Registered Nurse NICU

Position Summary

Opening Summer 2026 at 4000 Lakeland Highlands Road, Lakeland, FL.

The Orlando Health System of Care includes award-winning hospitals and ERs, specialty institutes, urgent care centers, primary care practices and outpatient facilities that span Florida's east to west coasts, Central Alabama and Puerto Rico. Collectively, our dedicated team members honor our over 100-year legacy by providing professional and compassionate care to the patients, families and communities we serve. Join us!

Combining the collective strengths of two powerhouse organizations, Orlando Health and the high-quality physicians at Watson Clinic are expanding access to award-winning specialty care for patients in Polk County and beyond.

Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital - a state-of-the-art, seven-story, multi-specialty hospital - will serve as a vital 550,000 square-foot healthcare hub offering:

• 300+ inpatient beds and 69 emergency and observation beds
• 11 operating rooms and four cardiac interventional suites
• Dedicated labor and delivery services - including a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) that will debut shortly after the hospital opens
• Comprehensive cardiovascular, neurology, and oncology services
• Advanced surgical procedures

Join us in shaping the future of healthcare in Polk County as part of the Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital opening team and share in the privilege of saying you were there from the very beginning.

Benefits Beyond the Expected

Orlando Health is committed to providing you with benefits that go beyond the expected, with career-growing FREE education programs and well-being services to support you and your family through every stage of life. We begin your benefits on day one and offer flexibility wherever possible, so that you can be present for your passions. "Orlando Health Is Your Best Place to Work" is not just something we say, it's our promise to you.

• Benefits that begin on Day 1
• Four (4) weeks paid parental leave
• Debt-free degrees through our Preferred Education Program
• Tuition reimbursement and loan repayment programs
• Back-up childcare and elder care
• Fertility benefits and adoption assistance
• NCLEX reimbursement
• Free NCPDs for RN license
• Free Kaplan review courses
• Dedicated RN career counselor and GN Coordinators to develop you
• Specialty certifications reimbursement
• And more!

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Demonstrates critical knowledge, skills, and judgement to care for patients requiring complex assessment and therapies, high intensity interventions, and high-level continuous nursing vigilance.
• Utilizes information and assessment data to anticipate and respond with confidence and adapt to rapidly changing patient conditions.
• Identifies and prioritizes information to take immediate and decisive evidence-based, patient focused action.
• Monitors and adjusts specialized equipment used on patients, and interprets and records electronic displays, such as intracranial pressures, central venous pressures, pulmonary artery pressures, and cardiac rhythms from cardiac monitors, respirators, ventilators, oxygen pumps, etc.
• Responds to life-saving situations based on nursing standards and protocol.
• Observes, monitors, and assesses patients' condition, recognizes, identifies, and interprets serious situations and calls Physician or takes preplanned emergency measures when Physician is not immediately available.
• Assesses patient's needs and develops/revises an individualized plan of care based on patient needs and responses. Evaluates the patient's progress toward attaining expected outcomes.
• Respects diversity by building respectful relationships with all team members and customers.
• Functions as a patient and family advocate.
• Demonstrates advanced knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his or her assigned unit/ department.
• Serves as a preceptor, charge nurse, unit educator, and/ or nurse clinician.
• Communicates and collaborates with medical staff and interdisciplinary team to effectively plan and manage the unit/department.
• Serves as a role model for staff and supports the hospital and nursing department's goals and strategies.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span, assesses the data reflective of the patient's status, and interprets the necessary information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his or her age specific needs.
• Coordinates the care and delegates as appropriate to other team members on a defined group of patients.
• Documents patient care in a knowledgeable, skillful, and consistent manner meeting all required and regulatory standards. This includes but is not limited to patient assessment, education, medication administration, treatments, and patient safety.
• Demonstrates competency in nursing skills and use of patient care/unit equipment as defined by unit/department-specific requisite skills.
• Prioritizes patient care in an ongoing manner in accordance with Evidence-Based Practice Standards of Care.
• Practices effective problem identification and resolution.
• Delegates tasks and duties to healthcare team members in accordance with the patient's needs and the team member's capabilities and qualifications.
• Communicates appropriate information regarding patient condition or unit concerns to other health care team members.
• Demonstrates caring practices by providing a compassionate and therapeutic environment for patients and their families.
• Demonstrates awareness of legal issues and patients' rights.
• Collaborates with the education department and nursing leadership team to effectively transition and support new team members and/or students.
• Maintains reasonably regular, punctual attendance consistent with Orlando Health policies, the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards.
• Maintains compliance with all Orlando Health policies and procedures

Other Related Functions

• The professional nurse contributes to the knowledge and skills of others, and the continuous improvement of the quality of health care practice and organizational outcomes
• Participates and may lead unit level and/or organizational level committees of nursing practice and performance improvement.
• Participates in department and organizational peer review, mentoring, and coaching regarding professional practice or role performance.
• Practices efficient use of supplies and maintains a clean, safe, and organized work area.
• Attends staff development in-services, department meetings, and/or nursing committee meetings.
• Partners with the nursing leadership team to identify professional development needs.
• Assumes responsibility for one's own professional development and continuing education.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Licensure/Certification
• Maintains current State of Florida RN license or valid eNLC multistate RN license
• Maintains current BLS/Healthcare Provider certification.
• ACLS, NRP, PALS, TNCC are required for certain areas. NRP required for Neonatal Intensive care Unit (NICU)

At least 1 year of NICU experience is highly preferred.