Floating PCT Advice Needed!

[EKTheRN]

Hello,

I'm about to wrap up my first full semester of NS. In the summer, I took a nursing fundamentals course, and this semester I took Med/Surg I. As of yesterday, I accepted a job at a local hospital (very large hospital, btw) as a PRN PCT. I was not aware that I would be a floater until my interview, which makes me nervous.

Before accepting this job I worked PRN as a phlebotomist at the same hospital. I kind of know my way around the hospital, but that's not what I'm worried about.

Being a floater seems difficult because that means I'm going to have to orient myself to the floor, introduce myself to the staff, and ask for help every shift. I have this scenario played out in my head where I'm going to essentially be thrown to the wolves and the nurses will be too busy to help me out.

Does anyone have any advice for a brand new floating PCT? I could take all the words of wisdom/tough love I can get. Thanks!

[NurseRose84]

I started out as a full-time nights PCT a semester before I started nursing school on a tele floor. It was wonderful, but the scheduling issues I had, trying to work around class was difficult. A year and a half later, I transferred to the PCT float pool in the same hospital, and it was a life changer!

For our hospital, as float pool staff are only required to work 40 hours a month, and make our own schedule. I worked full-time all the way through nursing school, with my last year in school in the float pool. For me, the benefits of being a floater outweighed the hard parts. If you work on the floors long enough, the nurses and other techs get to know you and your work and it won't be bad. Plus, you'll get excellent references from nurses, and may have a job lined up before you graduate!

I think you'll love it! It was a wonderful experience and helped me realize what aspects of nursing I enjoyed before I graduated.