NICU RN
College Station, Texas
St. Joseph Health College Station Hospital - College Station, TX

NICU RN (Registered Nurse)

• Location: College Station, Texas (central Texas)
• Contract Length: 12 weeks
• Shift: Nights, 12-hour shifts, 36 hours per week

Unit Details

• Unit: Level III NICU with 13 private rooms
• Capability: The hospital can handle level 2 patients, but the standard is level 1.
• Census: Averaging 8-10 patients, with none currently under 28 weeks
• Common diagnoses: PPHN, prematurity (25-34 weeks), hypoglycemia, and a high volume of respiratory support. Cardiac and surgical cases are transferred out.
• Transfers: The hospital partners with a regional children's hospital and may do phone consults to determine whether a baby can stay.
• Providers: A neonatology provider is in house 24/7.
• Nurse aides: None on this unit.
• Charge nurse: Available, but always takes an assignment.
• Telemetry: None on this unit.

Required Qualifications

• Certifications (must be current before arriving onsite): BLS, NRP-Advanced, and STABLE
• Experience: Minimum of 2 years of Level III or IV NICU experience
• Skills: Must have experience with drips, vents, and lines, and must be proficient with NC, HFNC, BCPAP, vents, chest tubes, UVC, UAC, and ELBW infants.
• Drips: RNs are not required to titrate drips. The unit has no commonly titratable or set-rate drips.

Preferred

• Delivery experience

Staffing and Ratios

• Ratios follow AWHONN staffing guidelines. Most assignments are 1:2, with an occasional 1:1. Feeder/grower infants are assigned at 1:3.
• The unit uses couplet care. NICU nurses attend deliveries and complete those admissions.
• Nurses may be asked to help with newborns on Mother Baby, such as assisting with lab work, caring for infants under observation or in transition, or taking a newborn assignment.

Schedule and Expectations

• Self-scheduling is used, but schedules are not final until the manager balances them. Schedules are posted 6 weeks at a time, and the unit works with schedule requests.
• Every other weekend is required.
• Holidays rotate with core staff.
• There is no call or standby requirement.
• Call-outs are strongly discouraged and could lead to termination.
• Nurses may be asked to precept as needed by the unit.
• Scrubs must be navy, with navy undershirts. Navy scrub jackets are optional.
• Orientation includes 1-2 day shifts and 1-2 night shifts.

Float Scope

• May flex to the resource nurse role to support Mother Baby staff, including assisting with circumcisions, drawing labs, completing CCHD and car seat studies, and assisting with deliveries and admissions.
• May take a neonatal assignment of up to 6 infants if needed.
• First to float between the College Station and Bryan campuses, which are 16 minutes apart, as needed.

Application Notes

• Candidates may not have been directly employed (full time, part time, or PRN) by the health system or its affiliates within the past year. Candidates employed PRN through outside firms will be considered.
• A copy of the driver's license is needed at submittal. The Pulse profile must match the name on a government-issued ID, with no middle initial or middle name.