Nursing Scheduling and Staffing Policy P. 6 of 9 Discussing Float Agency Staff Competency

EP11-12

Nursing Scheduling and Staffing Policy P. 6 of 9 Discussing Float Agency Staff Competency

B.Nursing personnel will provide competent care to the patients on the selected units:

For floating staff, an orientation will be provided at the beginning of the shift and a float orientation checklist will be completed at this time. This orientation check list will be kept on file on the receiving unit, not the floating person’s home unit. A float associate will only be expected to complete checklist the first time he/she floats to that unit, and yearly thereafter.
The person making assignments will make appropriate assignments based on the floating associate’s skills, and the patient’s needs.
Each nursing unit will provide a resource person for the floating/float pool personnel.
A Float Comment Card will be available on each unit and completed by the person floating as an option to provide feedback about their float experience. These cards will be given to the Clinical Manager of the receiving unit.
Float/Agency/float pool competency evaluation will be assessed as follows:

Internally Floated Staff: The Performance Evaluation, Float or Agency Employee form will be completed at the end of the shift by the resource person for internally floated staff BY EXCEPTION only. This evaluation will be given to the Clinical Manager of the receiving unit. A copy of the evaluation will be forwarded within 24 hours to the associate’s Clinical Manager.

Float pool: The EST Peer Evaluation of Competency form will be completed at the end of the shift by the resource person upon the REQUEST of the float pool associate or BY EXCEPTION. This evaluation will be forwarded to the float pool Clinical Manager.

C. The resource person will welcome the float staff member to the unit, give a brief tour, and answer unit-specific questions. The resource person will give the float staff member a packet of unit-specific information

Nursing Scheduling and Staffing Policy, P 5 of 9 discusses limitations of nurses who float. This meets the needs of the staff and patients who may be assigned a float nurse.

VIII.Floating

Definitions: Floating is required of all med/surg nursing staff. The RN floating from his/her home unit to another unit will not be expected to be the only licensed person on the unit or to take Charge. Floating is encouraged between the med/surg units at PH and SFMC. In general, the RN working in the Float Pool will not be expected to be the only licensed person on the unit or to handle the duties of Charge Nurse unless discussed with the float pool staff member prior to the start of the shift.

D.Nursing personnel will float to selected units where additional staff members are needed to carry out patient care requirements.

Notification of the units will be made by the staffing office personnel at least one hour prior to assigned shift for 7-1500 and 1500-1900, and 1900 -2300 shifts. Nursing personnel will be notified upon arrival to work of need to float.

Each unit will utilize an equitable process to determine canceling extra shifts and float rotation. Each unit will track call-off/float time by actual hours on an annual basis beginning with zero each July 1st

The readiness of graduate nurses and new hires to float will be determined by the Clinical Manager and the individual. Their hours are adjusted to one hour less than the next person with the least amount of hours on their shift The Clinical Manager/designee may submit names for floating or call-off to the staffing office out of order at his/her discretion.
In a 12-hour period, a staff member will not be required to work on more than two different units, (“home unit” and the receiving unit). Exception; float pool staff will be expected to go to different units in a 12-hour period if needed. An associate will not be required to float to a different campus for 4 hours. If a nurse does travel between campuses, the travel time will be charged to the receiving unit 8 or 4 hours at a time.

Nursing Scheduling and Staffing Policy, P 6, B.e. and C of 9

Demonstrates that comment cards by the person floated out of their home unit will provide an avenue for feedback to the receiving unit if needed and instructions for receiving the floated person. This again demonstrates meeting the needs of the nurse.

B.e. A Float Comment Card will be available on each unit and completed by the person floating as an option to provide feedback about their float experience. These cards will be given to the Clinical Manager of the receiving unit.