Travel Medical-Surgical RN (Trauma)
Saint Louis, Missouri
Barnes-Jewish Hospital

Job Opportunity: Travel Registered Nurse (Medical Surgical)

Location: Saint Louis, Missouri
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Summary

Seeking a Registered Nurse with Medical Surgical specialty for a Level I Trauma Center. The role involves trauma and acute care surgery patients with a focus on trauma nursing and medical surgical care.

Required Experience

• Minimum 2 years of specialty experience in Registered Nursing (Medical Surgical/Trauma).
• Prior travel experience not required.

Work Schedule & Environment

• Can sign for 36 or 48 hours per week.
• Weekend requirement: every other weekend.
• No on-call required.
• Floating within scope to meet facility needs is expected.
• No block scheduling accommodation.
• Local candidates accepted within a 75-mile radius.
• Pending license accepted.
• No more than 7 days of requested time off (RTO) per 13-week contract. Missed shifts should be made up if possible.
• Guaranteed hours.
• Patient ratios: 1:4-5.

Required Certifications

• BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support)
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)
• Must pass Relias EKG exam (Interpretation/Management of Dysrhythmias required)
• TNCC (Trauma Nursing Core Course) may be required for extended assignments in certain units.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Medical/Surgical nursing skills including:

  • Blood product administration
  • Peripheral line care/management
  • Phlebotomy
  • Starting IVs
  • Insulin administration
  • PCA (Patient Controlled Analgesia)
  • Care for spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injury, orthopedic trauma
  • Peripheral nerve block catheters
  • Total joint replacements
  • Surgical drains, chest tubes (Emerson/Pleur-evac)
  • Respiratory support: CPAP/BiPAP, High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC), nasal cannula, oxygen face masks, portable oxygen tanks
  • Oral suctioning
  • Isolation precautions
  • Wound care and wound vac management
• Level 1 Trauma experience required.
• Patient diagnoses typically come from Emergency Department, Operating Room, or ICU.
• Experience with geriatric trauma (55+ years), trauma from abuse/violence, motor vehicle accidents, falls, and acute care surgery (appendicitis, gallbladders, hernia repairs, fistulas, wounds, burns, TBI).
• Use of special equipment such as lifts, restraints, wound vacs, traction, external fixators.

Licensing Requirements

• Must hold a valid Registered Nurse (RN) license for Missouri.
• Pending licenses accepted.
• Primary source verification of professional license required (NURSYS for Missouri).

Background & Compliance Requirements

• Criminal background check within 6 months required (7-year search including statewide and nationwide).
• Quarterly EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG checks required.
• Education verification of highest nursing degree required.
• Drug testing within 1 year of start, including a comprehensive panel, must be current throughout assignment.
• Physical exam within 1 year of start required.
• Fit mask testing (N95) required and must be renewed annually.
• Immunizations and health screenings required:

  • Tdap vaccine or declination (every 10 years)
  • Negative TB test or chest X-ray within 1 year
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella immunity or vaccination/declination as applicable
  • Seasonal flu vaccination or approved exemption during flu season (Sept-April)
• Various facility-specific compliance documents and acknowledgements required prior to start (HIPAA, confidentiality, hand hygiene, dress code, etc.).

Orientation & Training

• Orientation modules completed through online platform (WorkRamp), approximately 16 hours.
• Unit-specific competency exams required and must be updated annually.
• Medication/pharmacology competency exam required.
• Dysrhythmia/EKG competency exam required annually.
• Additional certifications such as CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) or MAB (Management of Assaultive Behavior) may be required depending on unit.

Additional Information

• No on-call duties.
• Floating within scope expected.
• Parking available with monthly fees; free parking for straight night shifts.
• Charting system: EPIC.
• Facility is a Magnet & Teaching Hospital with 1,266 staffed beds.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in Missouri
• Minimum 2 years of Medical Surgical nursing experience, with experience within the last year
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• BLS (Basic Life Support) issued by American Heart Association
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) issued by American Heart Association
• Proficient in blood product administration
• Skilled in peripheral line care and management
• Experienced in phlebotomy
• Competent in starting IVs
• Knowledgeable in insulin administration
• Experienced with Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA)
• Skilled in managing peripheral nerve block catheters
• Experienced with total joint replacements
• Proficient in care and management of surgical drains
• Skilled in chest tube management, including Emerson and Pleur-evac systems