New grad in the float pool?!

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  1. Float or no?

    • 2
      Go for float pool!
    • 6
      Could go either way
    • 10
      Bad idea, abort mission!

18 members have participated

Hey all, I just interviewed with a recruiter for my first RN job. It was for a general Med/surg position, but after the interview she said I sounded like a great fit for the float pool! I was taken aback by this as I've never considered working in the float pool, let alone as a new grad.

She said there was a position open in their big main hospital (1000+ beds) as well as one of their smaller community hospitals (~400 beds). Even after I told her I never considered float pool and I was concerned about not being able to build a relationship with a preceptor, she still convinced me to try speaking to the float manager at the smaller hospital. She told me I would be floating to various med/surg type units with different specialties (ortho, cardiac, GI, ICU, neuro, infectious disease etc...) and have a 12 week orientation to experience all the units with each unit having a different preceptor for me.

On the one hand I like the idea of becoming a jack of all trades and avoiding drama in the workplace since I'd always be moving around. On the other hand I'm afraid I'll be overwhelmed with the unpredictability and that I may be taken advantage of (getting the difficult patients dumped on me). Plus maybe the nurses would be less willing to help or mentor me since I'm not "one of their own". Is this a bad idea? Should I insist on a different position? Or is this a great opportunity that will allow me to grow to my fullest potential? Thoughts?

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Most float pool positions in my area want experienced RN's. They don't want to have to teach you how to be a nurse. Just orient you to the unit and let you fly. I am a new grad too and I am just one month off of my orientation and am still learning new things each and every shift. Things that just don't get covered in nursing school. I would approach this cautiously, I wonder if they are desperate for bodies in the float pool.

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I was thinking the same thing. I thought it was strange to offer this position to a new grad, maybe even irresponsible? I plan on asking the manager a ton of questions about their experience training new grads and how it usually plays out.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I agree that it is unusual ... but I worked for a hospital that used its float pool for just this kind of purpose. The floaters were not given hard assignments and were always given a resource person that they could go to for help if needed. It was common for new grads to start in the float pool and then switch to a specific unit full time once they had gotten a chance to get their feet wet and decide which unit would be the best fit. It was a way for the new person to "find a good fit" and a way for the unit to get the know the person a bit before hiring her.

I would ask about the nature of the float pool, the type of nurse usually hired there, how many new grads did they hire, etc. If it is a float pull like the one I just described, I would recommend it ... great learning opportunity. But if hiring new grads is rare there and the floater is expected to be able to function as an experienced nurse with a full, busy assignment ... then I would not consider it -- no way.

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I agree that it is unusual ... but I worked for a hospital that used its float pool for just this kind of purpose. The floaters were not given hard assignments and were always given a resource person that they could go to for help if needed. It was common for new grads to start in the float pool and then switch to a specific unit full time once they had gotten a chance to get their feet wet and decide which unit would be the best fit. It was a way for the new person to "find a good fit" and a way for the unit to get the know the person a bit before hiring her.

I would ask about the nature of the float pool, the type of nurse usually hired there, how many new grads did they hire, etc. If it is a float pull like the one I just described, I would recommend it ... great learning opportunity. But if hiring new grads is rare there and the floater is expected to be able to function as an experienced nurse with a full, busy assignment ... then I would not consider it -- no way.

I really like the sound of what you did at your hospital. Having a regular resource person even after orientation would make me feel a lot better about the situation. I'll have to ask about their system works. And I'll add your questions to my list of what to cover.

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Specializes in Med Surg/PCU.

I've never heard of float pool like llg described - it does sound like a good plan if it's like that.

I've been a nurse for just shy of 2 years in a med-surg unit and just took a float pool position at a different hospital. I'm a bit overwhelmed at learning a new charting system and how to deal with new patient populations. The "educator" for the float pool is fairly unreachable and honestly, hasn't been able to answer the policy/procedure questions I've posed to her. I'm not afraid to ask for what I need, so I'm not terribly concerned. But I would never suggest a new grad going into this position.

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I appreciate the input, especially since you're working float pool right now. I'm just curious, do you know of any new grads in your float pool? Also, how do you find you get along with the other nurses in general? Like do they "dump" patients on you or are they reluctant to help?

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Specializes in Med Surg/PCU.

I'm literally in my 2nd week at this job, so it's too early to be able to answer most of your questions. Neither my previous employer nor this one hires new grads into their float pools.

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Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.

This is highly suspicious. As PPs have said, most float pool positions are reserved for experienced RN who have worked in various settings. My job as a new grad only employed experienced float nurses and new grad RNs weren't permitted to float until they had been off orientation for 6 months. It sounds to me like they are desperate to fill a vacancy and any warm body will do. I would think carefully about this if I were you.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I've been a pediatric float nurse for a year now; hired as a new grad. I float to three different med-surg units, heme/onc, and the NICU. We're being trained to go to PICU and the ER in the next coming months. My orientation involved going to each unit for three weeks. On one of the units, I found that they seemed to have a higher acuity patients than the other med-surg floors so I asked for additional orientation on this specific unit and it was approved for three more weeks on top of the three I had originally. Whenever I go to a unit, I always ask for help if I need it. Which would be the case if I had a home unit as well.

I will be honest though and say that I have gotten really bad assignments and have been taken advantage of before. If I feel that my assignment isn't fair, I talk to the charge nurse or ANM immediately before starting care to see if it can be taken care of. You definitely have to learn to stick up for yourself.

Overall though, I love my job and I love floating. I've learned SO much by floating to the different units. And I've met so many great people along the way. I have such a great support system whenever I go to any of the units because I've gotten to know so many people. Everyone is always willing to help as they know I would do the same for them.

Ultimately the decision is yours to make though. Good luck!! :)

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Specializes in ER.

Float pool as a new grad...oh hell no! I declined a float position as an experienced RN because I want to get a feel for the hospital and how they work with their nurses first. If you like the hospital, and you've gotten comfortable on your unit, then sure, try floating. As a new nurse you need consistency in your orientation, where you know your coworkers, your policies and where supplies are. Floating would make that first year hell last forever.

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I wouldn't. Our charge nurse doesn't let the float nurse get all of the heavy patients when they come to our floor, but not all floors are like that. If everyone gets a choice to give up a patient then you know what will probably happen. Or they'll have you do the admissions. As a float you have to be very independent and adapt quickly.

Also all of the floors have their own parameters. I just can't believe that they would give you a good enough orientation for float pool AND new grad. Our hospital has started doing floor-based pools I think and may be trying to do away with the whole hospital pool. I think it would take tremendous experience and stamina to do it safely.

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