Travel Med/Surg RN – Post-Op GI & Wound Care
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette General Medical Center

Registered Nurse Travel/Contract Position

Location: Lafayette, Louisiana
Specialty: Registered Nurse (Med/Surg, Post-Op GI and Wound Care)
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Overview

• Position is in a hurricane-prone area; hurricane season runs June 1 - Nov 30 (storms may occur outside this window).
• Nurses may be assigned to an Emergency Team during storms, requiring them to stay onsite until the storm passes or be part of relief efforts.
• Candidates should be comfortable with this requirement before applying.

Experience Requirements

• Acute care experience required.
• Med/Surg and post-op experience required, specifically in GI and wound care.
• Must have worked full-time on a post-op unit.
• Minimum 2 years of nursing experience.
• At least one completed travel contract required for submission.

Patient Diagnoses Commonly Seen

• Pancreatitis
• GI bleeds
• Bowel obstructions and perforations
• Wound and post-op infections
• Mass removal
• Esophageal perforation
• Gunshot wounds (GSW)
• Motor vehicle collisions (MVC)
• Diverticulitis

Special Procedures Involved

• Pancreatectomy
• Esophagectomy
• Whipple procedure
• Spleenectomy
• Adrenalectomy
• Cystectomy
• Colectomy
• Thyroidectomy
• Mastectomy
• Hepatic resection
• Nissen fundoplication
• Bariatric surgery
• TURP (Transurethral resection of the prostate)
• Gastrectomy
• Parathyroidectomy
• Exploratory laparotomy (Ex lap)

Equipment Experience Preferred

• PEG and PEJ tubes
• PCA pumps
• Various surgical drains (Per drain, JP drain, Hemovac)
• Wound vacs
• Nephrostomy tubes
• Ileostomy, Colostomy, Urostomy care

Scheduling

• Manager may consider blocked weekend schedules (Fri-Sun or Sat-Mon rotations) if candidate is willing.

Certifications Required

• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) – AHA or RQI accepted; renewal required if expiring within 30 days of start.
• BLS (Basic Life Support) – AHA or RQI accepted; renewal required if expiring within 30 days of start.
• Other certifications may be required depending on unit (e.g., PALS, NRP, TNCC, EFM) – verify with program management if unclear.
• CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) – Required except for ICU specialties; must be updated annually.

Licensure

• Active Louisiana RN license or Compact License required upon submission.
• License must be current or in renewal process if expiring within 30 days of start.
• NURSYS verification required within 30 days of start.

Background and Compliance Requirements

• 7-year criminal background check within 90 days of start, updated annually.
• EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG checks required within 30 days of start, updated monthly.
• Sex offender search required within 30 days of start, updated monthly.
• Education verification required if no state license.
• Competency exam specific to specialty required annually (minimum 80%).
• Color blindness testing required for lab staff.

Health and Immunization Requirements

• Physical exam within 12 months indicating good health.
• Negative TB test or chest X-ray within 12 months; annual updates required.
• Immunity or vaccination documentation required for:

  • Rubeola (Measles)
  • Mumps
  • Rubella
  • Hepatitis B
  • Varicella
• Tdap required for select areas (ED, Pediatrics, Mother/Baby, NICU).
• Seasonal flu vaccination or approved exemption required during flu season (Oct 1 - Apr 30).
• Negative 10-panel drug screen within 60 days of start; must be initiated within 24-48 hours of offer acceptance.

Additional Notes

• Current, valid driver's license or government photo ID required (color copy).
• Photo for badge must be a recent, full-color passport-style photo with plain background.
• Fit mask testing (N95) required within one year of start; onsite fit testing available if needed.
• Employment application and skills checklist required; must include 7 years of employment history and explanations for gaps.

Important: Candidates should be comfortable with hurricane emergency assignments and meet all experience, certification, licensure, and compliance requirements before applying.