What do you work in the float pool?

[DesiDani]

What are the pros and cons for working the float pool?

Personally for me, float pool is not for me. I know they get paid $1hr more. I just prefer to stay in one unit. I have floated, but I am always glad to go back to my home unit.  I feel cozy and warm there.

[EDNURSE20, BSN]

It’s the same with all specialties, some will love it and some will hate it. 

personally I enjoyed float pool, I liked the variety it gave me. It was a good way to try out lots of specialities and learn what I liked/not liked. I also learnt so much, and gained a broad range of skills. 

but I think I had a different experience to others since I worked in a small hospital where everyone knew everyone. Also we got a proper orientation to all units I worked in, so never felt like I didn’t know what I was doing and Always felt like I was part of the team. 

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

Only $1/hr float differential for where you work, ONE DOLLAR?? That is crazy!

I've been float pool for almost 6 years now and can not imagine ever having a "home" again. Which is funny considering I started float pool 6 years ago when I moved cross country with the complete intention of floating until I found a home unit that I liked and then making the switch, and that never happened because I enjoyed floating so much.

When I had a home unit for the first 8 years of my career, I absolutely hated the few times a year when I had to float. However when you go into work with the mindset that you are there to float, it is a completely different feeling.

I love the variety that it provides, it has significantly helped me avoid the typical burnout because every day is a new unit and new patient population. It is rare that I will be placed on the same floor for two shifts in a row and ever rarer that I would get the same assignment back if I was on the same floor. This helps with the monotony that having a home can provide. You also know people in all departments of the hospital which can come in handy.

I also love that I get to learn new skills and specialties that I wouldn't normally come across if I had one home unit. Finally, in pediatric world at least, 90% of the floors are extremely appreciative of you as a float nurse who came to help their unit and do not usually go out of their way to give you a "bad" assignment. 

ETA also do not have to worry about unit politics or drama, yet at the same time you know everything going down in the hospital. The only con is that occasionally a floor will give you the "bad" assignment, terrible social situation, etc so that their unit staff gets a break, but my motto as a float is "I can do anything for 12 hours." 

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

I would love to work float pool. A different setting every day, or sometimes multiple settings through the shift, no unit politics or crap, sounds great to me. Our float pool nurses makes a good $15/hr more than me, and they rarely hire into it because of the high wage. 

[CalicoKitty, BSN, MSN, RN]

I enjoyed float pool for many years. It gave me a chance to see a more diverse patient population (rather than just medical or just surgical), get it all. I felt like I became more competent because I could see all the things. You can become a resource to newer nurses seeing things for the first time. Plus, I enjoyed NOT dealing with the "politics" of any specific unit. Plus more money. Plus work when You want to work, not when They schedule you. ?  Cons? No set locker.

[Nature_walker, ASN, BSN, RN]

I'm a float for outpatient clinics and I love it. I'm never at one site long enough to be part of the office drama, but I love going to new places everyday. I enjoy working with every one and it is always nice to catch up with people when I float to their clinics. I think it's pretty fun and I'm happy being a nomad. 

[gere7404, BSN, RN]

My girlfriend works in our float pool, she can get floated two or three times a night wherever there’s a need. 
 

however it seems like she gets the lamer assignments or the more behaviorally difficult pts. Some nights she definitely says the $4.75 differential isn’t worth it. 

[DesiDani]

I didn't notice the bad grammar in my title until I got a notification email. That's bad. Gotta stop rushing to press send.

[DesiDani]

On 12/20/2020 at 7:43 AM, JadedCPN said:

Only $1/hr float differential for where you work, ONE DOLLAR?? That is crazy!

You'll LOVE THIS!  That is for CNAs and RNs. Oh and charge nurse get $1 more too. I

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

 The con...I found floating to be difficult.  Even with 20 years of experience. It took all I had to focus on new patients on a new unit, every day.

 The pro would be.. you would learn many new skills.

One dollar an hour is  a joke.  Especially in these times.

[SansNom]

Once you've been float pool for a few months and are familiar with all the units you work and they with you, it becomes pretty easy. Some nurses will give you shade because everyone knows we make more than floor nurses, but I don't mind reminding them that the reasons they don't want to float are the reason we make more. ha.

I personally love the variety of work days that I have in float pool. I work ICU, med/surg and I'm PICC trained so I do vascular access regularly too and I don't get burnt out because it's always something different.

As someone else mentioned, it's awesome also to not get involved in unit drama. When I hear the local gossip on the floors I float to, I just move along in my peaceful, uninvolved bubble where that drama doesn't matter to me in the least.

I've been asked a few times to go back full time, but even aside from the better pay I don't think I want to any time soon.

[PhillyQueenRN]

I like the idea of float pool because of the variety it gives me. Granted if you have a job that will float you to all the departments and not just one in particular.