Stressed out Float new grad nurse!!

Altra, BSN, RN · Jan 6, 2012

I don't know any new nurses who feel very comfortable 5 months in.

But your situation is made a whole lot harder by the fact that you've been hired into the float pool. That is not a well-thought out hiring decision. New nurses need solid foundations -- floating does not provide that. A float pool needs a nurse who can jump in to any given situation and function independently -- that person is not a new grad.

3-11 is often described as the most intense shift on floor units -- you're not imagining it. Your unit suffers from a lack of nursing assistants/techs and I'm sure that amps up the intensity as well.

Only you know if you feel you can stick this out, and whether or not it's doing you any good. Best of luck to you.

Merlyn · Jan 6, 2012

This is Nursing now days. That's the bad news. The good news is it will get better. Try and fine a system. Something like Blood Sugars first then 1st med pass. Then assessments. then 2d med pass. then draw blood. Then...you get the idea.

But as Robert Burns said,"...The best laid plans of mice and men oft to go astray..." which means s*** happens. The hospital is at fault, for putting a new nurse in this position. I've been in this business for a lot of years but even I would be hard press to finish on time. A couple of years ago, during a snow storm, I work in LTC. Just the supervisor and 4 CNAs came in. I stayed. Just she and I and 200 patients. We each took 100 patients. Most of the patients slept. but about 20-25 on my floor needed help. But most of them got meds. They started to get their meds at 2AM along with Blood sugars and Treatments. We both finished paper work at 9:30AM. As we went to our cars I said to the supervisor that I forgot Mr. Smith's treatment. She look at me and said, "Is he still alive?" I said "Yes." and she said, "Then you did your job." I wrote all this just to say if your patients are alive, you did your job. It's a horrible thing to say to someone that has come into a profession of caring but nursing has come down to just keep them alive. We feel your pain because we have been there. Good Luck, Sweet Soul.

danarooo, BSN, RN · Jan 6, 2012

Wow. I am sorry your having a hard time. I am a new grad, and I have been told over and over that float is not appropriate for new grads, neither are specialty areas such as L&D. Where I am, you can't even get a float position without a certain number of years experience first. Sounds like you are completely spread thin. I hope things get better for you, hang in there this won't last forever. One day, you will be one hell of a nurse for surviving this!

Nursingluv101 · Mar 1, 2012

Wanted to give a update. I'm still "Hanging in There" as much as I can. I talked to my manager a few weeks ago about my stress, and lack of support while I'm on certain floors. Unfortunately nothing really got done. I'm actually surprised by the lack of support I receive by other nurses on the floors I float to. Last night, I had a patient in Afib and extremely Tachy, it all suddenly started 2 hours before my shift, I was on the phone with MDs, and getting a EKG done and STAT Labs, and tons of orders. With no one offering help. The charge nurse knew and, did very little to help me. The charge also knew I was behind on my med pass with my other pt.s and help pass one of my pt.s meds. Only because the family was complaining. Then when I finally completed everything for my unstable pt., It was time to go home. When I was reporting off to next shift, the Charge then broke up my 4 pt.s saying they were all to busy and unstable for one nurse. WOW!!!! You think!!!!! He divided them for the new regular oncoming staff. Also, when I was giving report the oncoming shift was all cranky because not all my stuff got done. Like the fact that I almost had a pt in V-tach did not matter at all!! Unbelievable, I'm going to talk to my manager, and tell him how horrible and unsupportive the staff was. I'm also going to start looking for another job. I almost have 6 months as a float. I really don't know what department, I want to go. Starting my next schedule I'm going to reduce my hours too. I love nursing, I really don't want to give up on it but at times I hate it. I been thinking psych might actually be a good match for me, It was my favorite in school. I also like postpartum as well. Hopefully I get in some where else.

D.R.A. · Mar 1, 2012

You described all new grads! I agree, floating is too hard. I feel for you.....no aides!!!!!!! That's absurd.....sorry you are in this predicament......jut keep putting one foot in front of the other until you can get out of there.

Nursingluv101 · Mar 23, 2012

It is crazy but I'm actually starting to get good at being a float. Trust me some nights are pure hell but overall it has it good nights too. I told my manager I wanted to get the day shift in August. If he gives it to me I will hang in there for another year or so, because the experience I'm getting in a County ICU and ER is worth being on the crappy med-surg floor. Thanks everyone for the support.