones that do not get floated in regards to the book are the nurses with more seniority. I think this is a good idea. On the med-surg unit I work on, there are only 2 nurses that have 6 years experience. The rest of us have been nurses for one year or just graduated this year. OB occasionally needs floats. I got floated last night, and thorougly enjoyed it. But then again, I pick up extra shifts in that department frequently and I feel pretty comfortable there. And besides, I had been given a hellish assignment in med-surg on Tuesday and Wednesday that I was dreading going back to. I also requested that if OB is shorthanded with staff tonight and I am sure they will be (with 15 on the floor, and only two scheduled, and one calling in sick last night) there is a very good chance I will get floated if census is lower in med-surg.