RN Clinical Nurse II - Neonatal Intensive Care

Join Our Team at UNC Health REX - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

At UNC Health REX, we are dedicated to providing exceptional, family-centered care to our most vulnerable patients. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at UNC REX is a 21-bed, Level IV unit delivering the highest level of care to critically ill and medically fragile newborns .

As a Clinical Nurse II in our NICU, you will play a vital role in caring for infants facing complex medical conditions, extreme prematurity, congenital anomalies, and challenging neonatal transitions-making a meaningful difference for patients and their families every day.

About the Unit

The UNC REX NICU cares for approximately 450-500 infants annually and is equipped to manage the most complex neonatal cases. Our unit is led by board-certified neonatologists and supported by a highly skilled interdisciplinary team that includes experienced NICU nurses, advanced practice providers, respiratory therapists, and other specialized clinicians .

Family-centered care is at the heart of everything we do. We partner closely with a dedicated Family Advisory Council , composed of former NICU parents whose lived experiences help guide and enhance our care practices and family support initiatives.

To support safe, high-quality nursing care, nurse-to-patient ratios range from 1:1 to 1:3 , depending on patient acuity, allowing for focused attention and compassionate, individualized care.

Role Overview - Clinical Nurse II (NICU)

As a Clinical Nurse II in the NICU, you will:

• Provide comprehensive, evidence-based nursing care to critically ill and medically fragile neonates
• Assess, monitor, and manage complex neonatal conditions , including ventilator-dependent and high-acuity patients
• Administer medications, IV therapies, and specialized treatments in accordance with neonatal protocols
• Collaborate with neonatologists, APPs, respiratory therapists, and the interdisciplinary team to develop and implement individualized plans of care
• Support and educate families , fostering trust, involvement, and emotional support throughout the NICU stay
• Recognize and respond promptly to changes in patient condition , initiating appropriate interventions and escalation of care
• Accurately document assessments, interventions, and outcomes in the electronic health record (EHR)
• Serve as a clinical resource and mentor to peers and contribute to unit-based quality improvement initiatives

Why You'll Love Working Here

• A high-acuity, Level IV NICU providing the most advanced neonatal care
• A collaborative, supportive team culture grounded in shared expertise and compassion
• Strong commitment to family-centered care and shared decision-making
• Opportunities for professional growth, specialty training, and clinical advancement
• The privilege of making a lasting impact on the lives of newborns and their families during critical moments

Become part of an inclusive organization with over 40,000 teammates, whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of the unique communities we serve.

Summary:
Provides competent clinical nursing care consistent with professional standards. Reporting and accountable to the Nurse Manager/Director, the Clinical Nurse is responsible for coordinating and delivering patient care utilizing the nursing process in a hospital setting.

Responsibilities:
1. Education - Participates in identifying and meeting learning needs of self. Attends education programs based on identified learning needs. With assistance, uses patient education materials relevant to patient population. Assesses readiness to learn of the patient/family/caregivers. Assesses developmental level of patient and factors affecting ability to learn.
2. Evaluation of Care - Identifies expected patient outcomes. Seeks guidance as needed in revision of plan of care. Participates in discussion with members of the interdisciplinary team in evaluation of patient care. Communicates relevant information to promote continuity of care.
3. Implementation - Demonstrates competence in care of patients with complex problems, including population-appropriate physical, psychosocial, educational and safety aspects of care. Performs bedside point of care testing as required for patient care plan. Utilizes healthcare organization and nursing standards, policies and procedures in delivery of care. Organizes and prioritizes care according to patient/family needs. Consults with appropriate resources in a timely fashion regarding patients with complex care issues, unusual teaching needs and/or those at high risk for discharge planning.
4. Leadership - With assistance, develops goals to promote professional growth or minimize limitations. Achieves goals and objectives within identified time frame or renegotiates with supervisor. Is knowledgeable about activities which facilitate intra/interdepartmental collaboration. Participates in development and achievement of unit goals and performance improvement activities. Effectively uses communication systems. Participates in promoting cost-effective care. Gives feedback to co-workers. Is aware of public policy and regulatory guidelines affecting the health care environment. Promotes a safe, clean and secure hospital environment for all.
5. Patient Assessment - Recognizes data from complex situations to determine priorities for care. Includes appropriate physical, psychosocial, education and safety needs. Synthesizes assessment data into meaningful whole prior to communication to others. Assesses and anticipates discharge needs of individual patients and families. Develops relationships with families that promote their ability to advocate for the patient and their own needs.
6. Planning - Collaborates with patient/family to prepare or update the plan of care. Makes use of available multidisciplinary resources in planning care. Begins to use full range of communication as a means to convey planning. Identifies and addresses cultural and ethnic issues in planning patient care. Demonstrates ability to prioritize tasks for patients with complex problems.
7. Research - Reads journals that contain studies or articles that may be applicable to practice. Brings ideas and questions to the staff at large for assessment of applicability.

Other Information

Other information:
Education Requirements:
• Graduation from a school of professional nursing.
• If hired after January 6, 2014, must be enrolled within four years of employment, and obtain a Bachelor's degree with a major in Nursing or a Master's degree with a major in Nursing within seven years of employment date.
Licensure/Certification Requirements:
• Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state of North Carolina.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Provider certification
Professional Experience Requirements:
• One (1) year of nursing experience.
Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements:

Job Details

Legal Employer: NCHEALTH

Entity: UNC REX Healthcare

Organization Unit: Rex NICU


Work Type: Full Time

Standard Hours Per Week: 36.00

Salary Range: $34.22 - $48.38 per hour (Hiring Range)

Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity

Work Assignment Type: Onsite

Work Schedule: Night Job

Location of Job: US:NC:Raleigh

Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: No

This position is employed by NC Health (Rex Healthcare, Inc., d/b/a NC Health), a private, fully-owned subsidiary of UNC Heath Care System. This is not a State employed position.


Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation.

UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. All interested applicants are invited to apply for career opportunities. Please email View email address on click.appcast.io if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.