NICU Registered Nurse
San Luis Obispo, California
Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center

NICU Registered Nurse Travel/Contract Job – San Luis Obispo, California

Job Summary

• Provide nursing care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) during night shifts (3 shifts per week, 12 hours each, 7:00 PM to 7:30 AM).
• Responsibilities include care planning, medication administration, monitoring physiological changes, psychosocial support, and family education.
• Supervise and delegate to ancillary personnel within their scope of practice.
• Cross-train and float to Pediatrics as needed.
• Care for stable and critically ill newborns, including those requiring mechanical ventilation and other respiratory support.
• Manage hemodynamic monitoring, interpret ECG rhythms, and respond to life-threatening emergencies.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement family-centered care plans.
• Document all nursing care and evaluations accurately and timely.
• Provide psychosocial support to families, including grief and end-of-life support.

Required Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in California.
• Associate of Science in Nursing (A.S. or equivalent).
• Minimum 2 years of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) experience, with NICU experience within the last year.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification issued by American Heart Association or American Red Cross.
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification issued by American Heart Association or American Red Cross.
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification.

Contract Length

• Approximately 14 weeks.

Work Schedule

• Night shift, 3 shifts per week, 12 hours per shift (total 36 hours/week).

Required Documentation and Compliance

• Current picture identification (Driver’s License or State ID).
• Background check covering the last 7 years, including social security trace, county/state/federal court jurisdictions, and national sex offender registry.
• Employment application/resume with 7-year work history including locations and gaps.
• Two clinical references verified within one year of start.
• Unit-specific skills checklist.
• Physical exam within 90 days of start.
• Drug test within 30 days before start (includes multiple drug panels).
• Immunizations and titers:

  • TDAP vaccination within 10 years or positive titer (declinations accepted).
  • Negative TB test (QGold/TSpot) within 30 days of start, updated annually.
  • Measles (Rubeola), Mumps, Rubella, Varicella: positive titers or vaccination series required; declinations no longer accepted.
  • Hepatitis B: positive titer, series, or signed declination accepted; boosters must be completed as eligible.
• Seasonal flu vaccination or facility-specific exemption/declination required during flu season (Oct 31 - Apr 30).
• Seasonal COVID-19 booster required or facility-specific declination form.
• N95 fit test preferred; documentation required.
• Annual competency exams including medication/pharmacology, dysrhythmia/EKG, and others as applicable.
• Annual acknowledgment of orientation safety manual.
• Management of Assaultive Behavior (MAB) or Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) certification may be required depending on unit.
• Confidentiality agreement, waiver of benefits acknowledgment, and intellectual property rights assignment must be signed prior to start.

Essential Skills and Competencies

• Proficient in medication administration, intravenous therapy including blood products, and care of indwelling catheters and drains.
• Skilled in use of neonatal medical equipment and ventilatory support devices (nasal CPAP, O2 cannula, ETT, nebulizers).
• Ability to interpret hemodynamic and ECG monitoring and manage critical emergencies.
• Knowledgeable in fluid and electrolyte management and infant nutrition.
• Strong clinical judgment and ability to provide developmentally appropriate care.
• Effective communication and teaching skills for family education and support.

Additional Notes

• Prior travel experience is not explicitly required.
• The position is represented by a nursing association.
• The facility is a 162-bed acute care hospital with a Level III NICU and county-designated trauma center.
• Located in a coastal community offering a balance of active lifestyle and natural attractions.

This summary includes all relevant information for healthcare recruiters and workers considering this NICU Registered Nurse travel contract position in California.