Rozina Aziz In the medical field, a float nurse is a registered nurse with the expertise to care for patients in various facilities. Float nurses can quickly adjust to new environments while maintaining the same high standard of care. Float nurses play an essential role in the healthcare system due to their specific training and understanding.
What is a Float Pool Nurse?
Float pool nursing describes a mobile and adaptable branch of the nursing staff. Hospitals and other medical centers often hire them when staff members are absent or unexpected healthcare arises. Float pool nurses have extensive knowledge and staff in various medical fields, allowing them to assist other healthcare nurses.
They are in high demand because of the variety of tasks they can perform and the speed with which they can adapt to new circumstances. Float pool nurses play a vital role in the success of today’s healthcare systems and in delivering high-quality treatment to patients.
What duties do Float Pool Nurses typically have?
When there is a shortage of nurses on a unit, the nurse calls in a float pool nurse to help out. Float pool nurses are versatile and may be assigned anywhere in a healthcare or other medical facility. Float pool nurses do not typically have a focus area. A well-staffed healthcare staff relies on the contributions of all of its nurses, and the float pool nurses play a crucial role in this.
A float pool nurse’s schedule can shift anytime, so flexibility is essential. The ability to adapt to unexpected situations is essential for a successful career as a float pool nurse. Depending on the hospital’s needs, you could work in the pediatric ward one day and the operating room the next. You’ll face new obstacles every day, so be prepared to think on your feet.
The ability to adapt to new situations is an important trait for a float pool nurse to have. Nurses in the float pool play an important part in ensuring patients get the medical staff they require.
What is the work environment for a float pool nurse?
Depending on the facility’s needs, a float pool nurse could be assigned to various departments. Staff encompasses a wide variety of settings, from emergency rooms to maternity wards to pediatric wards and everywhere else that requires the services of trained medical nurses.
Float pool nurses are frequently asked to cover shifts in other departments of the hospital or for absent nurses. Float pool nurses often travel between outpatient clinics in healthcare settings.
What is the purpose of a float pool?
Those may hire float pool nurses on an as-needed, per-shift, or per-hour basis at a medical facility. The patients will receive uninterrupted treatment this way.
By filling in when needed, these nurses assist hospitals in caring for patients in both high- and low-priority areas, such as operating rooms, labor and delivery wards, and pediatric intensive healthcare units. Float nurses have more experience, typically having worked in the field for four years or more.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of working as a float pool nurse?
Those who work as float nurses often face demanding schedules. During a healthcare system’s downsizing, they are the most at risk of losing their jobs.
Advantages
- The ability to set your schedule
- Higher pay rate and benefits
- Possibility of obtaining a better job.
- Gain exposure to various nursing disciplines and expand your professional horizons.
- Different people and schedules to get used to
Disadvantages
- Uncertain timetable
- Dissatisfaction could cause employees to leave.
- Uncertainty about one’s employment status as a result of contract work
- Requires less specific knowledge
- Relationships with coworkers and patients are severely limited.
How to become a float pool nurse?
To become a float pool nurse, you have to follow these steps:
Step 1.
A float pool nurse must first complete an approved nursing education program. You’ll need to get a nursing degree, either an ADN or BSN. Remember that many hospitals and other medical facilities will only hire nurses who have earned at least a bachelor’s degree.
Step 2.
To continue towards your goal of being a float pool nurse, you must first become NCLEX-certified. All of the fundamentals of nursing and the medical terms you’ll need to know are on this exam. It’s a standard for determining if a nurse has the bare minimum of skills necessary to do their job. You may have to take this multiple times before you pass.
Step 3.
After passing this exam, you must first become licensed in your home state to practice as a registered nurse.
Step 4.
Then, you’ll have to get credentials before starting to work. This is dependent on the organization you are employed by (NRP). You could get certified in basic life support, advanced cardiac life support, pediatric advanced life support, and the neonatal resuscitation program.
Step 5.
Your prior experience in medical/surgical nursing, pediatric nursing, post-anesthesia care, and the intensive care units may be necessary for you to join a float pool.
Where can you locate float pool nursing positions?
Float nurses are employed permanently by the majority of hospitals. As a result, you will have a wonderful chance to sample various cuisine daily.
If you decide to pursue a profession in nursing in a float pool, you may be exposed to cutting-edge facilities. Given the ever-changing nature of break relief nurse positions, You must always keep your RN resume current.
How much is a Float Pool Nurse make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for registered nurses in the United States is $77,600. That works out to around $37.31 an hour. Remember that float pool nurses are compensated more than full-time nurses because they are not eligible for benefits. Some registered nurses supplement their income by working part-time in a nursing float pool.
FAQ’s
What does it mean to work in a float pool?
Flexibility. If you want more flexibility in your work life, consider joining a nurse float pool. Work offers can be made on your terms. Generally speaking, you won’t be required to adhere to strict timetables. You’ll have the freedom to set your hours instead.
Is float pool nursing hard?
A float pool nurse’s schedule is always shifting. Therefore flexibility is crucial. You’ll need the flexibility to succeed as a float pool nurse. The nursing field is ever-changing, and you could find yourself working on the surgical floor one day and the pediatric unit the next.
What is a float position at work?
To put it simply, a Float worker is an employee who is required to work at different locations, departments inside the same facility, or across different locations. An employee with a Regular Float status works a certain number of hours every pay period but has no set schedule.
Why do float nurses get paid more?
Float registered nurses (RNs) typically receive better compensation than their full-time counterparts working on one unit because of their flexibility and ability to be deployed as needed.
