(RN) Registered Nurse - New to NICU - 139022

UC San Diego Health is a Magnet designated organization, which is a prestigious recognition that applies to only 10% of all U.S. hospitals. Magnet is the "gold standard" for nursing excellence and is based on strengths in five key areas which include transformational leadership, structural empowerment, exemplary professional practice, new knowledge, innovation and improvements and empirical outcomes. UC San Diego Health has held its Magnet status since 2011.

The new to specialty NICU RN will train and orient to caring for critically ill neonates in the Level III Neonatal ICU at Jacobs Medical Center as well as the Level II Neonatal ICU at Hillcrest Medical Center. We provide family-centered and evidence-based care for a mixed infant population, including prematurity, surgical, neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, sepsis, and hypoglycemia. Our specialty services include surgery, laser eye treatment, imaging, PICC line insertion, transport, high frequency ventilation, inhaled nitric oxide therapy, therapeutic hypothermia, high risk delivery resuscitation and palliative care. NICU RNs will be required to attend high-risk deliveries after a full orientation.

A successful NICU nurse candidate will demonstrate excellent critical thinking and time management skills. They will also be highly self-motivated, strong patient advocates and excellent communicators amongst a diverse collaborative team in a fast-paced environment. It will be imperative to achieve trust in professional relationships through a demonstrated spirit of divisional collegiality and teamwork. Nurses who apply must be committed to professional development, including active engagement in professional governance committees and future growth into roles such as charge nurse. UC San Diego Health is an educational facility with a strong emphasis on precepting and teaching. Our team emphasizes professionalism, skill development, quality and teamwork with a shared goal of offering superb neonatal outcomes.

Autonomous nursing care is the ability of a nurse to assess and provide nursing actions as appropriate for patient care populations based on competence, professional expertise, and knowledge. The nurse is expected to practice autonomously consistent with ANA Standards of Practice and Professional Performance. Independent judgment is expected to be exercised within the context of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches to patient care.

• Must be a graduate from an accredited school of Nursing.
• RN License issued by the State of California.
• BART or BLS at time of hire with commitment to get BART within six months of hire date.
• Current NRP Advanced Certification at time of hire.
• Minimum two (2) years of acute care RN experience OR a minimum of six months NICU RN experience.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills to manage multiple levels of information and responsibilities, and to quickly assess moderately-complex problems to develop potential solutions.
• Must be able to function in a fast-paced environment, have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and consistently demonstrate empathy and kindness to all staff and patients.
• Demonstrates critical thinking and clinical skills to identify and implement nursing interventions and evaluate results.
• Must have excellent skills to communicate and influence effectively with all levels of staff, physicians, patients and external constituents, both verbally and in writing.

• BSN.
• Three or more years of acute care RN experience.
• Previous NICU RN experience.
• Bilingual English/Spanish.
• Leadership and quality improvement experience.

• Must be able to work various hours, days, shifts, on-call and various locations based on the 24-hour Medical Center's business needs.
• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.
• Selected candidate may be hired at the CNIII level pending review and approval by the Nurse Executive Council.