Aspirus Wausau Hospital (Wausau, WI) Travel Nurse Review

Aspirus Wausau Hospital is a regional acute-care hospital in central Wisconsin that regularly staffs travel nurses across multiple units. Known for solid pay packages and frequent extensions, it draws experienced travelers who are comfortable with high acuity, variable staffing, and unit-dependent culture.

🏥 About Aspirus Wausau

• Acute care hospital

• Approximately 325 beds

• Adult Level II Trauma Center

• Epic charting system

• High-volume referral center for the region

• Travelers frequently utilized across inpatient units

• Scrub Color: Any

💬 Travel Nurse Feedback (In-Depth)

✅ What nurses like

• Many travelers report extending multiple times

• Generally considered traveler-friendly at the hospital level

• Good pay rates compared to cost of living

• Strong experiences reported in Neuro ICU and some ICU settings

• Solid group of bedside nurses once rapport is built

• Wausau housing can be affordable with local networking

• Epic charting and familiarity for most travelers

⚠️ What nurses caution about

• Unit culture varies significantly and can be hit or miss

• MAP and CTU units are repeatedly described as very challenging

• High patient acuity with limited CNA support

• Frequent floating, sometimes mid-shift or multiple times per shift

• Management support is inconsistent and often criticized on certain units

• High traveler-to-core-staff ratio on some floors

• Guaranteed hours policy changed in August 2023, allowing up to 36 hours of call-offs per 13-week contract

🧑‍⚕️ Unit Breakdown for Travel Nurses

Med Surg / MAP

• High patient volume and acuity mean rapid skill growth.

• Nurses manage complex patient loads and make independent clinical decisions.

• You see a wide range of diagnoses, including complex medical and stepdown-level patients.

• May encounter heavy assignments and unexpected challenges.

• Rates are typically higher due to workload and staffing realities.

• Shifts move quickly, which some nurses prefer.

• Best suited for very experienced, resilient Med Surg travelers

CTU (Cardiac Tele Unit)

• High-volume cardiac patients mean you sharpen telemetry interpretation, drips, and complex cardiac care quickly.

• Fast pace keeps shifts moving and helps avoid the “slow, dragging” shift feeling.

• Excellent unit for nurses wanting to strengthen time management, prioritization, and autonomy.

• You’re not the only traveler; many shifts are staffed primarily with travelers, which can make the environment more relatable.

• High acuity with frequent floating to stepdown units

• Heavy charting oversight and strict management

• Ratios reported 1:4

Neuro ICU

• Generally positive traveler experiences

• Lower chaos compared to stepdown units

• Smaller traveler pool and more cohesive team

• Better fit for ICU nurses seeking a calmer environment

Cardiac ICU

• High acuity with frequent floating to stepdown units

• Heavy charting oversight and strict management

• Unit often staffed with new grads and travelers

• Best for thick-skinned ICU nurses comfortable with scrutiny

OR

• Mixed reviews depending on leadership

• Some travelers report liking the assignment

• Others describe management as difficult and unprofessional

• Expect to work hard and advocate for yourself

PCU (Important Note)

• “PCU” at Aspirus Wausau often refers to Palliative Care Unit

• Travelers report this being mislabeled on contracts

• Critical to verify the exact unit name and patient population in writing

📌 Final Take & Recommendation

Aspirus Wausau Hospital can be a solid travel assignment for nurses who know how to navigate challenging units and variable management styles. The hospital itself is widely viewed as traveler-friendly, but unit leadership and staffing make or break the experience.

Best for:

• Experienced Med Surg and ICU travelers

• Nurses comfortable with high acuity and limited support

• Travelers prioritizing pay and extension opportunities

May want to think twice if you:

• Require strong management backing

• Prefer consistent staffing and CNA support

• Are new to travel nursing or bedside nursing

Interested in current Aspirus Wausau Hospital travel contracts or want help deciding if this facility fits your goals? Reach out to your No Ordinary Path recruiter for honest guidance and unit-specific insight.

This review is based on aggregated traveler feedback, recruiter experience, and publicly shared commentary. Individual experiences may vary significantly by unit, manager, and contract timing.