UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital (Lexington, KY) Travel Nurse Review

UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital is a large, high-acuity academic medical center in Lexington that draws travelers looking for strong ratios, complex patient populations, and a true teaching-hospital environment. It’s well known among experienced travel nurses as a busy but supportive facility where learning opportunities are constant and teamwork is essential.

🏥 About UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital

• Academic teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Kentucky

• Adult Level 1 Trauma Center

• Pediatric Level 1 Trauma Center

• Approximately 1,173 beds

• Two main patient towers (new and older buildings)

• Epic charting system

• Non-profit hospital system

• High-volume regional referral center

  
  

💬 Travel Nurse Feedback (In-Depth)

✅ What nurses like

• Strong nurse-to-patient ratios on many units

• Generally supportive staff and traveler-friendly culture

• Teaching environment with residents and interdisciplinary teams readily available

• Dedicated specialty teams for tasks like vascular access, rapid response, and Corpak placement

• ER commonly calls report rather than requiring floor nurses to track them down

• Charge nurses and team leads often available to assist, depending on unit and tower

• 24-hour cafeteria access, which is appreciated by night shift

• Free parking for night shift staff

• Many travelers report feeling welcomed and included by permanent staff

• Lexington is viewed as a pleasant city with good food, activities, and nearby housing options

⚠️ What nurses caution about

• Nurses are responsible for drawing labs hospital-wide, which is a major adjustment for many travelers

• Older tower lacks tube stations, requiring nurses to walk labs to the lab department

• Significant walking due to hospital size, parking distance, and occasional floating

• Day shift parking requires payment and may involve shuttle rides from remote lots

• Aides are not always available, especially on weekends

• Floating does occur, particularly on PCU/stepdown units

• Some rooms may be doubled depending on census

• “Sister unit” pairing can involve units on different floors sharing resources

• Pharmacy delivery can be slow, especially in older areas of the hospital

• Travelers may be required to complete additional audits, modules, and safety surveys

🧑‍⚕️ Unit Breakdown for Travel Nurses

PCU / Stepdown

• Commonly reported ratios of 3:1

• High-acuity general medical and specialty PCU populations

• Frequent traveler utilization and generally supportive coworkers

• Floating between PCU units does occur

• Good fit for travelers comfortable with autonomy and fast pace

Med/Surg

• Typical ratios reported around 1:5

• Busy units with occasional doubled rooms

• Less consistent aide coverage, particularly on weekends

• Best suited for nurses comfortable with heavy workloads and lab draws

ICU / Critical Care (MICU/SICU)

• Generally positive feedback on learning environment

• High-acuity patients with strong physician and team support

• Teaching-focused culture with opportunities to expand skill sets

Emergency Department

• Reported ratios around 4:1

• High trauma volume due to Level 1 designation

• Many travelers report excellent team culture and staff acceptance

• Fast-paced environment best for experienced ER nurses

📌 Final Take & Recommendation

UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital is a solid travel assignment for nurses who want strong ratios, a teaching-hospital atmosphere, and exposure to high-acuity patients. The biggest adjustment is the expectation that nurses draw all labs, along with the physical demands of a very large campus. Travelers who thrive here tend to be adaptable, collaborative, and comfortable staying busy.

This facility is best for:

• Experienced travelers comfortable with autonomy

• Nurses seeking strong ratios in a teaching environment

• Those who don’t mind lab draws and a lot of walking

• Travelers interested in extending and returning for multiple contracts

You may want to think twice if you:

• Strongly prefer dedicated phlebotomy teams

• Dislike floating or large hospital layouts

• Need guaranteed overtime availability

• Are sensitive to parking logistics and shuttle systems

Interested in working at UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital or want help deciding if it’s the right fit for your travel goals? Reach out to your No Ordinary Path recruiter to discuss current openings, unit details, and housing insights.

Disclosure

This review is based on aggregated traveler feedback, recruiter insight, and publicly shared experiences. Individual unit conditions, leadership, and support can vary by contract and over time.