Travel
NICU
Santa Maria, CA
NICU Travel Nurse | 13-Week Contract | Santa Maria, CA
This Level 3 NICU opportunity offers 12-hour day shifts (7:00 AM – 7:00 PM) in a unit caring for neonates 23 weeks gestational age and above. The unit manages a diverse neonatal population including feeders and growers and patients requiring therapeutic cooling. Nurses must be comfortable with high-frequency oscillators, conventional ventilators, CPAP, and high-flow nasal cannula. ECMO is not performed on this unit.
Shift & Schedule
- 12-hour days, 7a–7p | Self-scheduling
- Every other weekend required
- 2 major holidays per year
- 36 guaranteed hours per week
Float Requirements
- NICU nurses may float to Nursery and Pediatrics
- Mother-Baby float only for candidates with that experience
Unit Environment
- A neonatologist is in-house, though not exclusively 24/7
- Respiratory therapy and pharmacy available 24/7
- No nurse aides; charge nurse coverage in NICU is typical
- Telemetry monitoring in use; nurses not required to independently read rhythms
- Standby/low-census call may be required on occasion
Required Certifications
- BLS and NRP (required)
- PALS and STABLE (preferred)
Candidate Requirements
- Minimum 2 years of NICU experience at Level 3 or higher
- Prior travel nursing experience not required
- BSN not required
Scrubs: Navy
Orientation: 2–3 shifts for NICU; 2 shifts for Pediatrics
The hospital may cancel up to 4 shifts during a 13-week assignment.