Finding a perfect fit in the nursing float pool
UI Health Care nurse enjoys variety, connection, and constant learning in float pool
Andrea Moncada, RN, can pinpoint the exact moment when she decided she wanted to become a nurse: While in labor with her first child, she was inspired by the care and respect she received from one of the labor and delivery nurses.
“She was understanding and compassionate. She made me feel good about the entire experience,” Moncada says.
"I remember thinking, 'I want to be that person for somebody someday.’”
Even if she didn’t take a linear path to get there, Moncada is quick to say that every step shaped the nurse she is today.
Moncada first worked in health care as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in a nursing home while in high school, later continuing there as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and then a registered nurse (RN). The long-term care setting taught her to assess patients carefully, handle a large patient caseload, manage competing priorities, build relationships over time, and develop resilience while balancing nursing school, motherhood, and life.
When Moncada eventually decided she was ready to make the switch to a hospital setting in 2022, University of Iowa Health Care was the first place she applied.
As she puts it, she “jumped into the deep end” working on a unit caring for complex surgical, transplant, trauma, vascular, and colorectal patients. The work was challenging, but she quickly realized she loved the pace, variety, and opportunity to keep growing.
It was this self-realization that led her to join UI Health Care’s nursing float pool about a year later, a move she describes as one of the best ones she’s made.
“I love my job in the float pool, and it’s been a perfect fit for me,” Moncada says.
Fulfilling work, competitive pay and benefits
Float pool nurses at UI Health Care are cross trained to work across multiple departments and are assigned where they are most needed each shift. Those assignments may have Moncada supporting a short-stay unit on Monday, a trauma unit on Wednesday, and an orthopedics unit on Friday, for example. She enjoys the constant learning that takes place as she works across different departments, patient populations, and care teams.
The variety keeps her engaged, but it also makes her an asset. Because she has cared for many different types of patients in many different settings, she can quickly adapt to a new unit, understand what needs to be done, and get to work. That readiness begins before she even arrives at the hospital.
“I usually check our scheduling app or call in around 6:15 in the morning to learn my assignment for the day,” Moncada says. “I like to think about the unit I’ll be on, the patients I’ll meet, and the types of activities I’ll perform. It helps put me in a good head space before I even begin my shift.”
Moncada appreciates the guaranteed hours, professional development opportunities, and tiered shift differentials available to float pool nurses. She also values UI Health Care’s employee benefits, including insurance, retirement, tuition assistance, paid time off, and other incentives for eligible nurses. The self-scheduling options available to all nurses help Moncada find the right balance between home and work schedules.
Making connections quickly
For Moncada, working in the float pool does not mean sacrificing relationships. It means learning how to build them quickly. She asks patients about their families, jobs, and favorite sports teams because those conversations help patients feel seen, heard, and comfortable sharing what they need.
“I like knowing people’s stories,” Moncada says.
That sense of curiosity guides the way Moncada cares for patients and their families. She explains medical information using plain language, relates it to something familiar, and provides the same level of care for every patient.
Moncada believes the float pool is a strong fit for nurses who enjoy autonomy, adapt quickly, communicate well, and like to keep learning. For nurses who feel ready for something different, she sees it as a way to rediscover the energy and purpose that first drew them to nursing.
For Moncada, that purpose is simple: show up where help is needed, make a connection, and leave the patient — and the team — better than she found them.
Learn more about joining the UI Health Care nurse float pool and browse open positions.
