Staffing Pool

The float pool is a group of nurses who work wherever in the facility that they're needed. They have no "home unit" per se, and today might work on a medical ward, tomorrow on a cardiac stepdown ward, then the next on the neuro-rehab ward. I don't think it's a good environment for a new nurse because it's important to feel comfortable and independent in any situation that might be thrown at you when you work in the float pool. Generally speaking, the ward needs someone they can turn loose and get a full shift's work out of without any hand-holding or supervision. There isn't time for a lot of teaching or orientation beyond the basic for floats. And you need to know what you're capable of, what your rights are and who to take your issues to. As a new grad, you have none of this. There are some who went into the float pool as new grads who were successful, but I'd guess they'd be a small number. I wouldn't recommend it for a new grad.

Thank you very much for your detailed and prompt reply.

HI there

Just to let youknow that some hospitals have a slightly different concept for floats. In the medical units where I work, we hire people to work on the "medical float teams". They would then work on one of the two medical wards-not anywhere in the hospital. We do get new grads on our float team and the orientation/support should be the same for the float team as the permanent staff(we are currently working to ensure this is happening).

Anyhow hope that helps

Just confirm with yur hospital which system they use.

Our float pool works the same way. You are hired for either surgical, medicine or womens float pool. You are given an orientation to each unit you may be sent to and "buddy" shifts with a nurse that belongs to each unit. Sometimes I think the floats get a better orientation than nurses going to a specific unit.

What we've noticed about hiring new grads is that some seem overly sure of their skills and won't ask for assistance. We're a pretty approachable bunch and realize that without floats we don't get vacation or sick staff replacements. But what we don't like is floats who won't do count, answer call bells, or help with transfers.