Medical-Surgical Float RN
Boone, North Carolina
Watauga Medical Center

Job Opportunity: Medical Surgical Float Nurse

Location: Boone, North Carolina
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Description

• Dedicated float position covering ICU, Intermediate Care, Stepdown, and Medical-Surgical units based on patient volume.
• Schedule: 3 shifts per week, 12 hours each (7:00 AM – 7:00 PM), weekdays with up to 2 weekends per month.
• Must work 2 of the 3 major holidays during the contract.
• Flexibility in floating between units is essential.
• Blocked schedule requests may be considered if submitted at application.

Required Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in North Carolina.
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
• Minimum 2 years of Medical-Surgical nursing experience, with at least some experience within the last year.
• Minimum 2 years of total travel nursing experience.
• Float nursing experience.
• Current certifications:

  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) issued by American Red Cross or American Heart Association
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) issued by American Heart Association
• Recent proficiency with Epic electronic medical records system.

Certifications & Competencies

• ACLS, BLS, and PALS must be current and from recognized organizations (AHA, ARC, or US Department of Defense).
• Additional certifications may be required based on unit assignment (e.g., NIH Stroke Certification for ICU/Stepdown).
• Competency exams and medication/pharmacology tests required as applicable.
• NURSYS verification required for RN license validation.

Health & Compliance Requirements

• Physical exam verifying ability to meet job demands, updated annually.
• Negative TB test or chest X-ray within 1 year (2-step PPD, QuantiFERON Gold, or T-spot).
• Immunizations or titers within 5 years for:

  • Measles (Rubeola)
  • Mumps
  • Rubella
  • Hepatitis B
  • Varicella (Zoster/Shringrix not accepted)
• Seasonal flu vaccination or approved medical/religious exemption required during flu season (Oct 1 – Apr 30).
• 10-panel drug screen including marijuana within 90 days of start, updated annually.
• Background checks including 7-year criminal history, EPLS/GSA/SAM, and HHS/OIG screenings.
• Photo ID and passport-style photo for badge required.
• Completion of facility-specific orientation, accountability statements, and post-tests mandatory.
• Proof of 2 clinical references required.

Additional Notes

• No holiday time-off requests allowed.
• Candidates must complete all required documentation and attestations prior to start.
• Self-study orientation and post-test must be completed; re-completion required after any contract break.
• Candidates with prior contract experience with the facility must have performance evaluations on file.

This position is ideal for experienced travel RNs who are flexible, adaptable, and comfortable working across multiple acute care units.