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
Shift: Day shift, 3 shifts per week, 12 hours each (7:00 AM – 7:00 PM)
Hours per Week: 36 hours

Job Description

• Dedicated float position covering ICU, Intermediate Care, Stepdown, and Medical-Surgical units based on patient volume.
• Schedule includes weekdays with up to 2 weekends per month.
• Must work 2 of the 3 major holidays during the contract.
• Flexibility to float 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 of 1 year of Medical-Surgical nursing experience within the last year.
• Current certifications:

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

Patient Care Ratios

• Typical nurse-to-patient ratio ranges from 1:5 to 1:6 depending on patient acuity and unit assignment.

Compliance and Documentation Requirements

• Proof of I-9 or attestation.
• Government-issued photo ID (driver’s license or state ID).
• Background checks including 7-year criminal history, EPLS/GSA/SAM, and HHS/OIG verifications.
• NURSYS verification for RN license.
• Drug screening (10-panel including marijuana) within 90 days of start, updated annually.
• Physical exam verifying ability to meet job demands, updated annually.
• Immunizations and titers required or documented exemptions for:

  • Measles (Rubeola)
  • Mumps
  • Rubella
  • Varicella
  • Hepatitis B
  • Seasonal flu vaccination or approved medical/religious exemption (required during flu season).
• Negative TB test or chest X-ray within 1 year, updated annually.
• Completion of facility-specific self-study orientation and post-test.
• Submission of a passport-style photo for badge within 48 hours of contract signing.
• Proof of 2 clinical references.
• Completion of skills checklist and competency exams as applicable.

Additional Notes

• No holiday time-off requests allowed.
• Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI) certification required for Behavioral Health, ER, and ICU nurses (not specifically required for this float position).
• Candidates must complete additional facility-specific forms if background check returns a hit.
• Flu vaccination or exemption must be on file by specified deadlines to avoid removal from assignment.

This position is ideal for a flexible, experienced RN comfortable working across multiple acute care units in a fast-paced hospital environment.