Shortages in CC areas has lead to lots of floating between units. Some nurses float every day away from their home unit. Nobody's happy.
The newest practice is management has stopped pretending it's a float situation, and just forced the senior nurses to transfer. Whether they want to or not. Of course there's no orientation. A nurse is a nurse is a nurse after all.
I'm old enough to know there's not much you can do except quit. Or is there?
I transitioned to floor nursing after critical care/ICU and let me tell you - that is a totally different world ! I am not sure you want to put yourself through that given that you are sort of close to retirement. Comparing the two I find that critical care/ ICU was by far easier (perhaps that is just me).
Most large teaching and non teaching hospitals in my area now also float critical care nurses to similar floors. They get patients they can take care off because they are similar to their pat population or they receive training. In some hospitals the cc nurses also have to float to IMC at times or step down - which all of them hate...
Personally, I discovered that I actually enjoyed floating because it broadened my horizon. I have worked in different CC areas and got the hang of floating quickly. Here are some suggestions while you look for something else (doesn't hurt to look around):
Because you are not "the expert" just be up front about it. Simply tell the nurses on your float unit that while you are an expert in your subspecialty you may need their expertise. Be positive and come ready with a smile - I know that it does not sound enticing when you float and actually hate it - but it will work 100% in your favor. Floors and units do not like nurses who complain or floating or up front about disliking an area - that will just lead to you getting worse assignments and less help next time you come.
If you get there upbeat and positive say also stuff like " I do not mind helping you guys out - shortage is terrible" or "It is great to learn new things" ----- even if you do not really feel like it, try to convince yourself. A positive attitude will help you to get through floating much easier...
I floated to a floor everybody disliked like nothing else and people were very verbal about it. That only led to nurses getting the worst float assignment ever with no CNA to find....
In the meantime you can look around to see what else in out there in your area. BTW - if you are close to retirement you are a more expensive employee and finding a job that will pay that much could be hard to find.
I agree with the positive attitude, but it feels like I'm putting my stamp of approval on the transfer when I act like it doesn't bother me. I tried that, and it just made everybody else feel better except me.
I know I won't get anywhere near what I make now if I leave, but I think I can get a job. I'd just have to work 5 eights, or work extra to make up the difference. I'd probably hate it, but right now I'm absolutely miserable.
Anyone else out there feel like they've been forced to transfer as punishment? Until recently I was a NICU nurse. Long story short, I had an encounter with a demeaning charge nurse that reflected poorly on my ability to do my job (and sent me into a panic attack, but hey, who's counting?). She reported this to the Cluster Manager as all floors dealing with women and children are under the same manager. This manager concluded that I had not been properly trained on orientation and gave me 2 weeks of reorientation with the more critical babies in the unit, which I had not taken care of since orientation. After 2 weeks, she concluded it was not working and gave me the option to transfer to Women & Newborn or any other unit in the hospital, but I "can't stay in NICU" even though she admits that I do fine with the lower acuity patients. I hadn't even been working in NICU a year, and prior to that I came from a Med-Surg floor; I only received 8 weeks orientation after my transfer to NICU (because "a nurse is a nurse"). Anyone else been here before? Is there anything I can do to get back to NICU, which is where I want to be?
imintrouble, BSN, RN
2,406 Posts
I agree with the positive attitude, but it feels like I'm putting my stamp of approval on the transfer when I act like it doesn't bother me. I tried that, and it just made everybody else feel better except me.
I know I won't get anywhere near what I make now if I leave, but I think I can get a job. I'd just have to work 5 eights, or work extra to make up the difference. I'd probably hate it, but right now I'm absolutely miserable.