New Job

[Telenurse1990]

I recently got a job with an ICU float pool and I need advice. . With my new position, I will be floating between 4 hospital ICUs. These range from Neuro/CCU/MICU/CVICU ETC which is an awesome way to learn new things and the company in general is better to work for (past experience). But my issue is that apparently they can float us to any hospital unit which is not really my cup of tea ( I was told that we do not float to the general floors because we're ICU float pool). I don't mind floating but I don't want to always be the one to be floated. It's hard enough to go between four hospital ICU's but throw in general med-surge floors and Telemetry floors and I'm constantly going to be lost and starting over, which to me isn't worth the stress. For all you ICU floaters out there, how does it work at your facility?

[Greenclip]

While I'm not an ICU floater, a close friend is one at our hospital. She loves it. She floats to MICU, SICU, neuro ICU and trauma ICU. She also floats to burn (not so often) and to the med-surg stepdown unit (3 patients). She does not float to CVICU because it is managed separately. We have 2 intermediate care units (4-5 patients/nurse) but she does not float there. She also doesn't float to the floor or telemetry. Basically, she goes anywhere that requires a *bedside* nurse with ACLS, except for CVICU.

[Asystole721]

I have to ask, why did you accept a float pool position if you don't like to float?

In my facility and every facility I've worked the past 20 something years it's the float nurse that always is the 1st to be floated off.

I understand how it is to need a job but you have to have some personal deal breakers that you have to abide if you are to remain somewhat happy in your work life.

Good luck in your future endeavors :)

[VANurse2010]

I have to ask, why did you accept a float pool position if you don't like to float?

In my facility and every facility I've worked the past 20 something years it's the float nurse that always is the 1st to be floated off.

I understand how it is to need a job but you have to have some personal deal breakers that you have to abide if you are to remain somewhat happy in your work life.

Good luck in your future endeavors :)

Not all float pools are created equal. Some hospitals separate their ICU float pool from their general float pool. An ICU float would not be expected to float to the floor.

[whofan, ADN, BSN, RN]

I personally am not in a float pool, but my hospital has two float pools, one for ICU and one for all the other floors, except L&D/MB which is it's own little world here.