New Grad - Med/Surg Float position

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I FINALLY landed an interview :yeah: on Thurs for a Med/Surg float position in a S. Jersey Hospital. Pointers, Advice, what should I ask and what should I expect out of the interview... Please advise :nurse:

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

I would ask what sort of orientation they will be giving a new grad. I work as a float pool nurse and can not imagine having done this job fresh out of school. Feel free to ask me any questions about working in a staffing pool.

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Congratulations on your interview.

I am surprised that the facility is considering a new grad for this position. Most require 2 years experience . I have 30 years in and I find floating to be a challenge.

Find out how long your orientation will be and how many units you will be expected to cover. Also, does this involve any day/ night rotation?

You will be learning the profession, doing it in different places, could be setting you up for failure. It's hard to function in different settings.

Good luck.

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I know I was extremely surprised that I even got called for this position... :eek: I know that being a new nurse is hard enough but to be that adaptable on short notice will be a challenge. My resume clearly indicates that I do not have experience so it's not like I tried to mislead them. I'm going to go with an open mind and see what comes out of it. I am very keen on how they orient.

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I would ask what sort of orientation they will be giving a new grad. I work as a float pool nurse and can not imagine having done this job fresh out of school. Feel free to ask me any questions about working in a staffing pool.

How does working in a staffing pool work... Do you just show up the days you are scheduled and find out what floor you are needed on?

How do the majority of nurses that work on the floor treat you as a float nurse. Are they helpful or disengaged to you being there?

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I know I was extremely surprised that I even got called for this position... :eek: I know that being a new nurse is hard enough but to be that adaptable on short notice will be a challenge. My resume clearly indicates that I do not have experience so it's not like I tried to mislead them. I'm going to go with an open mind and see what comes out of it. I am very keen on how they orient.

hope you get it, I got the position of a pediatric float nurse after 8 months on a crazy busy peds unit. It was a new hospital in a different state and I loved it!

I kept my head down, looked up policiy and proceedures before doing a proceedure and asked only the questions I couldn't look up on my own. I was a little lonely as it took longer to make friends, but I was so glad to be out of the drama and politics of working on one unit. Also they would talk about people and things that happened on the unit like I wasn't there. It was a lot like this website, I learned a lot about people and nursing and other random stuff.

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A friend of mine applied for a tele job that asked for 2 years experience but she was wanted to give it a chance. She stated on her resume that she was a new grad so I dont know how they over looked that info. She went to the interview and at the end the recruiter told her she didnt qualify because she didnt have expereince, NO REALLY, She did mention that. What a waste of her time. Thought I'll share.

Anyways if this wasnt a mistake and the interview goes well, ask about orientation because a float nurse needs to know there stuff. Good luck.

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Im not a float nurse but the two Ive seen were on their own. It seemed like everyone expected them to know everything. I felt sorry for them, at times they got frustrated. I think its a hard job because you are not close to the other staff members. Maybe I just had a bad experience. I remember being a student and I was looking after a pt, I was looking for the nurse so I started asking for her. All I kept on hearing is, oh the floater, the floater this, the floater that. Im like whats her name and they are like I dont know, but this was her 5th time floating to that unit. When I finally found her she seemed so down but was the sweetest lady,, she was happy I was able to help her.

Anways the point to the story is that I dont think a float nurse position is for a new grad. When I first heard of a float nurse it sounded like it was an easy stress free job, but it seems like the opposite.

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I myself am a new grad and I am starting out in float pool. This week is my 3rd and I'm having a good experience so far. I will be med-surg/pcu my first year and then can train into ICUs. Definitely check orientation! The units I have been to (so far) have been very appreciative of the floaters because they are shorthanded. Most made an effort to learn our names and even posted them up. The nurses have been very helpful, MDs too. I have not felt bad about asking questions but honestly, I don't care if someone gets mad about me asking things! I would rather not endanger my patients and/or my license. If your unit is like mine, we show up to our home unit at our scheduled time, find our assigned floor and head that way.

It is a bit overwhelming to be floating to different floors when you're brand new but I've decided I will look at it as a great experience to see so much. Best of luck with your interview!! Also, you can ask if they have shadowing opportunities so you can see what a typical day is like, see if it's a good fit. I did this and really enjoyed it. Let us know how it goes!! :)

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Hi am a new grad and landed my 1st job as a float rn in th med/surg area and its totally do-able with the right training. My facility offered me a total of 6 months training with about 2 weeks on every floor I would eventually float to. I love my job and the variety. Just remember to ask questions if your're unsure about anything and you'll do fine. I've been floating for a year now and I don't think I'll ever want to commit to just one floor. Plus staying out of the politics is great!! Good luck!! You'll do fine!

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I worked as a float pool nurse in med/surg when I was a new grad and it´s been one of the best things that has ever happened to me! I was really luck 'cos in the hospital where I work they have a special program for new grads to be float pool nurses´cos they state it´s a great opportunity for new grads to learn things from different settings and specialties. People would be so grateful that floaters were 'cos they were always short-staffed, so they would make me feel part of the staff and would helped me so much with any doubts I´d have.

Orientation took 3 months in 3 different units and with 3 different mentors from the given units. After that, we were scheduled to stay in a specific unit for 2 weeks or 1 month and usually, they´d let me know it in advance.

I stayed in this floating program for 10 months and today I feel so confident 'cos I know a little bit of everything and can care better for my ptes.!

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Im hearing such great things about new grads with float position, Im considering applying for a position. :)

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