🏥 Travel Nurse Hospital Review: Chesapeake Regional Medical Center

February 2024 – May 2024

If you’re looking for a chill ICU travel contract with a touch of chaos every now and then, Chesapeake Regional Medical Center might be the right fit. This community-based hospital in Chesapeake, Virginia offered me a peaceful return to bedside nursing after maternity leave—and while it wasn’t the most exciting contract, it had its perks.

Here’s everything you need to know before accepting a travel nurse contract in their General ICU.

📍 Hospital Snapshot

Location: Chesapeake, Virginia
Hospital Beds: 310
ICU Beds: 30
Designations:
- Level III Trauma Center
- Comprehensive Stroke Center
- Chest Pain Center
- Magnet Status
Teaching Hospital: No
School Affiliation: N/A
Specialties: Open-Heart Surgery

🏡 Housing & Local Living

Where We Stayed:
We started in a rental—essentially a guesthouse on someone’s property. It was cozy but very open, which isn’t ideal if you have a partner, a baby, or night shift sleep needs (hello, every creaky footstep from upstairs!). Later, we transitioned into our camper for the last couple of weeks.
Commute Time: ~40 minutes from both the rental and campground
Campground Info: We stayed at Northbay Shore—check out my separate campground review for full details.
Affordability & Safety:
Rental homes were a bit pricey in the area, especially if you’re looking for full-house rentals over apartments. That said, apartment living was hard for us with a baby and dogs in tow.

👩‍⚕️ Orientation & First Impressions

Orientation Length:
After a standard hospital orientation that wrapped up around lunch, I was placed on the floor for the rest of the day, followed by one more full shift of orientation.
Helpful?
Basic but sufficient.
Traveler Treatment:
Most of the staff were travelers, so there was a good level of mutual respect. Travelers were treated fairly overall.
Staff Culture:
Warm and welcoming. A couple of team members were a bit standoffish, but hey—that’s nursing. One bad apple doesn’t spoil the whole bunch.
Management & Teamwork:
Each shift began with a unit huddle led by the manager. These quick check-ins helped keep everyone aligned and aware of unit priorities, changes, and expectations. It set a really positive tone for the shift.

💉 Clinical Experience

Unit Pace: Generally chill, but the occasional curveball kept you on your toes.
Types of Patients:
- Neuro
- Respiratory distress
- DKA
Common Procedures: Intubations, A-lines
Learning Opportunities: Limited; the environment wasn’t super hands-on for growth.
Tech & Resources:
- LUCAS compression device
- Lactation room right at the front of the unit—a rare find and a huge win postpartum!

✅ Pros & Cons

👍 Pros:

LUCAS device for CPR support
Night-shift APRNs available for support
Low-stress, slower-paced nights (perfect for easing back into work postpartum)
Unit huddles kept everyone informed and involved
Traveler-friendly culture

👎 Cons:

No cafeteria or food options for night shift
Supply rooms were inconsistent—each one was stocked and organized differently, which slowed things down
The unit was very spread out, making it hard to locate help quickly at times

🧠 Nurse Logistics

Floating Policy: Infrequent floating to stepdown
Scrub Color: Royal Blue
Charting System: Epic
Parking:
- Free surface lot
- On-site
- No difference in rules between day and night shift

🔄 Would I Work Here Again?

Yes.
While it wasn’t my favorite contract, it also wasn’t a bad experience. I didn’t make many close connections, but the job was manageable, the environment was safe, and the expectations were reasonable. It was a solid choice for my first contract back postpartum. I even extended for a couple of weeks before heading home.

🧳 Final Thoughts

Best Suited For:
Experienced ICU nurses who are comfortable working independently. There’s not always someone readily available for questions, and the layout makes quick help tricky at times.
Who Would Thrive Here:
Nurses who enjoy a slower-paced unit with occasional bursts of chaos. Ideal if you need a breather between high-acuity assignments or are looking to ease back into ICU life.

🩺 Want more real-talk hospital reviews?
Catch the full series + ICU tips & tricks at SimplyJulesRN.com. For travel nurses who want the truth, I’ve got you covered. ✈️💉