Rehabilitation Registered Nurse
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston Area Medical Center General Hospital

Registered Nurse Travel/Contract Opportunity

Location: Charleston, West Virginia
Specialty: Registered Nurse (RN)
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Details

• Unit: 2S Med Rehab (24 beds)
• Shift: 3x12 hour shifts, 7pm-7am, weekdays, every other weekend required
• Patient Population: Cerebrovascular disease, traumatic brain injury (TBI), amputees, spinal cord injuries (SCI), deconditioning, neurological diseases
• Care Team: Physiatrist, NP, nurse, 2 therapists (varies), social worker
• Therapy: Patients receive 3 hours of therapy daily (Monday-Friday)
• Length of Stay: Approximately 2 weeks
• Float: RN may float within scope to meet facility needs
• Schedule Flexibility: Open to block schedule requests (discuss during interview)
• Guaranteed Hours: Options for 36 or 48 hours per week

Experience & Licensure Requirements

• RN Experience: Minimum 2 years required
• Specialty Experience: Minimum 1 year in specialty required
• Charge Experience: Preferred but not required
• Prior Travel Experience: Not required; first-time travelers accepted
• Licensure: WV or Compact RN license required; pending license allowed but must be active before start
• Radius Rule: 100-mile radius; 75-99 miles require facility approval

Certifications Required

• Mandatory:

  • BLS (AHA only)
• Preferred:

  • Acute care rehab experience/certification
• Additional Certifications:

  • ACLS (AHA only) may be required depending on unit
  • NIH Stroke Certification (as applicable)
• Certifications must be current and cannot be pending or completed onsite

Staffing Ratios

• Day Shift: 1 nurse to 4-5 patients
• Night Shift: 1 nurse to 5-6 patients

Orientation & Training

• Orientation held every other week on Thursday (2-day orientation: Thursday and Friday)
• Required to complete in-service training modules (approx. 4 hours) prior to start, including pass/fail testing for EKG, medication calculation, and blood administration
• Must review facility-specific policies such as blood administration, dress code, math calculation packet, and EKG review prior to start

Work Requirements & Policies

• Every other weekend required
• No call requirement
• Scrub color: Royal Blue/White or combination
• Charting system: Cerner
• Parking: Free parking garage for travelers
• Flu vaccine required during flu season (Oct 1 - Mar 31) unless medically exempt with documentation
• COVID-19 vaccine NOT required
• Perm employees cannot return as travelers for 2 years after last permanent day worked at this facility

Patient Diagnoses Commonly Seen

• Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Stroke
• Amputation
• Neuromuscular diseases
• Severe deconditioning related to cardiac or respiratory events

Required Documentation & Compliance

• Valid Driver’s License
• Social Security Card
• Residency Declaration Form (if working on compact license)
• 7-year criminal background check within 30 days of start
• Various background checks including SSN trace, sex offender search, national/international criminal checks
• Primary source license verification within 30 days of start
• NURSYS verification within 30 days of start
• Physical exam within 1 year, signed by appropriate provider, confirming good health and no limitations
• Annual fit mask testing (N95) required; accommodations available if needed
• Immunizations and titers required:

  • Tdap (no declinations accepted; exemptions require approval)
  • Negative TB test or chest X-ray within 3 months
  • MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccinations or positive titers
  • Hepatitis B series or declination with documentation
  • Varicella vaccinations or positive titers
• Drug screen within 30 days of start, including a comprehensive panel
• Annual flu vaccination or approved exemption during flu season
• COVID vaccination or signed declination accepted

References & Skills Verification

• One reference required from a manager, supervisor, or charge nurse within the past year
• Annual specialty skills checklist required, demonstrating true skills
• Pass/fail competency exams required for nursing (medication, EKG, blood administration)

Additional Notes

• No return-to-office restrictions, but time-off requests must be discussed during interview
• Candidates must comply with all facility-specific policies and complete required forms before start
• Facility is a Level 1 Trauma Center and major teaching hospital with 855 staffed beds

This position offers a structured, supportive environment with a multidisciplinary care team focused on rehabilitation for complex neurological and physical conditions. It is suitable for RNs with at least 2 years of experience and 1 year in rehab or related specialty, who are comfortable working night shifts and floating as needed.