MedSurg RN - Post-Surgical
Weirton, West Virginia
Weirton Medical Center

Registered Nurse (MedSurg Level 7 - Post Surgical)

Location: Weirton, West Virginia
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Unit Overview

• 27 beds
• Nurse-to-patient ratios:

  • Day: 1:5 (max 6)
  • Night: 1:6 (max 7)
• Common patient types:

  • Orthopedics: Post-op knee replacement, hip replacement, hip fractures, shoulder replacement
  • GU: TURBT, TURP, bladder biopsy
  • General surgery: Hemicolectomy, cholecystectomy, appendectomy, hernia repair
  • Cath lab: Post peripheral interventions, dialysis catheter insertions

Required Certifications & Licenses

• Current RN license
• BLS certification

Experience & Skills

• Transfuse blood
• Wound vac changes
• PCA pump management
• Heparin drip titration per protocol

Staffing & Support

• Charge nurse on each shift:

  • Day charge nurse does not take patient assignments
  • Night charge nurse may take a small assignment (2-3 patients)
• Patient Care Technicians (PCTs):

  • 3 on day shift, 2 on night shift
  • Duties include bathing patients, changing linens, assisting with feeding and ambulation, taking vital signs every 4 hours, documenting in EMR, emptying and recording outputs from drains and catheters, daily weights, EKGs, blood glucose monitoring, bladder scanning, and transporting patients at discharge
• Respiratory therapists manage breathing treatments and respiratory equipment troubleshooting; no ventilators on unit
• No telemetry/monitor techs on unit; nurses are not required to read their own strips

Scheduling & Work Hours

• Shifts: 12-hour shifts, 7am-7pm for RNs; 6am-6pm for CNAs
• No self-scheduling or block scheduling; schedules are discussed with staff and adjusted for vacations/holidays
• Weekend requirement: Every other weekend
• Holiday rotation may be required, alternating between two groups of holidays every other year
• No on-call; standby available on an as-needed basis during low census with specific call-in times

Floating & Orientation

• Floating to other MedSurg, MedSurg-Telemetry, or Intermediate Care units on a rotating or voluntary basis; not floated to rehab unit
• Orientation: 1 day with educator, 1-2 days with preceptor; includes 12-hour night shifts and weekends as scheduled

Dress Code

• Nurses: Navy blue or white scrubs (scrubs not provided)
• PCTs: Ceil blue scrubs
• Ward clerks: Hot pink and black scrubs (usually black pants)

Additional Notes

• Must comply with a 50-mile radius rule and provide an unexpired driver’s license with submission
• Any licensing issues must be disclosed at time of submission