NICU | Registered Nurse

NICU Registered Nurse (RN) Travel Nurse – Level III NICU Contract in Apple Valley, CA

Take your NICU nursing career to the next level with a 13-week Level III NICU travel nursing contract in Apple Valley, California. Join a specialized neonatal team caring for premature infants, medically complex neonates, and high-acuity patients in a supportive community hospital setting.

This California travel nursing assignment offers the opportunity to care for patients with respiratory distress, sepsis, neonatal abstinence syndrome, hypoglycemia, jaundice, and other complex neonatal conditions. Located in Apple Valley’s High Desert, the assignment provides wide-open landscapes, outdoor recreation, and convenient access to the greater Southern California region.

NICU Travel Nurse Job Details

• Location: Apple Valley, California
• Weekly Estimated Pay: $2,130–$2,250
• Start Date: November 3, 2026
• Contract Duration: 13 weeks
• Healthcare Setting: Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
• Unit Size: 14 beds with approximately 190 births per month
• Shift Duration: 12-hour night shifts, approximately 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
• Shifts per Week: Standard 36-hour assignment; open to 3x12-hour or 4x12-hour scheduling by arrangement
• Weekend Schedule: Every other weekend on average; weekend frequency may vary according to unit needs
• Call: Not required
• Electronic Medical Record: Epic
• Patient Ratios: May be up to 1:3 depending on patient acuity
• Floating: May float to Mother/Baby for neonatal care; nurses with couplet-care experience may float more extensively
• Parking: Free parking available

NICU Registered Nurse Job Requirements

• At least 2 years of Registered Nurse experience, including at least 1 year of NICU nursing experience
• Recent Level III NICU experience is required
• Previous travel nursing experience is required
• Current Registered Nurse license; an active compact license must be in hand when applicable
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification; candidates willing to obtain advanced NRP certification before the start date may be considered
• Current Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification
• Strong Epic electronic charting experience
• Community hospital experience preferred or required for consideration
• Previous charge nurse experience preferred
• Clinical proficiency with neonatal critical-care equipment and procedures, including ventilators, high-frequency oscillators, CPAP/BiPAP, central lines, PICC lines, UAC/UVC care, intubation support, and medication titration
• Two professional references covering at least 1 year of recent experience may be required during the compliance process

NICU Registered Nurse Responsibilities

• Deliver safe, evidence-based nursing care to neonates and infants in a Level III NICU
• Care for premature infants and patients with respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal sepsis, hypoglycemia, jaundice, neonatal abstinence syndrome, feeding difficulties, and other complex neonatal conditions
• Monitor and manage respiratory support, including CPAP, BiPAP, high-flow nasal cannula, Vapotherm, conventional ventilation, and high-frequency ventilation or oscillators
• Administer medications and infusions, including titration of dopamine and dobutamine as clinically indicated
• Manage PICC lines, midlines, central lines, UACs, UVCs, arterial lines, and other neonatal access devices
• Assist with high-risk deliveries, intubations, lumbar punctures, chest tube management, and other specialized neonatal procedures
• Provide feeding support, including bottle, breast, and gavage feedings; breast milk handling; and developmental care
• Perform neonatal assessments, APGAR scoring, blood glucose monitoring, sepsis workups, phototherapy management, and thermoregulation
• Collaborate with respiratory therapy, pharmacy, radiology, social services, interpretation services, and other members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team
• Educate and support patients’ families while promoting safe transitions and continuity of care
• Accurately document assessments, interventions, and outcomes in Epic

Apply now for this NICU Registered Nurse travel contract in Apple Valley, California, and join a specialized neonatal healthcare team in the High Desert.

Benefits

401K with Matching, Healthcare, Dental and Vision

Equal Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity across our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.