I did a search and I couldn't find a thread on this subject. Is there an area/floor that you LIKE to float to (occasionally, not every week) or do you only like your home unit?
I work in ICU, and I floated to psych last night. It was an interesting change of pace, and I had a good time. I had forgotten what it was like to give multiple meds to 8 patients all due at the same time! I would definitely take the pull again.
On the other hand, our tele unit is the trenches, and when I notice my name is climbing up the pull list, I pray they won't pull me there.
I work cardiac step-down. I've floated to CICU, medical/surgical stepdown, telemtry units, post-CABG step-down, Urology, Ortho, and a basic medical surgical unit.
Out of all the units I listed I dread going to 2 of them. (b/c they're very poorly staffed and managed)
I do like floating though it helps me keep up my skills.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I used to have to answer that question where I worked labor and delivery before. I always asked for two places: CCU/ICU or Day Surgery. Good places and I learned a lot. The ONLY PLACE I HATED TO GO WAS ER. Not for me. Now, where I work, I do NOT float. I prefer it this way.
I never minded floating out of my ICU/CCU to PCU/telemetry to do charge. I didn't care for it when I had to take patients out there though...us ICU types get used to having 2-3 patients so it's rough to make the switch to 5.
Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.
We have four separate psych units and I float within psych only. I love the variety of dealing with people of different ages in different mental conditions.
I will not float out to the traditional medical floors despite the fact that I usually work med-psych, so I am comfortable with my medical skills. I think it's a phenomenally bad idea to expect nurses to provide complex medical care to a full patient load in a unit they have never worked to a patient population with which they are not familiar. If I thought a functional role would be more likely, that wouldn't be QUITE as scary, but my rule has been to play Bartleby the Scrivener quietly but insistently ("I prefer not to") and not take that chance. The day they float you is the day the other unit doesn't have its full regular staff and is that much less likely to have time or desire to answer questions from a newbie.
askater11
296 Posts
I really don't mind to float.
I work cardiac step-down. I've floated to CICU, medical/surgical stepdown, telemtry units, post-CABG step-down, Urology, Ortho, and a basic medical surgical unit.
Out of all the units I listed I dread going to 2 of them. (b/c they're very poorly staffed and managed)
I do like floating though it helps me keep up my skills.