#float pool

[comeclosestayfar]

So when you coming home? I could be what you need girl, if you want me to.

[secondyearnurse]

Today is my first day of ICU orientation!

I’m still in float pool but putting another feather in my cap and adding critical care to another area I can float to. It’s been exciting so far!

Art line placement, lumbar punctures, titrating drips! Fun times.

[ladyvonbagel]

[humorofanightshiftnurse]

Question

How do some of you deal with being the over achiever at work when everyone else is lazy and sitting on their phones? I'm needing ideas of how not to get angry about me as a float nurse doing all the work that the other nurses can help with yet sit on their phones talking to their boyfriends.

[secondyearnurse]

Any advice for a new grad nurse who just took a position as a Float nurse? I'm super nervous and keep going back and forth on whether this is the right decision for me

Congrats on the job, anon!

Here is what I will say about being in float pool: it is hard. You don’t “belong” anywhere, you have no place to call your own (at least at my hospital we don’t, we don’t have a breakroom, just use the one on the unit we are assigned to for the day), and you need to know so much more about many different specialties. That last part can be difficult, but you made it through nursing school! And you WILL learn. It’ll take time, but give yourself grace and you will.

Being in float pool has been an awesome experience for me. I feel very well rounded and knowledgeable in lots of specialities. It definitely has helped me grow as a nurse and it has inspired to want me to do more. I also feel like since I have a broad knowledge I can help my patients better - I’m not necessarily looking at my assessment as one kind of nurse, but as every kind of nurse.

If you are on the fence about it, that’s okay. Maybe you will learn to love it. Maybe you will work for six months and decide that it’s not for you. Either way, float pool is what you make it. If you are willing to learn and be flexible and do your best for your patients, you will be all right.

[secondyearnurse]

6 Months!

Yay! I’ve made it through the first six months of my first nursing job. Here’s a few things I’ve learned; take them as you will:

-Ask for help if you need it. Don’t waste your time and everyone else’s trying to figure out something that can be figured out in two seconds by asking a question.

-Be kind to everyone you meet. This should be obvious, but it’s harder to do than you think; a lot of people are tired, or scared, or just rude in general. But a little act of kindness can go a long way.

-Don’t be afraid to make friends. I, as an extremely shy person, have a hard time doing this but have really been trying to push myself to be better about this. Let me tell you, it’s worth it.

-If you have never done a procedure before, get help and do it with someone who has. Did I say something like this already? Cuz it’s super important.

-Refresh. Go to your education classes. Read through your textbooks to refresh your mind on things.

[secondyearnurse]

Float Pool

I love Float Pool. At first, when I started orientation I was a little hesitant about the idea of never truly having my own “home” or base unit. But now, I love it. I get to meet so many different people and make such diverse friendships. I get to see the same doctors for five different patients on three different floors in three days. I was warned during my hiring that “float pool can feel lonely sometimes”, but I have never felt that.

For those of you who are interested in branching out, Float Pool is awesome and worth a try!

[secondyearnurse]

I have been working as a nurse for a grand total of two days (on the floor, shadowing, not really even doing anything) and several of my fellow orientees have already come to me asking questions about protocols, procedures, timekeeper, and scheduling.

BECAUSE I AM THAT GOOD AT FAKING IT UNTIL I MAKE IT.

(In reality, I am Jon Snow, and I literally know nothing)