Med-surg float - change jobs to get out of med-surg

Nurses General Nursing

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I have been a med-surg float pool RN for 5 years. I have about a year of full time telemetry experince, too much med-surg experience, and about 4 months of peds( was short term assignment for RSV season). I have fibromyalgia and stress causes it to be worse, so the flexible schedule of the float pool has worked well for me, but lately I am so stressed over dreading work that I don't call in to get placed, which leads to lack of a decent paycheck. Which leads to bills not getting paid on time always. and that leads to stress, which leads to worse fibro ( see the pattern?) Working 24 hours of the float pool would equal working 40 hours on a regular unit ( in hourly pay only). As a float nurse, I can buy my health ins at a higher premium, but still good, and I don't have any further benefits that a FT position would have (vacation time, sick time, etc)

I had an awsome manager for 5 years who was so good to us, until she 'managed up' and a new position was created. My new manager and I just haven't gotten off to a great start. We rarely see each other, which is the norm, and she only knows what other people tell her. The hospital keeps opening new units ( I could be sent to any of around 10-12 units), and new places ( mostly bad) keep getting added to our list of units we float to. (we don't have a choice where we work).

I have asked my manager if I could cross-train to CC float pool. She was initially recpetive and then hasn't replied to my furher request. I will be doing most of the education and classes on my own time since she is not replying.

Today I had another awful day, have come home with my back aching, and a dread of working again this weekend...... I am a single mom of a 14 yo daughter, I love my flexibilty but I am thinking it may be time to move to a stable unit full time. I work another job at an eye center one day a week. If I leave the pool, and try to rejoin later, I will have to take 6 months of working evening shift ( the worst).

I am in a tough financial situation right now, and am considering quitting the hospital so I can access my 403b retirement account o pay back bills. My plan would be to find a surgery center or clinic that I like- but I have a strong feeling I will just end up back at the hospital within a few months.

I have always wanted to work in the NICU or nursery, but I have heard some say mother- unit is hard ( the visitors and pts being demanding and rude). NICU would be more my style I think, although I might enjoy L+D.

If not in one of those areas, I'd like to be in an ICU. Then, if I did go back to the float pool, I would say I wanted to be placed in the ICU division ( although I forsee her saying that I would have to accept med-surg or ICU assignments.) There aren't any openings in any of those units, though. There are some cardiac cath lab openings. There are only a few positions outside of the hospital advertised that I would desire.

I appreciate any comments or suggestions.

Thanks!

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Obviously you hate it there and it's affecting your health. Sounds like it's time to move on. You mention you like NICU or ICU settings, who not look for a perm job there? Any chance you could work full time at the eye clinic?

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Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.
I have been a med-surg float pool RN for 5 years. I have about a year of full time telemetry experince, too much med-surg experience, and about 4 months of peds( was short term assignment for RSV season). I have fibromyalgia and stress causes it to be worse, so the flexible schedule of the float pool has worked well for me, but lately I am so stressed over dreading work that I don't call in to get placed, which leads to lack of a decent paycheck. Which leads to bills not getting paid on time always. and that leads to stress, which leads to worse fibro ( see the pattern?) Working 24 hours of the float pool would equal working 40 hours on a regular unit ( in hourly pay only). As a float nurse, I can buy my health ins at a higher premium, but still good, and I don't have any further benefits that a FT position would have (vacation time, sick time, etc)

I had an awsome manager for 5 years who was so good to us, until she 'managed up' and a new position was created. My new manager and I just haven't gotten off to a great start. We rarely see each other, which is the norm, and she only knows what other people tell her. The hospital keeps opening new units ( I could be sent to any of around 10-12 units), and new places ( mostly bad) keep getting added to our list of units we float to. (we don't have a choice where we work).

I have asked my manager if I could cross-train to CC float pool. She was initially recpetive and then hasn't replied to my furher request. I will be doing most of the education and classes on my own time since she is not replying.

Today I had another awful day, have come home with my back aching, and a dread of working again this weekend...... I am a single mom of a 14 yo daughter, I love my flexibilty but I am thinking it may be time to move to a stable unit full time. I work another job at an eye center one day a week. If I leave the pool, and try to rejoin later, I will have to take 6 months of working evening shift ( the worst).

I am in a tough financial situation right now, and am considering quitting the hospital so I can access my 403b retirement account o pay back bills. My plan would be to find a surgery center or clinic that I like- but I have a strong feeling I will just end up back at the hospital within a few months.

I have always wanted to work in the NICU or nursery, but I have heard some say mother- unit is hard ( the visitors and pts being demanding and rude). NICU would be more my style I think, although I might enjoy L+D.

If not in one of those areas, I'd like to be in an ICU. Then, if I did go back to the float pool, I would say I wanted to be placed in the ICU division ( although I forsee her saying that I would have to accept med-surg or ICU assignments.) There aren't any openings in any of those units, though. There are some cardiac cath lab openings. There are only a few positions outside of the hospital advertised that I would desire.

I appreciate any comments or suggestions.

Thanks!

Getting sick and tired of being sick and tired is one thing.....but having the wolf at your door and a teenage girl in your house is a very heavy burden for one person to bear. My :redbeathe goes out to you.

I had to stop working med/surg because I got majorly burned out on that floor. It sounds like you are on the right path to explore your options, and I would encourage you to do so.

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THank you for your replys. I feel better already that I am making some progress towards a different job.

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Specializes in ICU, nutrition.

I was burned out a few years ago, bedside nursing in general but particularly at my critical care float pool job. When I finally made the decision I needed to find something else I immediately felt a weight lifted from my shoulders, even though it was nearly 6 months before I found another job to transfer to. Just knowing I was getting out helped, you know, even if I didn't know where or when. The area I moved to was not something I thought I'd LOVE, just a change, but I was so wrong. I finally found my "niche" after all these years! I hope you have the same experience.

You talked about rude, demanding families/patients in mother-baby, honestly, aren't those rude, demanding folks all over the hospital anymore? Used to it was just the floors of "frequent flyers" then the other floors, then ICU, and on and on. I go all over the place these days and there are PITAs everywhere!! If that's your concern, I wouldn't worry about it. If you think you might like it, go for it! It's at least a change, right?

I worked ICU for years. It's hard, demanding, physical work. I did a lot more turning, lifting and cleaning patients in there than I ever did on the floor. It's not a low stress environment by any stretch of the imagination.

I've gotten a couple of jobs when there wasn't an opening, but they did need help. Try to get your foot in the door. Keep nagging your boss about the cross training. Call the manager of the CC floats and offer yourself. You never know until you try. If I hadn't nagged my boss after another nurse lost her job after her FMLA ran out I wouldn't have gotten on days ("Well, no one else wants to go to days so I guess you can.")

Good luck to you.

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Today I sent my manager my notice that I would be seeking another position, as per the advice of the nurse retention RN. Praying that God will open the right doors for me now. Thanks!

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2 years later= My new manager is the best I could have ever asked for and didn't know it. But I'm going into grad school now, my daughter has moved out, and the stress of the float is the same (on top of new physical issues). I aminterviewing for an office position with a drastic cut in pay, and I would be working 40 hours a week and making what i could make in 20 floating. Any advice?

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