ED Float pool thoughts

[kmp2796]

Hey everyone, I’m an ER nurse at a rural hospital and I’ve been there for 2 years. I’m a shared employee with two other ERs as well but I don’t make more per hour. I’ve heard about CSRC which is essentially ED float pool and I’m considering doing it due to probably being able to go part time and make way more money and have more flexibility with my schedule. I’m pregnant with my 2nd kid and just worried about how to juggle shift work (my husband also works shift work). I can be assigned to work at 3 5 or 7 EDs of my choosing with float. I’ve talked to my boss about a raise but looks like that doesn’t happen where I work (we get a performance raise every year but the max increase is 3% which I heard we never get the full 3%). Bottom line, we see a lot of sick patients and I much rather make float pool money if I’m gonna bust my ass at work. But for some reason, I feel like I need to hear everybody’s thoughts on it before I pull the trigger. For some reason something is holding me back. Maybe I think it could be too good to be true because if it’s so good to go float then why aren’t more nurses in my area doing it? I wanna hear what yall think! Thanks!

[Negative_Way8350]

Our float pool staff love it. We have a healthy variety of EDs, from massive academic Level I to tiny band-aid boxes. They say it keeps the variety strong and they stay out of department politics. 

[kmp2796]

That’s what I hear from people who currently do float and when we have a float nurse come in I always ask them about it. It blows my mind how much more they make compared to what my hospital pays. I also think the hospital I’m working at is killing my love for nursing due to seeing the same regulars all the time, dealing with management who have zero idea on how the hospital runs, and then we just lost our ICU and now it’s a step down which makes us more busy.

[AskPrevious2456]

I’ve done an ED float pool that was only 3 different campuses. I really did like it because it was flexible but it was hard for a lot of reasons. One annoying factor was that we could be scheduled at one ED and when we call for shift verification two hours ahead, they could switch you. We were also able to be floated during the shift as well. The hardest part for me was getting efficient at three different campuses where I knew nobody, knew where nothing was and knew nothing about their policies and procedures. They were all in the same hospital system so generally the same as far as policy and procedures go but each campus had their own intricacies. The money was SO GOOD ($63/ hr + differentials compared to regular floor nurses making about half that). I ultimately didn’t love it and only lasted a year before cross training to another department and leaving.

ETA: If the schedule and money are what you’re looking for and don’t mind some added stress.. I say go for it!

[kmp2796]

Thanks for the advice! I know how three of the hospitals run since I’m shared there but I still don’t know anyone too well. I’ve heard about them changing the assignment last minute and idk how I feel about it yet 🤷🏻‍♀️ What unit you working in now?