evening

Thanks for all the really thoughtful posts. We try and be kind to Floats, as we float to and from very specialized units and a CCU RN floating to Trauma is in a different area completely. the Stat RNs are floating around the house to take patients to CAT scan, do IVCS on the floor, and, if a patient comes to the ICU, come to that unit. I feel if a patient is not so sick: or if the ICU RNs all have sick patients, then the Stat RN can take the patient. But, if there are a few patients waiting to go out, or are on long-term ventilators, the Stat RN should take that assignment and the RN who has dedicated years to the ICU, and knows the unit, the meds, the docs, should take the patient. Granted, there are a lot of grey areas here, and we wouldn't want to make a hard and fast rule. It sounds to me like many of the responders feel that common sense should rule the day.

Does anyone have this issue: Our institution has many ICU's and also uses an "ICU Float Pool" as well as STAT Nurses and a Designated ICU Nurse position. These nurses help out on floor, and take an assignment in the ICU as needs arise. This is the question: When a sick admission comes in,we in the ICU feel our own staff nurses should admit the sick patient, not a Float. A couple of Charge Nurses are assigning these sick ICU patients to Floats who do NOT have the experience that we in the ICU have, do not have the experience of the specific ICU. Can anyone share experiences, thoughts? Thanks!