I need advice about float pool nursing...

[hmcb36]

I recently graduated from nursing school in December 2014. I accepted a position as a float pool nurse, RN Clinical I for a 206 bed hospital. I have healthcare experience as a respiratory therapist, so I'm a bit nervous in switching roles. Can anyone give me any good advice on float pool nursing and how to be a successful nurse in this position? Thank you greatly in advance.

[Farawyn]

I was a float for years.

First off, know your floor. If you are going to be floated to critical care when you are med surg, or Peds when you are not, that is not cool. It is unsafe. You will be intimidated the first time you refuse an assignment, but know you can do it.

Ironically, the times I did not refuse on the promise that the other nurses would help me, I did learn a lot. I was out of my comfort zone, but I developed a new comfort zone.

So, secondly, don't be afraid to float. You will always learn something new.

Thirdly, and this may sound stupid, but find the NM right away and find out bathrooms, what is lunch like, etc? Every floor may have different expectations. One floor used to do a group morning report. I had no clue and was off doing morning assessments while they were all waiting for me.

Fourth, introduce yourself and be nice. Hi, my name is hmcb36 and I am floating here today. I normally work on -----.

The nice thing about floating is you get to know EVERYONE in the hospital. Pretty soon, floors will start to ask for you. Then you know you're in.

That long walk down the hall in the morning not knowing where you are going to spend the next 13 hours of your life is rough. That anxiety never went away for me. Once I got my patients, I was fine, though.

Good luck!

[hmcb36]

Thank you!

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

Nice post, Farawyn. Thanks!

My next travel assignment is in the float pool, looking forward to new experiences and new skills, but I cant lie, I am somewhat anxious about it. But it's only for 13 weeks, so at least there is a foreseeable end!

Sent from my iPad using allnurses

[Bezoars]

I've done Med-Surg and Perinatal Float Pool. Go for it because you will learn so much! ASK questions when you don't know something, because just because "they do it that way" on one floor, doesn't mean they want you to do it that way where you are now. You'll occasionally have confidence issues because you'll go to every specialty and feel like everyone else knows so much more then you at say Oncology, or Pediatrics, or Cardiac... but remember... your skill level will run very wide and diverse but may not necessarily run deep for awhile. That's okay. It takes a special person to float and most nurses don't want to do it... so they will secretly admire you for your adaptability and everything you know