Highlands ARH Regional Medical Center (Prestonsburg, KY) Travel Nurse Review

noordinarypath
1 day ago
2 min read

Highlands ARH Regional Medical Center is a small, rural hospital in eastern Kentucky that frequently utilizes travel nurses, particularly for Med/Surg and Tele needs. The facility is known for being open to travelers and quick to onboard, but feedback suggests the experience can be challenging, especially for first-time travelers or those used to strong infrastructure and staffing support.

🏥 About Highlands ARH Regional Medical Center

Community hospital serving the Appalachian region
Approximately 88 beds
Part of the Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) system
Non-teaching facility
Uses Meditech EMR
High reliance on travel nurses for core staffing
Serves a medically underserved population

💬 Travel Nurse Feedback (In-Depth)

✅ What nurses like

Reported to be traveler-friendly overall
Open to first-time travelers
Travelers often feel welcomed by staff
Opportunity to make a meaningful impact in an underserved area
Some nurses note supportive coworkers despite systemic challenges

⚠️ What nurses caution about

Med/Surg ratios reported around 1:6
Overall quality of care has been described as concerning by past travelers
Reports of poor hospital conditions during past assignments, including pest issues
Limited support and oversight on some units
Charge nurses may have limited experience at times
Resource constraints typical of rural facilities
Surrounding community described as extremely economically challenged
Exposure to significant social issues including substance abuse and poverty

🧑‍⚕️ Unit Breakdown for Travel Nurses

Med/Surg / Tele

Reported nurse-to-patient ratios around 1:6
Acuity can feel high due to limited resources and complex patient population
Travelers should be comfortable working independently
Best suited for experienced Med/Surg or Tele nurses with strong critical thinking skills
May be challenging for nurses who require structured support or strong leadership presence

📌 Final Take & Recommendation

Highlands ARH Regional Medical Center can be a workable assignment for travelers who are flexible, resilient, and motivated by service rather than ideal conditions. While the facility is considered traveler-friendly and welcoming, the combination of staffing challenges, resource limitations, and community health factors can make the day-to-day work demanding.

This facility may be a good fit for:

Experienced Med/Surg or Tele nurses
Travelers comfortable with rural healthcare environments
Nurses motivated to serve underserved populations
Those seeking a traveler-friendly onboarding process

You may want to think twice if you:

Are a first-time traveler seeking strong unit support
Prefer lower ratios or high-resource settings
Are uncomfortable with independent practice in challenging conditions
Need strong leadership presence and structured workflows

Interested in learning more about current openings at Highlands ARH Regional Medical Center or want help deciding if this assignment fits your goals? Connect with a No Ordinary Path recruiter to talk through the details and get honest guidance before you commit.

Disclosure

This review is based on shared traveler experiences, recruiter insights, and publicly available information. Individual unit conditions, leadership, and staffing levels may vary by contract and over time.