Hospital census will rise and fall. When census rises, many hospitals will relocate a nurse from one unit to another unit in need. The industry refers to this practice as “pulling” or “floating”. Some hospitals have made it their practice to pull a nurse every 4 hours. Some nurses go willingly, others think it is unsafe and puts their professional license in jeopardy. The Joint Commission’s stance on pulling or floating is that the practice should occur to like units or to a unit where the RN has had a proper orientation and is functioning within the scope of practice of her/his license. A like unit is a unit that is similiar in patient population by diagnosis and acuity. So, from a bedside nurse’s perspective is it better to refuse the assignment or go and work as an extra pair of hands. A simple way to view what is the right thing to do is the family test. Imagine if it were your family member that was ill in the hospital. Would you want the nurse to come from a different floor /unit to take care of your loved one or would you rather them not come because they feel it is unsafe? Your answer to this question should guide your decision.
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