NICU Nurse Jobs Overview
Nurses who work in the neonatal ICU are referred to as NICU nurses. They work with the larger healthcare team to care for newborns that have complications of varying levels of acuity. These nurses perform assessments, monitor infants, provide hands-on care, and much more.
If you’re looking for NICU nurse jobs, check out the current full-time, part-time, contract, temporary, or per diem opportunities to find ones that match your interests. Some of the more popular roles in this specialty include:
You can also see related positions such as PICU nurse jobs and labor and delivery nurse jobs.
Education and Certifications for NICU Nurse Positions
If you want to pursue NICU jobs as a nurse, you’ll likely want to become a registered nurse or higher. The preferred path involves completing an accredited BSN nursing program and passing the NCLEX-RN to get your license. To work in the neonatal ICU as a nurse practitioner or nurse midwife, there are additional educational and licensing requirements.
Some of the relevant certifications for NICU nurses include:
- Registered Nurse Certification in Neonatal Intensive Care (RNC-NIC)
- Registered Nurse Certification in Low-Risk Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (RNC-LRN)
- Registered Nurse Certification in Maternal Newborn Nursing (RNC-MNN)
- Electronic Fetal Monitoring (C-EFM)
- Care of the Extremely Low Birth Weight Neonate (C-ELBW)
- Neonatal Neuro-Intensive Care (C-NNIC)
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- S.T.A.B.L.E. certification
For a more detailed look at what employers may be seeking in candidates, review our sample NICU nurse job description template. To expand your scope of practice, consider becoming a neonatal nurse practitioner.
Resume and Cover Letter for NICU Nursing Jobs
Before you begin applying to positions, take a moment to update your NICU nurse resume and tailor it for each job to which you plan on applying. For instance, if an employer is looking to hire an RN with "knowledge of the Riley Infant Pain Scale" and who is "proactive with providing comfort measures," use those terms in your resume.
In your NICU cover letter, write about why you want to work for that particular employer, and how the specific skills you have will bring value to their team.
Interviewing for a NICU Nurse Job
Demonstrating empathy as well as professionalism can help you stand out during a job interview. Want to feel a bit more prepared? Go over common NICU nurse interview questions and practice your replies.
NICU Nurse Salary
The annual average salary for a NICU nurse is around $121,000 per year for registered nurses. Your pay will be determined by your level of nursing, years of experience, location, facility type, and employer.
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Check out all the NICU nurse positions available right now. Want additional options? We can match you with even more nursing jobs that interest you.
