How one nurse found balance and purpose in the nursing float pool
Through University of Iowa Health Care’s nursing float pool, experienced nurse Christine Wilhelm, RN, found the freedom to build a career with purpose, balance, and support.
Christine Wilhelm, RN, was involved in a severe car accident in 1993, which ultimately changed her career trajectory forever. After witnessing the diligent and personalized care that her medical team provided throughout her recovery, Wilhelm was inspired to enter the world of health care. This decision was only strengthened by her lifelong passion for helping others.
Wilhelm started her career as a secretary at a hospital in Vinton, Iowa, but quickly found herself drawn to patient care. She first became a certified nursing assistant (CNA) and worked at nursing homes part-time as she continued her secretarial work. From there, she dove back into her education, first pursuing her licensed practical nurse (LPN) degree and eventually becoming a registered nurse (RN). It was then that she joined the neurological oncology unit at a hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the early 2000s.
In 2019, Wilhelm was seeking a change of pace and found it by accepting a position in the medical-surgical oncology unit at University of Iowa Health Care.
“I wanted to expand my knowledge and horizons with UI Health Care,” Wilhelm says.
Finding her place in the nursing float pool
While dealing with the loss of her mother in 2023, Wilhelm was looking to balance demands both at work and at home. Intrigued by the variety of assignments while maintaining the stability of full-time work, Wilhelm joined the nursing float pool at UI Health Care.
The nursing float pool is a team of experienced nurses who are cross-trained and deployed across multiple departments to help bridge coverage gaps. It’s a modern approach to nursing that offers exposure to a wide variety of units, all at Iowa’s top health system, which is committed to nursing excellence, evidence-based practice, and innovation in patient care.
“I work three or four days a week as a Tier 1 nurse in the acute care pool and rotate across medical-surgical units on the university campus,” Wilhelm says. “Shortly before my shift starts, I receive my daily unit assignments, which helps our departments adapt the schedule to meet the last-minute needs and changes across hospital units.”
That means Wilhelm finds herself in units that include medical-surgical oncology, stem cell transplant and cellular therapies, general medicine, orthopedics, trauma, spine, and neurology and epilepsy monitoring.
“I love the variety the role offers me,” Wilhelm says. “By rotating across units, I have grown so much as a nurse in multiple specialties.”
Float pool nurses at UI Health Care also receive competitive base pay with tiered shift differentials depending on the assignment, and eligible nurses may also receive sign-on incentives. Benefits for employees include inclusive health and dental insurance options, first-rate retirement plans with employer matching, relocation reimbursement, tuition assistance, and generous paid time off for vacation and sick time.
For Wilhelm, the float pool was the perfect fit, balancing her desire for flexibility while also allowing her to continue to learn and grow through a variety of nursing experiences. She also appreciates UI Health Care’s culture of respect, kindness, and patient advocacy.
“I’ve made friends on every unit I work in, which makes every day enjoyable,” Wilhelm says.
Prioritizing work-life balance
Nurses at UI Health Care enjoy self-scheduling opportunities, allowing them to build their schedules based on their lifestyles and needs, a benefit Wilhelm appreciates. Often, she will arrange her 36 hours per week schedule in a way that allows her to have multiple days off between shifts to rest and reset. Living in Blairstown, a small town approximately 50 minutes away from Iowa City, means the flexible scheduling is optimal for Wilhelm’s commute.
More days at home allow her more time to focus on the things that matter most to her — spending time with her grandkids and sister, and working on her hobbies, like crafting.
When Wilhelm faced the devastating loss of her husband in 2025, she was able to take the time away from work that she needed to grieve. Since returning to work, she has focused on prioritizing her work-life balance – something she finds manageable at UI Health Care.
Wilhelm’s approach to nursing — and life — is simple but effective: take each day as it comes and keep moving forward. That’s why in a role defined by variety, adaptability, and flexibility, it's no wonder Wilhelm has found her home in the nursing float pool. She encourages nurses who are intrigued by the float pool to take the steps to learn more.
“Learning from other staff and units is exactly what nursing is about,” Wilhelm says. “It's given me the opportunity to expand my horizons in health care and help patients, no matter what challenges they’re facing.”
Learn more about joining the UI Health Care nurse float pool and browse open positions.
