How does your unit determine who floats?

That sounds like an odd system to use. We have a binder and your name goes in whenever you float, that puts you at the bottom of the list. The system you mention would penalize people just for being new employees. Weird. 

We go by per diem first, then by a rotating list. Also you can’t float until 6 months of orientation. But we are union so it’s easier to follow the system since it’s in the contract. 

Are you able to volunteer if the float is to an area you like/know? I always volunteered if I figured I could do okay in the area, to avoid having to go to some areas I disliked. Plus I learned to know some staff on that floor so it was more enjoyable,

1 hour ago, Davey Do said:

Yeah.

It's as if they're letting the new employee drown and allowing the putrefaction which produces gases make them float!

 

You have such a way with words, Dave! ?

I'm per diem, and so always the first to float. I floated for about three years straight. Every. Time. I. Worked.

When I finally got back to my home unit, everything had changed- even the locks. And my annual evaluation was interesting, because the manager of my unit didn't recognize my name and wasn't sure who I was.

At my last few hospitals, people usually took turns or the most suitable person was sent. I've never heard of the system you're describing. It sounds kind of sucky.

PRNs are first to float then it goes by a list. That is a very odd system. It sounds like you will be floating for a while. 

They're taking advantage of you. Ask to see the written policy that says that. If they can't provide it, call HR and ask them for the float policy. No one will be able to provide it to you because it doesn't exist. They'll continue to do it as long as you allow them to do it unchecked. Put an end to it now or just get comfortable floating.

We don’t float out of the ER. 
 

floors keep track of the dates of when everyone floated last and float whoever has the longest time since they last floated. Certain nurses with long enough service time have it in their contract where they don’t have to float.

We have a "float tracker" sheet in the charge RN binder. We list the dates we're pulled and to which unit. You're up to float if everyone else on the schedule has floated more recently than you. You have the option to volunteer to be pulled (I for example, agreed to back to our COVID unit so I could keep my patients). There are some restrictions to who can float- you can't be pulled to ICU if you're not cross-trained, for example. We also don't float pregnant nurses or those with immunocompromised family members to the COVID unit. The system you guys use seems to be a tad unorthodox.