New nurse struggling

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I am about 6 months into my job, and about one month off of orientation by myself. I know a lot of you will disagree with this but I started out in float pool at a large hospital. I really do not like it. I really am coming to not enjoy being bounced around each night i go to work. I feel lonely and it is hard to make connections with people when I cannot stay in one place. It is also hard when they give me the assignment no one else on the floor wants, and when I have a hard time managing some nights because I am still new. I already feel burned out and I am tired of feeling so much anxiety and dread before going into work each time. I feel so unhappy. During my interview there was a verbal agreement to stay in float pool for 3 years/ a "verbal contract". There were no consequences stated about breaking this so called verbal contract. I already feel like it is going to be hard enough to make it to one year let alone 3. I don't think bedside nursing is for me and I feel trapped. I don not even know what I would do if I left this job. Any advice?

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Is it possible to switch to a home unit so you can make those connections and feel acclimated to one patient population? Side eyeing the hospital you’re working at for putting a new grad in float pool. My hospital won’t even allow new grads to float from

their home unit for the first year. A new grad in float pool not only sounds extremely unfair, but dangerous as well.

If if you decide to switch employers/hospitals, I’d suggest looking for a magnet hospital to work for. You’re less likely to be put in that type of situation again at a magnet facility.

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4 minutes ago, padawon said:

Is it possible to switch to a home unit so you can make those connections and feel acclimated to one patient population? Side eyeing the hospital you’re working at for putting a new grad in float pool. My hospital won’t even allow new grads to float from

their home unit for the first year. A new grad in float pool not only sounds extremely unfair, but dangerous as well.

If if you decide to switch employers/hospitals, I’d suggest looking for a magnet hospital to work for. You’re less likely to be put in that type of situation again at a magnet facility.

My hospital is actually a magnet facility. They hire a lot of new grads into float pool. However because of the verbal contract I feel pretty stuck and afraid to make a move to one unit as I am not sure if i can do that.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
8 hours ago, ddrn97 said:

My hospital is actually a magnet facility. They hire a lot of new grads into float pool. However because of the verbal contract I feel pretty stuck and afraid to make a move to one unit as I am not sure if i can do that.

Is your hope to move to a permanent unit in this hospital or to move to another facility all together?

If they are serious about this "verbal contract," they might be fairly unlikely to let you leave the float pool, but stay in the hospital. You can ask your supervisor though, share your concerns with her, and be honest about why you want to leave the float pool and move to a steady unit. If the hospital practices in the "sprit" of Magnet, they are more likely to let you make the change.

If you did not actually sign a contract, there should be no issues with getting a position at another hospital and leaving this position behind--easier said than done, I know.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Speak to your supervisor...many nurses feel they want to leave nursing after 6 months. It is a very tough time. It takes at least a year to get acclimated and float pool is even more difficult.

Explain to your supervisor that you would like to switch to a home unit to have more stability. Perhaps offer to work part time (2 shifts a week) on one unit and then float for the 3rd shift.

A "verbal agreement" is not a contract.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

The best thing is to find a solution in house. Try speaking to your supervisor as suggested.

The very last resort is quitting- be sure and don't quit your job unless you have another one lined up. So sorry you've had this experience, you should have been offered a home unit from the beginning.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I agree with the above. Talk to them. Make in-roads on the units you are being floated to. If you like one more than the others, tell them that and ask about openings. You may be able to transfer in.

Don't judge bedside by your first six months, nor by being a float. Floating is hard on even experienced nurses and it isn't for everyone.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I started on the float pool too and discovered pretty fast it wasn't for me. When I saw an opening on med surg I talked to my supervisor, she was very supportive and I was able to move. I felt bad, but she said that they want the nurses to be happy and to stay. The hospital spent a lot of money training you, seems like it would be in their best interest to help you find a place that made you happy vs you taking your new training to another hospital.

Don't let a verbal contract keep you from trying. Worse they can say is no and then maybe you will need to look at switching hospitals if you want off the float team.

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