Gettysburg Hospital

Parking was $5/day. Not the worst but adds up over 13 weeks.

Wound care RN contract at this long-term acute care facility. Patient population was complex - chronic wounds, trach/vent patients, post-surgical complications. My caseload was about 20 patients with wound rounds 3 days per week and PRN assessments. Had access to wound vacs, advanced dressings, and a hyperbaric chamber. The medical director was supportive and open to wound care nurse recommendations. Unique niche assignment.

Took an assignment in their pre-op/PACU area. Split my time between both depending on OR volume. Pre-op was efficient - good standardized checklists, anesthesia evaluates patients promptly. PACU was well-staffed with experienced nurses. They recover a wide range of surgical patients so you see variety. Phase I to Phase II handoff is smooth. Good assignment for perioperative nurses who want variety.

I want to write this review for newer travelers who might be intimidated by large academic medical centers. I just finished 26 weeks at this university hospital and it was genuinely one of the best professional development experiences of my career. Yes, there are residents. Yes, they sometimes write orders you question. Yes, morning rounds take forever. But here's what you get in exchange: you see cases you'll never see at a community hospital. Rare diagnoses, cutting-edge treatments, complex multi-system patients who challenge every bit of your critical thinking. The attending physicians are leaders in their fields and most of them are happy to teach anyone who shows interest, including travel nurses. I asked questions constantly and not once was I made to feel stupid for it. The nursing practice here is evidence-based at a level I hadn't experienced before. Journal club is a thing. Quality improvement projects are encouraged. They have a dedicated nursing research department. Is all of this necessary to be a good bedside nurse? No. But exposure to it made me a better nurse regardless. Practical stuff: Epic EMR with a complex build (lots of specialty flowsheets), Magnet hospital with all the committee expectations that come with it, and a dress code that's strictly enforced. Parking is a battle. The cafeteria is excellent. The facility itself is a mix of new towers and older buildings connected by a confusing tunnel system that you'll eventually memorize. My specific unit (MICU) had 1:2 ratios, a dedicated charge, and a clinical nurse specialist who was an incredible resource. Night shift had good camaraderie and the day/night dynamic was respectful. Travelers were treated well once they proved their competence, which is fair. Go in ready to learn, be humble, and you'll thrive.