The trend toward flexibility is a growing one. Per diem status and travel opportunities are a big draw. These are costly to facilities and don't always cover all the bases. No one wants to work weekends and holidays and finding loyalty to an employer is a challenge. Float staff are usually per diem staff, but some hospitals and other facilities hire them as full-time employees who have the flexibility of working in different areas. Some facilities have great success with float pools and others do not. Again, the issues of mandatory overtime and being on call can be issues that drive nurses away from some employers.

The pros and cons of utilizing temporary staff of any sort can vary tremendously depending on the unit and the competency of the entire staff. Where float or registry staffing is usually for a much shorter duration (perhaps only one shift), travel nursing assignments are usually longer term arrangements. They can be for float pool assignment, however, and you could be using this nurse for only one or two days.

While you will always be grateful for the warm body, someone new to your unit can be a liability, or at the very least, time consuming. The success depends on the acceptance by the staff as well as the adaptability of the newbie. Unit educators can be of terrific help in orienting any new staff, but they don't work all shifts. Float pools and long-term travel nurses are usually oriented to the units they may be used on. However, registry nurses who may be new to your unit or facility can arrive totally unfamiliar with the unit.

Take a few minutes to bond with the new nurse and show him the ropes. Even if he has had some orientation to your unit, you know that there are nuances and peculiarities he needs to be aware of. Thank him for his help and be available for questions. Make his experience as pleasant as possible, and you'll improve the situation for today. You'll also avail yourself of the opportunity to learn from him and to understand more about the options his position offers.