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

Apply for a 13-week NICU travel nursing contract in Apple Valley, California, caring for critically ill neonates in a collaborative Level III NICU. Join a dedicated neonatal care team and build valuable experience in a community acute-care hospital. Apple Valley is a welcoming high-desert community known for scenic mountain views, sunny weather, and convenient access to outdoor recreation throughout the Inland Empire.

NICU Travel Nurse Job Details

• Specialty: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Registered Nurse
• Healthcare Setting: Level III NICU; 14-bed unit with approximately 190 births per month
• Location: Apple Valley, California
• Start Date: October 20, 2026
• Assignment Duration: 13 weeks, ending January 19, 2027
• Weekly Estimated Pay: $2,050-$2,160
• Schedule: 3 shifts per week
• Shift Duration: 12-hour night shifts, approximately 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
• Weekend Requirement: Every other weekend on average; additional weekend coverage may be needed based on unit requirements
• Electronic Medical Record: Epic
• Patient Population: Neonates and infants, including premature infants and critically ill newborns
• Patient Ratios: Up to 1:3, based on patient acuity
• Float Expectation: May float to Mother-Baby for neonatal care; nurses with couplet-care experience may float more fully

NICU Registered Nurse Job Requirements

• Active Registered Nurse license in California or a compact license in hand at submission
• At least 2 years of registered nursing experience, including at least 1 year of recent NICU experience
• Required experience in a Level III NICU
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Current Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification; candidates willing to obtain advanced NRP before the start date may be considered
• Current Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification
• Previous travel nursing experience is required
• Community hospital experience and Epic charting experience are required
• Ability to provide two professional references covering at least one year of recent experience
• Strong neonatal assessment, critical-thinking, communication, and family-education skills

NICU Travel Nurse Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive nursing care to premature and critically ill neonates in a Level III NICU
• Care for patients with respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, hypoglycemia, jaundice, neonatal abstinence syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, and other complex neonatal conditions
• Manage respiratory support, including CPAP, BiPAP, high-flow nasal cannula, ventilators, high-frequency ventilation, and oscillators
• Monitor and manage UACs, UVCs, PICC lines, midlines, central lines, arterial lines, and invasive hemodynamic monitoring
• Administer medications, antibiotics, vasopressors, surfactants, blood products, enteral feedings, and other neonatal therapies safely
• Assist with or perform neonatal procedures such as intubations, lumbar punctures, chest tube management, and sepsis workups within scope and competency
• Support high-risk deliveries and provide specialized newborn stabilization
• Perform APGAR scoring, developmental care, thermoregulation, phototherapy, glucose monitoring, and therapeutic hypothermia as indicated
• Educate and support parents and families, including breastfeeding and breast-milk handling education
• Document assessments, interventions, and patient responses accurately in Epic
• Collaborate with respiratory therapy, pharmacy, radiology, social services, interpretation services, and other members of the interdisciplinary team
• Remain flexible in supporting neonatal care needs in affiliated units when requested

Apply now for this California NICU travel nursing opportunity in Apple Valley and join a dedicated healthcare team caring for newborns and their families.

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.