RN - Surgical Unit
Columbus, Ohio
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Job Opportunity: Registered Nurse - Surgical Unit

Location: Columbus, Ohio
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Unit Overview

This position involves caring for a specialized surgical patient population, including:

• Burns
• Plastic surgery patients (abdominal wall reconstruction, flaps, leech therapy)
• Urology patients
• Gynecological surgery patients
• ENT patients
• Oral/maxillofacial surgery patients

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of recent Registered Nurse (RN) experience
• Ohio RN license required
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification required
• First-time travel nurses accepted (prior travel experience NOT required)

Preferred Experience

• Surgical care
• Burn care
• Wound care
• Flap monitoring
• Drain management
• Post-operative care

Background and Compliance Requirements

• 7-year criminal background check within 90 days of start, including FBI and state fingerprinting (BCI/FBI)
• Education verification from an accredited nursing program (CCNE, ACEN, or NLN CNEA)
• Monthly monitoring through federal exclusion lists (EPLS/GSA/SAM, HHS/OIG)
• Drug screening: Negative 10-panel drug test within 3 months of start (no pending tests allowed)
• Physical exam within 1 year of start confirming good health and freedom from contagious disease
• Immunizations and health documents required:

  • Tdap vaccine (adult dose)
  • Negative TB test or chest x-ray within 1 year
  • MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccination or positive titers
  • Hepatitis B titer or vaccine series (declination acceptable)
  • Varicella vaccination or positive titer (medical exemptions reviewed)
  • Seasonal flu vaccine or declination during flu season (10/1 - 3/31)
• Annual acknowledgment of dress code, hand hygiene, ethics, and compliance policies
• Fraud, Waste, and Abuse training certificate required prior to start and updated annually

Competency and Certification Exams

• Medication/Pharmacology competency exam required prior to start
• Unit-specific competency exam required
• Dysrhythmia/EKG competency exam required within 1 year of start and updated annually (with remediation process if needed)
• State license verification and NURSYS verification required within 30 days of start
• Orientation safety manual acknowledgment required annually

References and Documentation

• Two professional references required; at least one must be from a manager or formal leadership role
• Employment application required, including education details
• Skills checklist required

Additional Notes

• Fingerprinting must be completed using specific state codes and within 1 year of start; new fingerprinting required if there is a break in service over 90 days
• Background check results with any hits require additional documentation and adjudication
• Candidates can renew BLS and ACLS certifications at the facility if needed
• No COVID-19 vaccination requirement, but proof of primary vaccination is recommended and collected if available

This role is ideal for RNs with surgical and specialized care experience looking for a travel contract in Ohio. First-time travel nurses are welcome to apply.