How do I coordinate hospital float pools, unit differentials, and departmental cost-center chargebacks?
A step-by-step operations guide for hospital float pools: schedule internal unit relief, track acute care certifications (ACLS/PALS/NIHSS), and calculate departmental cross-charges.
What You Need Before Starting
- Hospital Float Pool vertical enabled in Settings.
- Hospital units, departments, and cost centers configured in Foundation.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Configure Hospital Units & Cost Centers
Navigate to Foundation > Facilities/Units. Add your hospital departments (e.g., ICU-4W, ER-Trauma, Med/Surg-East, PACU, Telemetry) along with their internal cost center codes.
Load the Acute Float Pool Compliance Pack
Go to Settings > Compliance Requirements and click "+ Float Pool Pack". This adds mandatory tracking for ACLS, PALS, NIHSS Stroke Scale, and Telemetry/Dysrhythmia competency exams.
Post Departmental Relief Shifts
In Scheduling, click "Post Open Shift". Tag the shift with the specific unit/floor code and cost center number so float nurses know exactly where to report for huddle.
Monitor Real-Time Float Utilization
Use the Float Pool Utilization widget on the main dashboard to check your weekly fill rate, open vs assigned float shifts, and acute credential compliance.
Handle Shift Trades & Floor Swaps
Float staff can submit peer swap requests via the Trade / Swap modal. Floor supervisors approve the swap with automated conflict checking.
Generate Departmental Cost-Center Reports
Use the Invoicing and Reports module to generate internal departmental cross-charges and budget allocation summaries by cost center.
Pro-Tips & Best Practices
- Set unit-specific pay rules in Foundation so float nurses automatically receive shift differentials when floating to critical care units.
- Use the broadcast alert feature when posting urgent unassigned ICU or ER shifts to notify all qualified float staff instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions & Troubleshooting
Can float nurses see which unit they are reporting to in advance?
Yes. The unit, department, and floor details appear directly on their schedule and in-app shift notifications.
How do departmental cost-center chargebacks work?
Hours worked by float staff are grouped by department cost center code for reconciliation against internal hospital operating budgets.
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