What exactly is 'central staffing' for a new RN?

[goldpk]

I'm still in nursing school but will graduate in May. I've been applying to lots of positions and got an interview at a big medical facility that I'd love to work for. The RN position I interviewed for is on a new floor and the positions haven't been approved yet. So the interviewer offered me a position in 'central staffing' because she said she liked me. She said this way I could get used to other units and get a lot of experience. She said when I found a unit that I really like all I have to do is apply for a full-time position (if one is open) and I'd most likely get the position. Is this true? How does central staffing work? I know the position is full time but will I constantly feel like I'm out of my comfort zone or visiting other units?

Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated. I don't want anything sugar-coated I want to know what I'd be getting myself into.

Thanks in advance!

[iluvgusgus]

Float nurse.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Yes, this is a common euphemism for the Float Pool. If they are hiring new grads into FP, they probably have developed a process to make sure that it works for new grads.

[goldpk]

Thanks HouTx! Hopefully with an adequate preceptorship it won't be too overwhelming...

[CaffeinePOQ4HPRN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

We call it NRT = Nursing Resource Team. It's the same as "float pool". You get offered shifts in random departments and you never know what you'll encounter. It IS very overwhelming, not gonna lie. Each shift is like starting a new job. Pretty stressful for a new grad and not a lot of assistance is available once your orientation is complete. Also, nurses aren't always receptive to float pool nurses coming on their unit disrupting their routine, they're not rude to float nurses per say but float nurses are just visitors onto units with established routines, established camaraderies and survival, and set ways of doing things. It can be a bit disruptive to patients who depend on routine and once the float nurse leaves we're left to clean up the totally unintentional, innocently created aftermath and proverbial mess. Unfortunately, some not-so-generous nurses see float nurses as a opportunity to unload the undesirable/annoying/heavy/abusive patients onto. So, oftentimes a float nurse will get the crappiest assignment. I feel so sorry for a float nurse when I see one on my unit, but I am (to be honest) thinking to myself... this shift is gonna be amazing because it means my charge nurse will give our most irritating patients away to the float nurse and it feels like a gift from the heaven (to us). Like Christmas. Sorry float nurses, I've been there before and will never work float pool again.