Re: Floating

At one facility I worked at they had a dedicated float team (RN, LPN, CNA, PCT, sitter) that would float to where ever was short that night. They were pool so some had another job.

Another facility that I worked at everyone was on a float list (the only exception was new grads for the first six mths so they could get the feel of being a nurse). The list wasn't written in stone so if Jill was suppose to float to peds but John likes kids they could switch (if same level of education RN, LPN, etc,) then John could go. He wouldn't go to the end of the list but Jill would still stay at the top until next time. The list was used for everyone regardless of their status at the facility (full time, part time, pool, prn, travel). The only other time the person could change is if the weren't comfortable going to that floor. However, critical care areas were only allowed to use critical care staff (MICU, SICU, PICU, ER, etc) while others only allowed staff with certain certifications (chemo, dialysis, ACLS, etc).

Our hospital, every nurse has the potential to be floated to another unit in a pinch. For the most part, we stay on our units, but if say the ER is swamped, they will ask if any of us wish to volunteer to go down and help, if no one comes forward, then the nurse manager will choose a couple of people to go. If you refuse, it's insubordination. Even if you say, "I don't have the experience to work there, blah, blah, blah... the ER can always find you things to do that fall within your knowledge base. You can do basic assessments, start IV's, answer lights, clean up vomit and stool - so no one can refuse.

Blessings

I work in a smaller hospital and we can be floated after 6 months. We go by how many total float hours a person has to determine whose turn it is. What isn't right is that those of us in the ICU or telemetry areas can be floated to any unit in the hospital but medical and surgical can only be floated between thoses areas and our ER nurses don't have to float at all. We do have a float pool staff also that cover all areas of the hospital. The 2 closed units are OB and geropsych and we have even been known to be pulled to OB in a pinch and help in the nursery.