New Grad on Nursing Resource Team?

loriannprice, BSN, MSN, RN, NP · Jan 27, 2018

I am super surprised to hear about this for new grads, perhaps it's a difference in terminology? At my Level III NICU, the resource team were experts, not novices. You applied for it like a charge RN role, very elite group of experienced NICU nurses. If this more of a "help out where you are most needed, and we'll make sure you have the support you need" then absolutely go for it! What a privilege to have varied experiences early in your career.

peripateticRN, BSN, RN · Jan 27, 2018

This is how I got started - only our float pool was over 13 units. 4 Units may not be too bad. The nice part is that you don't get mired down in unit politics but the downside is that (at least in my experience) it's hard to develop camaraderie with the rest of the staff and every day is like Monday morning - new unit, new assignment, and you will be looking for supplies ALL THE TIME.

I was told at the beginning that new grads will either thrive or completely fail in a float pool - just depends on your personality and your ability to roll with the punches.

As to why they are hiring new grads to float - most seasoned nurses don't want to float - so there are openings. Again - with only 4 units you would float to, sounds like a good gig. Realistically - depending where in Canada you are, apply to anything and everything. The job market is pretty rough in my province. We were told in our orientation period that they are getting 200-300 applicants for every position. I have been trying to get out of the float pool for the last 6 months or so and have not gotten a single call after 35+ positions applied for.

So anyway.. good luck.. if you have an in... use it!

YoursNursingly · Jan 27, 2018

Thanks for the reply!

I have heard that at times they will give the float nurses the worse patient assignments. Which is unfortunate. Was this your experience as well?

I'm from Ontario, specifically the GTA area. I had an ER placement as well and that's where I truly want to be, but as you suggested I'll take any "in" that I can.

Thanks again :)

YoursNursingly · Jan 27, 2018

This sounds like it must be different from what I'm referring to. It's more of a random assignment each day between these 4 medicine floors.

I have been told it's good to gain a lot of varied experiences but am apprehensive to start out as a new grad and not have a set floor or "team"

Fiona59 · Jan 28, 2018

Our floats are oriented to three units.

Putting it bluntly, new grads are hired because they are at the bottom of the pay scale.

I started out as a float. You learn quickly which units you don't want a permanent line on.

Yes, there are days you will get the worst assignment. I remember ashift with 5 patients, 3 were isolation! The unit manager was furious when she found out.

You survived. I know one nurse who is still in that float pool 13 years later, she found her home there

peripateticRN, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2018

At my hospital the 'worst pt load' is somewhat of a myth, I think. You generally take over the patient assignment of the nurse prior to you unless there are big unbalances. That's not to say on rare occasions there are some tricksy moves going on by reg staff to foist the challenging patients onto the floats but I would say that is rare.

The patient loads are often quite unbalanced on some units though having nothing to do with being a float or not (there is one unit in which one team has all the iso patients while the other 2 teams have none.) I would say everyone thinks their pt load is the worst, when in reality - its all super busy.

I did about 14 months of full time floating before I burnt out and am happily doing casual public health now to recharge. I may go back - but am really reluctant to do so (But I think that is more to do with medicine as opposed to Floating).

One nice thing about floating that hasn't been pointed out yet is you get experience with many different patients.. ie we have specialty units - like stroke, nephro, GI etc. I got tons of experience that people working one floor would never have seen.

Fiona59 · Jan 28, 2018

Yup, surgical floats gain experience in thoracics, ortho, plastics, bariatrics, and good old General surgery.

YoursNursingly · Jan 29, 2018

Our floats are oriented to three units.
Putting it bluntly, new grads are hired because they are at the bottom of the pay scale.
I started out as a float. You learn quickly which units you don't want a permanent line on.
Yes, there are days you will get the worst assignment. I remember ashift with 5 patients, 3 were isolation! The unit manager was furious when she found out.
You survived. I know one nurse who is still in that float pool 13 years later, she found her home there

Nice to know that you learnt some things and made it through the float pool.

I hope the same will be true for me .. if it works out. Thanks!

YoursNursingly · Jan 29, 2018

At my hospital the 'worst pt load' is somewhat of a myth, I think. You generally take over the patient assignment of the nurse prior to you unless there are big unbalances. That's not to say on rare occasions there are some tricksy moves going on by reg staff to foist the challenging patients onto the floats but I would say that is rare.
The patient loads are often quite unbalanced on some units though having nothing to do with being a float or not (there is one unit in which one team has all the iso patients while the other 2 teams have none.) I would say everyone thinks their pt load is the worst, when in reality - its all super busy.
I did about 14 months of full time floating before I burnt out and am happily doing casual public health now to recharge. I may go back - but am really reluctant to do so (But I think that is more to do with medicine as opposed to Floating).
One nice thing about floating that hasn't been pointed out yet is you get experience with many different patients.. ie we have specialty units - like stroke, nephro, GI etc. I got tons of experience that people working one floor would never have seen.

You make some great points. Everyone is constantly worried about having a "heavy assignment" or wanting to switch their patients.

Especially in medicine, it is all busy and heavy. The 4 floors I'm referring to are all some type of medicine: stroke, nephro, general. The fun never stops haha

hellohobbit · Feb 1, 2018

Out of curiosity, is this uhn or sunnybrook NRT? I'm interested in applying too, maybe we can connect :)

theRPN2b · Feb 3, 2018

In my hospital system (family of 5 hospitals) they have an NRT,who go around between these 5 hospitals. And they have hired several new grads or newer nurses with less then 2 years experience. Most of them do well,it can be hard at times I'm sure,but at the same time you're going to learn so much and it gets easier over time, I know some nurses who only ever worked NRT and they love it. As for giving NRT unfair assignments, I don't find that true, our charge nurses are great and try to make assignments as equal as possible for all.