Floating for 1st assignment?

[michlynn, BSN, RN]

I was approved for my 1st assignment (finally!) in NC but they told me I was going to be floating on all of the med/surg tele units and this hospital is HUGE and now I feel very overwhelmed. Has anyone ever floated for their first assignment? I feel bad not accepting the position but after thinking about it I feel like I should wait for an assignment doing something I'm more familiar with.

[SFANURSE2011, MSN, RN]

My first assignment I was assigned to a unit. However being a traveler, I floated to other units like other ICU, step down, and telemetry, and seem to even float more than their float pool did. Just know its a part of the job and most places will give you a resource nurse or a buddy to help you out during the shift well at least some places I worked did. Others it was Everyman for himself. And don't let floating scare you. Happens to everyone I always tell other people I'm just a tug boat lol.

[Soliloquy, MSN, APRN, NP]

Floating isn't so bad as long as they don't do it every 3-4hrs. Once you learn how the computer system works, it's fine. Think of it as being a traveling within the hospital. You know the basic nursing skills and they've shown you how their computer system works so you've got it. :)

[wanderlust99]

I had to float on my first assignment but only to another ICU when there was low census. So the entire 13 weeks I think I floated 4 times total. That I can live with. But I understand your hesitation to take a float position, that can be rough especially as a new traveler. I think you made the right decision.

[LittleMissVixen410]

What hospital is it? I have worked at several hospitals in NC and would be happy to offer advice...

[michlynn, BSN, RN]

What hospital is it? I have worked at several hospitals in NC and would be happy to offer advice...

Wake Forest Baptist. I also know other people that have worked there and told me I'd most likely be overwhelmed having to float that often.

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

You'd be charting on at least 15 patients per shift, assuming they float you once every 4 hours. That's just sick! What benefit of patient continuity is that?

[n.a.williams]

I am currently in Phoenix on my first travel contract, and I'm floating. It's not bad at all. It's completely true that once you know the charting system, it's not that hard to float from place to place. Plus, it gives me a chance to meet more people and learn more things than I probably would have otherwise. That being said, you shouldn't take a contract that you're not comfortable with.

[imanedrn]

Floating isn't so bad as long as they don't do it every 3-4hrs. Once you learn how the computer system works, it's fine. Think of it as being a traveling within the hospital. You know the basic nursing skills and they've shown you how their computer system works so you've got it. :)

This always makes me giggle when I read it. I'm an ER nurse, and I love floating to a different assignment (within the ER) every 4 hours. But, of course, we don't have to know our patients in exhausting details, so that makes it easier :)

[michlynn, BSN, RN]

I'm not really a fan of charting on 15 different patients throughout the day. It doesn't give you any time to fully take care of anyone or get to know them.

[Soliloquy, MSN, APRN, NP]

Lol I wouldn't mind it if there wasn't so much charting todo for each patient. When you have to chart a full head to toe assessment in addition to write a plan of care note for each and every 4 hrs you get 5 new patients that you're required to chart on in detail including skin, pressure ulcers and the like, it just gets to be too much.

[NedRN]

Don't they teach typing in school anymore? Oops, I mean keyboarding?

Anyway, working at a place like Kaisers in California certainly make you efficient floating every 4 hours! Come back to ordinary hospitals and they will be amazed at how much free time you have.