Staff Sharing/Float

[Colleen Grose]

The Shared Governance council I am a member of is currently assessing other hospitals' policies on staff sharing/floating new RNs and new graduate RNs. We are a pediatric hospital and currently require that new RNs staff share 90 days post orientation. Recently new grads have voiced their concerns about staff sharing at the 90 day transition period. I too agree with them and feel that 6 months is a more adequate time frame with proper education and support from introductory programs and leadership support. I am curious to know what your requirements are for staff sharing, specifically new graduate RNs. TO note: we do not have an RN residency program in place. TIA!

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

how do you define staff sharing? If it is floating, then we allow it after 6 months, assuming the competencies for the second unit have been accomplished on the first (would not float medical nurse to ICU without advanced competencies).