NICU | Registered Nurse

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

Apply for a 13-week NICU Registered Nurse travel nursing job in Apple Valley, California, caring for premature and critically ill newborns on a collaborative Level III neonatal care team.

This Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) provides specialized care for neonates and infants in a supportive acute-care environment. Apple Valley offers a welcoming High Desert setting with scenic outdoor spaces, a relaxed community atmosphere, and convenient access to the greater Southern California region.

NICU Travel Nurse Job Details

• Weekly Estimated Pay: $2,130–$2,250
• Healthcare Job Location: Apple Valley, California
• Assignment Type: 13-week travel nursing contract
• Start Date: November 17, 2026
• End Date: February 16, 2027
• Schedule: Three 12-hour night shifts per week
• Shift: Nights, approximately 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
• Hours: 36 hours per week
• Weekend Coverage: Every other weekend on average; additional weekend coverage may be required based on unit needs
• Call: Not required
• Patient Population: Neonates and infants, including premature infants, feeders and growers, and patients with respiratory distress, sepsis, hypoglycemia, jaundice, and neonatal abstinence syndrome
• Unit: Level III NICU with approximately 14 beds and around 190 births per month
• Electronic Medical Record: Epic
• Floating: May float to Mother-Baby for neonatal care, including a full assignment for candidates with couplet-care experience

NICU Registered Nurse Job Requirements

• Active Registered Nurse (RN) license eligible for practice in California; a compact license must be in hand at submission when applicable
• At least 2 years of RN experience, including a minimum of 1 year of NICU experience
• Recent Level III NICU experience is required
• Previous travel nursing experience is required
• Experience caring for premature and critically ill neonates
• Current BLS/BCLS, PALS, and NRP certification; advanced NRP is required or must be obtained before the start date, as applicable
• Epic charting experience
• Community hospital experience preferred or required for the assignment
• Ability to manage typical NICU ratios of approximately 1:2–3 based on patient acuity
• All requested time off and scheduling preferences must be submitted with the application; holiday availability may include working 3 of 5 major winter holidays

NICU RN Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive nursing care to premature, critically ill, and medically complex neonates in a Level III NICU
• Assess patients, develop and implement individualized plans of care, and evaluate clinical responses
• Manage respiratory support, including CPAP, BiPAP, high-flow nasal cannula, ventilators, high-frequency ventilation, oscillators, and oxygen delivery systems
• Administer medications, IV vasopressors, blood products, surfactants, antibiotics, steroids, insulin, and other neonatal therapies according to orders and protocols
• Perform and support neonatal procedures such as intubation, lumbar punctures, central-line care, PICC and midline management, UAC/UVC care, arterial-line management, and chest-tube management
• Provide developmental care, thermoregulation, feeding support, breast milk handling, gavage feeding, phototherapy, and glucose monitoring
• Recognize and respond to neonatal sepsis, respiratory distress, seizures, necrotizing enterocolitis, meconium aspiration, hypoglycemia, and other acute conditions
• Attend high-risk deliveries and provide immediate stabilization and ongoing neonatal care
• Educate and support families regarding treatment plans, feeding, developmental care, and the transition to home
• Collaborate with respiratory therapy, pharmacy, radiology, social services, interpretation services, and other members of the interdisciplinary care team
• Accurately document assessments, interventions, and patient progress in Epic

Apply now for this Level III NICU travel nurse opportunity in Apple Valley, California, and join a collaborative neonatal care team.

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.