RN newly license:job interview for a float nurse

luv17 · Nov 9, 2015

jrwest , I hope so, I think 6 months orientation. .. I'm thinking if they will ask me about disease I'm kinda worried :) although I know disease, but I hope no. :)

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Nov 9, 2015

jrwest I will have my interview with the same hospital, where I I use to work as a nursing aid float too..

Nurse aid float is NOT the same as RN float.

martymoose, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2015

Nurse aid float is NOT the same as RN float.

I'm sure (well, pretty sure ) she means that as having worked as an aid in the facility that it might

help her in the interview dept.

I believe it would be helpful to have prior med/surg experience before embarking on this;however, I do wonder if they offer that as part of the orientation. Fairly sure where I am, they have a program where a new hire into that program starts out in what would be like a intern program- we just had a nurse who just graduated , passed nclex, and part of the program was to pick 3 depts to work in, he started with ours, which is an intermediate /med/tele floor. He's been taking full load pts after an orientation of 4 weeks, still has a preceptor/mentor for 2 more weeks and then will move to another floor for 6 weeks, and lastly doing a 12 week orientation in the micu. His goal is CTICU( when done) I think he'll do ok, he was a quick learner and had some good critical thinking skills. This is not the usual new hire orientation; it is a special program he interviewed for. But I think he will make a good float nurse if he so chooses after he's done with all his training and time under his belt.

They didnt offer this when I was hired. And I know I have no desire to be a float nurse- altho when we get a float nurse, we treat them WELL!!! we are so thankful to get one!

martymoose, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2015

Is it possible to shadow a float nurse before you apply? Do you know what is involved?

Unless you have an extensive lengthy orientation, you would be expected to be the jack of all trades.

Bob Loblaw · Nov 9, 2015

@ my hospital Float Pool RN is highly experienced, highly trained, high acuity RN- just because you can be assigned to ANY unit and be fully functional.

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2015

@ my hospital Float Pool RN is highly experienced, highly trained, high acuity RN- just because you can be assigned to ANY unit and be fully functional.

This is what I'm saying is not a job for a new grad. No one unit has time to coddle you along. You are not a regular member of their team so there is little return on their investment. Floats are fill the hole do the job nurses. Additionally, you may get pulled after 4 hours to start all over on another more desperate unit. To be of any use to them you have to know your nursing AND know the hospital routine.

I don't think a new grad is up to it because (most) nursing schools just don't prepare them to hit the ground running like that. No insult to you personally. It is just an awfully steep learning curve with minimal support.

martymoose, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2015

curious though, this is the second instance I have heard of a new grad getting interviewed for a float job.

Are they trying to set someone up for failure? Or are they so desperate at saving money they will take a lower pay new grad?

Or ,is it they plan on a good orientation?

turtlesRcool · Nov 15, 2015

curious though, this is the second instance I have heard of a new grad getting interviewed for a float job.
Are they trying to set someone up for failure? Or are they so desperate at saving money they will take a lower pay new grad?
Or ,is it they plan on a good orientation?

At my hospital, I think it's the latter. They just hired about 50 newbies over the summer, and we staggered our starts. I started classroom orientation at the beginning of Sept, and was on the floor two weeks later. I have been precepted on a specific unit since then, and will be off sometime in December (assuming I don't mess something up royally).

It seems like those who started before me may technically be in the float pool, but they tend to float back to where they oriented. So if they are precepted on Tele, they'll get put on Tele when there's a need there. Meanwhile, they'll also be okay floating to med-surg or ortho floors because it's a similar acuity level and patient population. I don't think they put newbie floats in ER or ICU unless they have specific orientation to those areas. Also, women and infants have their own staffing that is separate from the general float pool.

My hospital tends to hire onto units from within. It seems like a lot of people are initially hired for the float pool, and then bid into departments as openings arise. It gives the new RNs a chance to explore different areas of the hospital, and gives the nurse managers a chance to feel out who would be a good fit for their departments.