NICU Registered Nurse
New Haven, Connecticut
Yale-New Haven Hospital

Registered Nurse - NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)

Location: New Haven, Connecticut
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Description

• Work schedule organized in 6-week blocks, generally consistent shifts (no day/night switching within the same week except during orientation).
• Shift options: Day (7:00 AM - 7:00 PM) or Night (7:00 PM - 7:00 AM), 3 shifts per week, 12 hours each (36 hours/week).
• Weekend requirement: Every other weekend.
• Patient ratio average: 1 nurse to 2-4 patients.
• Floating within scope of practice may be required to meet facility needs.
• Guaranteed hours.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of NICU nursing experience.
• First-time travel nurses accepted.
• Active RN license required prior to start (pending licenses accepted but must be active by start date).
• Certifications required:

  • BLS (Basic Life Support)
  • NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program)
• Experience with:

  • IVs
  • Central lines
  • OG/NG feeding tubes
  • Phlebotomy skills

Facility & Work Environment

• Short Term Acute Care facility with Level I Trauma Center designation.
• Total staffed beds: 1,567.
• Electronic charting system: Epic.
• Parking cost: $125/month.

Compliance & Training Requirements

• Background checks including 7-year criminal history, EPLS/GSA/SAM, HHS/OIG, sex offender search, and education verification.
• Foreign equivalency education evaluation required for internationally educated candidates.
• Physical exam within 12 months of start.
• Drug screening: 10-panel drug screen within 12 months of start.
• Fit mask test within 12 months of start, updated annually.
• Immunizations and titers required or acceptable alternatives:

  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) - positive titer or 2 vaccines; boosters required if low titers.
  • Varicella - positive titer, 2 vaccines, or documented history; boosters if low titer.
  • Hepatitis B - positive titer, proof of vaccine series, or declination within 1 year.
  • Tdap vaccination highly preferred for pediatric specialties but not required.
• TB testing: Negative T-Spot or QGold within 6 months or 2 PPDs within 12 months; chest x-ray and questionnaire if positive history.
• Annual TB questionnaire required.
• Seasonal flu vaccination or medical/religious exemption required during flu season (Sept 1 - Mar 31).
• COVID vaccination series preferred but not required.

Competency & Skills Verification

• Medication/Pharmacology competency exam required within 12 months, must score 85% on NICU portion.
• Color blind testing required for all candidates starting 8/2/2024, must score 80% or higher.
• Dysrhythmia/EKG competency exam not required for NICU.
• Skills checklist required within 12 months of start.

Facility-Specific Training & Attestations

Candidates must complete and sign attestations for the following training modules (some may be completed via Docusign):

• Language Services Training
• CAUTI Education Training (not required for NICU)
• Suicide Risk and Environmental Assessment Training
• Mobile Heartbeat Alarm (not required for NICU)
• Stroke Education (not required for NICU)
• CLABSI Prevention Training
• Preventing Pressure Injury Training
• Patient Transportation with Oxygen Education
• Pyxis ES MedStation Modules
• Baxter Pump Interoperability Training
• Patient Bedside Rounding (not required for NICU)
• Ventricular Assist Device Awareness (not required for NICU)
• AME Blood Administration Module (not required for NICU)
• New Employee Orientation Module
• 21st Century Cures Act Module (required for RN)
• Fire Safety Module (effective 5/4/2026)
• Chaperone Policy Training (effective 5/31/2024)
• EPIC Testing (optional but highly encouraged if EPIC experience noted)
• ED Handbook (not required for NICU)
• eCart Training Module (not required for NICU)

Additional Requirements

• Employment application must include 7 years of work history with no gaps greater than 90 days.
• Work history verification required for last 7 years for all start dates on/after 8/2/2024.
• One supervisor reference within the past year required (charge nurse references not accepted).
• Attestation of prior radiation exposure not applicable for NICU.

Notes

• Requests for time off greater than 7 days require approval.
• Orientation may include a day and night shift to complete required hours.
• Pending licenses must be active before start date.
• Traveler must have photo ID matching legal name on first day.

This position offers a structured travel nursing opportunity in a high-acuity NICU setting with comprehensive support and compliance requirements.