Guide to Travel Nursing in Charleston, WV: What You Need to Know Before You Sign
It can be extremely exciting to accept a travel nursing job in Charleston, WV, and know that you will be enjoying working in a new environment. However, you should have a sense of what you are getting into before you accept the role. We have a guide to help make this transition a bit easier.
What is Cross Country Travel Nursing?
First and foremost, you might need to ask what cross-country travel nursing is to begin with. This work is a job where one accepts a stint to work in a different part of the country, often for a short period of time, such as 13 weeks. Travel nurses who travel to work in Charleston fill in important gaps in the labor force, helping with things such as:
- High-acuity units (ICU, PCU, etc.)
- Seasonal shortages
- Rural referral systems
This relieves an overly strained system and enables the delivery of the best possible services to patients.
What Do Travel Nurses Do?
Another question that often arises is what travel nurses do in their roles. The simple answer is that they provide the same types of services as permanent nurses, but on a temporary basis. Examples of the types of responsibilities that they put on their shoulders include:
Working with Physicians and Care Teams - No one is an island in the hospital system. Many medical professionals have to come together to provide top-tier care for the patients that they serve. Thus, travel nurses are critical to the successful operation of any medical unit.
Monitor Patient Progress - A typical patient wants to know how much progress they have made on their recovery journey. Travel nurses can offer those patients some insights about their progress.
Provide Direct Patient Care - Travel nurses also provide direct care to the patients they serve, which is an important aspect of their work.
Travel nurses are undoubtedly an invaluable part of the healthcare system, which is why there is so much demand for them.
Major Hospitals in Charleston, WV
Do you now have some interest in taking on a role as a travel nurse in the Charleston, WV area? If so, you should know a little about some of the major hospitals in Charleston, WV, where you can work.
Charleston Area Medical Center
This is a Level 1 trauma center and the region's largest healthcare system. It is a major employer of travel nurses (and other healthcare professionals) in the area.
A whole host of patient care options and services are offered at this hospital, which means there is plenty of demand for the services that travel nurses can provide. Thus, you will discover that there are plenty of travel nursing contracts offered at a facility like this, and you might want to work on snapping one up for yourself.
Saint Francis Hospital
Part of the West Virginia University (WVU) medical system, St. Francis Hospital is a great place for first-time travel nurses. The facility's smaller size allows first-time travelers to adjust to the pace of a new hospital more quickly than they might have otherwise. Additionally, this hospital often has short-term staffing needs that require travel nurses, so you can likely find an available contract when you need it.
Thomas Memorial Hospital
Another hospital within the WVU system, Thomas Memorial Hospital, has a lot of demand for services such as Med-Surg, Telehealth, and PCU. It is a somewhat smaller hospital with strong connections to the community it serves, and that is yet another reason some first-time travelers might want to give it a try.
Pay & Contracts
Now, it is completely fair that you might ask about what level of salary you might expect for performing your travel nursing services at a hospital in Charleston, WV. After all, if you are going to uproot your life and travel somewhere else for a job, you deserve to know what level of pay you can expect. Here is what you should know:
- A common contract might pay somewhere between $1,800 to $2,100 per week
- A specialized contract (i.e., work in a specialized unit) can increase your weekly pay to between $2,300-$2,800 per week
- Other considerations (such as your housing) can be negotiated as part of your contract as well
These are major incentives for nurses to travel and provide services to underserved communities.
Enjoy Comfortable Living at Wexford Village at Devonshire in Charleston
Should you choose to take the plunge and become a travel nurse serving the Charleston area, you deserve to live in a comfortable, peaceful environment. That is exactly what we offer at Wexford Village at Devonshire. We offer apartments near Charleston, WV, with premium amenities you simply won't find elsewhere. Among the top amenities that we offer are:
- An on-site masseuse
- Two fully enclosed dog parks
- Tanning facility
- 24/7 business center
- Community playground
After a long day of work at the hospital, you deserve to relax and unwind. Enjoy those premium amenities and many more at Wexford Village at Devonshire.