Floating Policy

[NGYSUN]

Hi all, I was wondering what your facility policy on floating is.

In my hospital, it seems like they just float nurses around even if they're not float nurses. Ideally, in my hospital float nurses are paid way more than others.

I ask this because, I had started off at the ER in my hospital but moved to medsurg because the schedule in medsurg was better for me. However, lately, the house sup always wants me to float to ER when they're slammed. And Im like, am I supposed to float ER. Because I did not sign up as a float staff. Yes. I have good ER background. But, then shouldn't I be at least asked if I can go... and not just commanded to go to ER with non options asked or something.

I think this is not right. Even though I want to speak up, but I feel that they may want to 'get rid' of me if I confront them on their policy.

What do you think?

Thanks!!

[perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN]

We are oriented to every other unit in the hospital (usually for one 12-hour shift), and then are expected to be able to float there. I do think that if you are going to be expected to float to a different unit in your hospital, you should be oriented to it; even if you have ER experience already, you will want a chance to learn the protocols and charting, etc. of that hospital's ER.

We have a float "list", as many others have mentioned, so it goes by who has gone the longest without floating, which seems to me the fairest way to do it. On night shift, we also barter among ourselves, if one person hates a certain unit but loves another one, and vice versa. So say the ER needs help and it's Jennifer's turn to float, but Jennifer hates the ER, Susie will float to ER for Jennifer tonight. Then on another occasion, if NICU needs a nurse and it's Susie's turn to float, Jennifer will float to the NICU for her. It's not "official" policy, it's just kind of been worked out among the staff themselves. If that makes sense. Thus, at least on night shift, it seems pretty rare that someone ends up having to float to a unit they absolutely hate. You might be able to work out some type of arrangement like that on your unit as well.

[Dogen]

My hospital has three behavioural health units, so we usually only float between those, but I (personally) also float to med-surg because I like it and I like floating. I rarely get the opportunity because no one floats to psych, and I'm on call, so I get called off somewhat frequently.

The policy is the same as others said. We have a list and float in order of last float date. But necessity trumps the float list. I could float every day of the week if psych was constantly over staffed and med-surg was short. That never happens, but it could.

[NursesRmofun, ASN, RN]

I think many hospitals say they have a "right" to float a nurse to any area they have enough experience in OR they give them a patient load or assignment they can handle. Say you go to mother/baby with little or no experience...they might have you take all the ladies ready to go home the next day or later that day. Or on Psych, you may not do the medications, but you can do frequent checks and not take an assignment...something like that. Anyway, at my last hospital job...I was screwed royally on the floating topic. I got floated more than anyone else on my unit at the time I was there. And I got floated to units that always gave the floater a terrible assignment. Glad that is long over. That whole hospital had a "who you know" typed thing going on. Some people got away with a lot because of who they knew or were friendly with, some got crapped on.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Bottom line is.. when ER needs a nurse you will always be first choice. You are the one that can handle an ER assignment. How often does this happen? The supervisor knows this, will always float you there over unqualified nurses.How many other nurses in your facility could float to ER? You could ask for a rotation based on that.

I agree it would be "nice" if you were ASKED to go. However nursing supervisors are not known for being nice.

[floridanurse1983]

I think OP is more annoyed that float is paid more than regular nurses. And that they are being used as a float but not compensated for it. Which is a valid argument.

[AJJKRN]

I think OP is more annoyed that float is paid more than regular nurses. And that they are being used as a float but not compensated for it. Which is a valid argument.

Ummm no, not really. If a nurse wants to get paid like they are in the float pool then they should be expected to work like they're in the float pool, hence work in the float pool. I get paid more to float because I float EVERY shift and can fill in everywhere except the specialty units. I may float to two or three different units in one shift. Float staff are also generally the ones to be called off first or be put on standby when census is low, tend to get the worst/heaviest assignments, etc. I doubt you have to keep up with every floors education, competency's, and PI projects either. Can you just show up, without being disgruntled about having to float for just that shift, and work seemlessly beside the regular floor nurses of almost every floor and patient population in your hospital? I'll say it again, floor nurses don't want to accept that they are employed by the hospital not just the floor they were hired onto. There's a reason the float pool nurses are paid more than the floor nurses, try out the float pool before making this assumption please. Whoops, rant over...(this rant was in no way directed to the OP BTW).

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

It seems that certain areas always need float staff. I would think that would be a big red flag to administration that something isn't quite right. Personally I don't like floating but do did when it's my turn without complaint (or tears). BUT if I worked on a unit that floated me quite often, I'd look for another job.

[Graduatenurse14]

We have a Per Diem Pool and they only float. Not sure if all of them go everywhere or only certain ones go to ICU's. They get paid a lot more but don't get vacation and maybe not even health insurance. On my unit, they don't get the worst patients and it's interesting to talk to them since they see and hear so much that they have usually good information on things going on- like I found out that we bought a building across the street and are tearing it down to make an employee parking garage.

Also, since they go to so many different units, they know so much about all aspects of patient care. I had to instill a med into a nephrostomy tube and the only RN who knew how it done was the the Per Diem Pool nurse!!!

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

The facility is going to try to use who they have already in house. As to call in a float nurse means that they are going to pay more when there are nurses in house who could be pulled.

And in any number of job descriptions, there's a clause that reads something like "and other duties as assigned"....

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

I know the answer but I'm asking anyway.

What happens if you're a med/surg nurse, and you get forced to ER. You've argued all the reasons you're not qualified, and your supervisor sends you anyway. Then something bad happens. Is it just the nurse who was forced, or everybody up the food chain?

I know there's always the choice to refuse and be fired.

It's so hard to make that choice, it's almost like it's not really a choice at all.

[nightbreak]

The California BRN has a position statement on floating, perhaps other states do as well?

Of particular interest is section C.

http://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/regulations/npr-b-21.pdf

[marie6063]

How often are nurses at your hospitals required to float? I am not in the float pool nor am I a travel nurse (I work on a medsurg unit at my hospital) and I am forced to float to other units at least twice a month. We receive no extra compensation on nights we are forced to float. I've just been told the amount we are going to float will be increased because the hospital is so short staffed. So, we will float multiple times a month but we will not be compensated extra for it. This seems very unfair because I did not sign up to be a float nurse and like have my own "home" unit. How often do you float and are you compensated extra for it?