NICU Registered Nurse
Columbus, Ohio
Nationwide Children's Hospital

NICU Registered Nurse Travel/Contract Job - Columbus, Ohio

Position Overview

• Job Title: NICU Registered Nurse
• Location: Columbus, Ohio
• Employment Type: Travel/Contract
• Shift: Day shift, 3 shifts per week, 12 hours each (7:00 AM - 7:00 PM)
• Contract Length: 13 weeks

Required Experience

• Minimum 2 years total Level III/IV NICU experience
• At least 1 year Level IV NICU experience specifically
• Comfortable with frequent tracheostomy care and working with heavy parent involvement in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) NICU patients (average length of stay 2-3 years)

Float Requirements

• Must be willing to float to the following units as needed:

  • PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit)
  • CV PICU (Cardiovascular PICU)
  • Stepdown Unit
  • Medical-Surgical (MS)
  • BPD NICU
  • Emergency Department (ED) (very rare)
• May also float to other campuses primarily in the local area

Required Certifications & Licenses

• Ohio RN State License (verification required within 30 days of start)
• BLS (Basic Life Support)
• NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program)
• ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)
• PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)
• All certifications must be AHA (American Heart Association) approved and match legal name on RN license exactly (no nicknames or typos)

Required Documentation & Compliance

• References: Two professional references required at time of submission; at least one must be a manager or supervisor (Charge RN acceptable). Peer references not accepted.
• Background Check: Must include a 7-year criminal history, education verification (standalone through National Student Clearinghouse), and international background check if applicable. Must be within 30 days of start.
• Fingerprinting: Ohio BCI/FBI fingerprinting required within 60 days of start and updated for each new contract. Must be completed within 24-48 hours of signing contract.
• Drug Screen: Negative 9-panel drug screen within 60 days prior to start, including amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cocaine, opiates, marijuana, fentanyl, and others.
• Health Screenings & Vaccinations:

  • TB test or IGRA within last 12 months (with additional requirements if positive)
  • Flu vaccine required annually (Oct 31 - May 31); medical/religious exemptions require facility approval and mask-wearing during flu season
  • Tdap vaccine within last 10 years (must be completed after age 11)
  • MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) immunity via positive titer or 2 vaccines/boosters
  • Varicella immunity via positive titer or 2 vaccines/boosters
  • Hepatitis B immunity or declination
• N95 Fit Testing: Required within 1 year of start and updated annually; acceptable mask models specified. Candidates with beards must either shave or be fitted for PAPR/CAPR.
• Physical Exam: Required within 1 year of start (facility accepts signed Infection Control Policy in lieu of physical copy). Must state candidate is free of communicable diseases.
• Competency Exams: Medication test/pharmacology competency and other applicable competency exams with passing scores required.
• Skills Checklist: Unit-specific skills checklist required and must be updated annually.

Interview Process

• Two-part interview:

  1. Initial screening with Float Pool Leader within 24-48 hours of submission
  2. Second interview with NICU Unit Manager based on initial feedback and resume review

Additional Notes

• Current government-issued photo ID required within 24-48 hours of contract signing (no temporary IDs accepted initially).
• Legal name on all documents must match RN license and other official records exactly.
• Must comply with facility float expectations and assignments.
• Prior travel experience is not explicitly required for this position.

This summary includes all key information relevant to healthcare recruiters and workers considering this NICU travel nurse position in Columbus, Ohio.