Stretching Boundaries: Nurses' Perceptions on Job Demands and Resources in Hospital Float Pools.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Workforce Studies
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• Float pools enhance healthcare staffing flexibility.
• Impact of floating on nurses' experiences is under-researched.
• Challenges include adapting to new routines and team integration.

Purpose of the Study:

• Explore demands and resources of float pool work.
• Compare intraorganizational float pool nurses' experiences.
• Assess expectations of nurses preparing for interorganizational floating.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study using the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model.
• Semistructured interviews with 27 nurses across five Dutch hospitals.
• Included nurses in intraorganizational pools and those anticipating interorganizational floating.

Main Results:

• Intraorganizational float pool nurses reported job satisfaction, minor demands (e.g., team acceptance), and key resources (learning, task variation).
• Effective coping linked to openness, confidence, and communication.
• Nurses anticipating interorganizational floating expected higher demands (protocols, cultures) and needed extrinsic resources.

Conclusions:

• Interorganizational floating perceived as more demanding than intraorganizational.
• Experienced nurses often reframe demands as manageable.
• Person-centered float pool design is crucial for satisfaction, retention, and reducing burnout.