Trauma & General Surgery Inpatient Stepdown RN
Morgantown, West Virginia
Ruby Memorial Hospital

Registered Nurse – 7E Trauma General Surgery Inpatient

Location: Morgantown, West Virginia
Contract Length: 13 weeks
Shift: Nights (7:00 PM – 7:30 AM)
Hours per Week: 36 hours (12-hour shifts)
Unit: 7 East – Trauma & General Surgery Inpatient Unit (Stepdown & Floor)
Unit Size: 30 beds total (12 Floor, 18 Stepdown)
Patient Ratios:

• Floor: 1:6 (med-surg)
• Stepdown: 1:3

Unit Overview

• Nationally recognized Comprehensive Bariatric Surgery Center
• High-impact, fast-paced environment with complex patient care
• Patient types include multi-trauma, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), fractures, general surgery (cholecystectomy, ostomies), bariatric surgery, and other medical-surgical conditions
• Collaborative work with care management, surgical, medical, rehabilitation, and perioperative services
• Mix of floor and stepdown patients, offering varied levels of care and critical thinking opportunities

Required Qualifications

• Current RN license
• BLS Certification (required)
• Experience with:

  • Level 1 Trauma care
  • Epic electronic health record system
  • Complex wound care, drains, devices
  • Traumatic injuries including chest tubes and respiratory support
  • Traumatic brain injuries and complex spinal cord injuries
• Ability to read and validate cardiac monitor strips (monitor techs assist but RN must confirm)
• Experience working with titratable drips:

  • Floor: Heparin, PCA’s
  • Stepdown: Insulin, Cardizem (non-pressor drips)

Scheduling & Work Environment

• Weekend requirement: Every other weekend or 2 weekends per 4-week schedule
• Holiday shifts as needed, integrated with permanent staff schedule
• Floating required to similar units (floor and stepdown)
• Charge nurse coverage 24/7; house supervisor available
• Clinical associates (nurse aides) support with a ratio of about 4 when fully staffed
• Respiratory therapists available 24/7 for stable/chronic ventilator patients
• Dress code: Royal Blue scrubs

Submission & Other Requirements

• Must have a driver’s license address outside a 50-mile radius from the facility
• Previous permanent candidates must have been off the unit for 2 years before reapplying
• Previous travelers must have been off the unit for 2 years after completing a full year
• Travel teams must be submitted together
• Only 2 candidates submitted per opening; additional submissions held until a spot opens

Additional Notes

• The unit offers a blend of floor and stepdown care, providing nurses with both breadth and depth in patient management
• Nurses practice at the top of their scope with challenging patient care issues
• The environment supports professional growth in trauma and general surgery nursing specialties