Location: Columbia, MO

Start Date: 01-21-2026

End Date: 04-22-2026

Contract Type: Travel Contract

Shift Type: Night shift, 7:00 PM - 7:30 AM; schedule varies (choose 36-hour or 48-hour work week); nights (schedule based on unit needs)

Hours per Week: 36

Candidate Pay Rate: $65 per hour

About United Health Care Staffing

At United Health Care Staffing (UHC Staffing), we believe healthcare staffing should be more than just finding a job. We are here to connect amazing professionals with opportunities that make their careers exciting, rewarding, and meaningful. With us, you're not just signing up for a contract you are joining a team that's got your back, answers your calls, and maybe even cracks a joke or two to brighten your day. Think of us as the travel buddy who handles the logistics while you focus on what you do best helping people heal.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Provide expert post-operative orthopedic care for adults and geriatrics, ensuring safe recovery after joint replacements and spine surgeries
• Manage pain and administer medications safely, including anticoagulants and antibiotics, with precise documentation
• Perform IV insertion and manage lines including peripheral and preferred PICC/central line care
• Care for up to 8 patients when required—deliver thorough, hands-on nursing and prioritize patient safety
• Assess wounds and perform wound care, including wound VAC management when indicated
• Interpret telemetry and monitor cardiac rhythms; escalate concerns promptly
• Operate and manage orthopedic-specific equipment (traction, CPM, epidural/PCA pumps) and support airway devices like CPAP/BiPAP
• Float to other Med/Surg units as surgical schedules demand, providing adaptable, high-quality care
• Educate patients and families on post-op expectations, discharge planning, and home medication management
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to coordinate efficient throughput on a fast-paced 32-bed unit

Qualifications

• Active RN license (state licensure or compact privileges as applicable)
• Previous travel nurse experience (explicit requirement)
• Most recent three assignments must be acute care Med/Surg in medium to large organizations (no long-term care-only backgrounds)
• Comfort and proven ability to manage up to 8 patients on busy shifts
• Demonstrated IV insertion skills and competency with line management
• Experience with post-operative orthopedic patients (total joint replacements, fracture repair, spine surgeries)
• Comfort floating to other Med/Surg units and adapting to varying surgical schedules
• Current basic life support (BLS) certification recommended (confirm with recruiter for required certifications)

Knowledge & Skills

• Post-operative orthopedic care and pain management
• Medication administration and safe anticoagulant handling
• Wound care and wound VAC familiarity
• Telemetry interpretation and remote tele monitoring
• IV insertion and peripheral/central line management (PICC experience preferred)
• Experience with traction, CPM, epidural/PCA pumps, and feeding tubes
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, 32-bed Med/Surg orthopedic unit
• Strong patient education, prioritization, and multidisciplinary communication skills

Benefits

• Supportive travel assignment with local clinical team who values your skills and growth
• Flexible 36- or 48-hour scheduling to help you balance life and work
• Licensure assistance and reimbursement to keep you working smoothly across states
• Travel reimbursement and help getting settled into the assignment
• Access to continuing education and clinical skill development on orthopedics and Med/Surg care
• Peer support and mentorship on a fast-paced, collaborative unit
• Paid time off policies (ask recruiter for details) to recharge between assignments
• Referral program and opportunities for future travel assignments with the same client

Travel Perks: Explore Columbia, MO

Columbia, MO is a lively college town with a welcoming local scene. Explore the University of Missouri campus and its museums, stroll scenic Stephens Lake Park, or hike the limestone trails and natural bridges at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park. Downtown The District offers local breweries, coffee shops, boutiques and a lively dining scene. Weekend road trips are easy — Jefferson City (the state capital) and Lake of the Ozarks are within driving distance, and both Kansas City and St. Louis are reachable for a longer weekend escape. Plenty of local events, farmers markets, and cultural offerings make downtime enjoyable between shifts.

Hashtags

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