NICU Nurse Job Description Template

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses are specialized in caring for sick and premature newborns. Beyond helping deliver treatment, they also provide support, education, and guidance to new parents and families who are dealing with a range of difficult circumstances. As this is a specialty that requires strong compassion, decision-making skills, and resilience, creating a strong NICU nurse job description is key to attracting the right applicants for this role.

To help you build a high-quality pool of talent, we’ve provided a sample job description for NICU nurse candidates that outlines common benefits, duties, and requirements of the role. Tailor this template to your facility’s needs and pair it with thoughtful interview questions to narrow down your field of potential candidates. Seeking more insights? Browse current NICU nurse job openings at other facilities to learn how you can make your job posting stand out.

NICU Nurse

Tips: This is the introductory section of your NICU nurse job description, where you’ll want to provide a brief overview of the NICU nurse role and your facility. Here, you can share a preview of your mission and values, and mention any notable awards, distinctions, or perks that would make candidates want to work at your organization. You can also briefly indicate any essential qualifications (e.g., licenses or degrees) that you’re looking for to ensure that you’re capturing the attention of the right audience.

Template:

[Facility name] is looking for a registered nurse (RN) to join our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Consistently ranked one of the best places to work in the state, we are committed to helping our staff thrive both personally and professionally. We offer a generous benefits package and ample professional development opportunities for our nursing staff. As a valued member of our team, you’ll have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of families and critically ill newborns. If you’re a dedicated nursing professional with a passion for working in neonatal care, we’d like to hear from you!

Benefits

Tips: Now that prospective candidates have an overview of the role, they’ll want more details about your employee benefits package. This section of your NICU nurse job description should outline all the perks of working at your facility. If you offer any professional development opportunities for your NICU nurses, such as training programs or tuition reimbursement, you should also indicate that here.

Template:

• $10,000 sign-on bonus
• 401k matching
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 12 days PTO and paid holidays
• Tuition assistance
• Continuing education (CE) credits

Duties and Responsibilities

Tips: This section of your NICU job description should outline the neonatal nurse responsibilities and daily activities that candidates can expect to carry out on the job. Make sure that you’re listing these duties in order of relevance to help prospective candidates determine whether this role is the right fit for their skills and expertise.

Keep in mind that if you’re also drafting a NICU nurse practitioner job description, the duties listed for nurse practitioners will be more advanced than those listed for a nurse. NICU nurse practitioners have more autonomy over directing the course of treatment for a patient, whereas nurses focus more on the foundations of nursing observation and care.

Template:

• Provide specialized nursing care to premature and critically-ill newborns
• Assess and monitor the status of neonatal patients, including developmental milestones
• Administer medications and treatments as prescribed by supervising physicians
• Collaborate with the care team to develop and implement care plans for each patient
• Support and educate parents and families about their newborn’s care
• Document and maintain accurate patient records in the electronic health records (EHR)
• Adhere to all hospital policies, procedures, and safety protocols
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives and contribute to improved practices

Compensation and Schedule

Tips: After you’ve described the duties and responsibilities of the job, prospective applicants will want to know more about the logistics. This section of your NICU nurse job description should outline the expected pay range, scheduling requirements, and work location.

Providing a pay range upfront demonstrates transparency, which can make prospective candidates more inclined to apply for a role. Doing this will also help set clearer expectations when it’s time to negotiate an offer.

Template:

• Pay range: $65,000-$90,000/year
• Full time, 36 hours/week
• Night shift (7 p.m. – 7 a.m.)
• Location: [insert city, state]

Skills and Qualifications

Tips: In this section, you should clarify the NICU nurse job requirements, skills, and qualifications that are required or preferred for the role. List all education, licensure, and certification requirements that prospective applicants should complete prior to starting the job. You can also indicate any specific clinical skills that you’d like your candidates to have. Just be sure to indicate whether these skills are required or preferred to avoid deterring qualified applicants.

Template:

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing
• Current and unrestricted RN license in [insert state]
• Current BLS and PALS certifications from the AHA
• At least 1 year of NICU nursing experience preferred

Call to Action

Tips: Now that you have the attention of your prospective candidates, they’ll be ready to take the next steps. This last section should include a concise call to action that includes the link to your application portal or any other relevant job application details.

Template:

Are you ready to take your career as a NICU nurse to the next level? Click here to start your application today. We look forward to hearing from you!

Connect With a High Quality Network of Nurses Today

Not sure where to advertise your NICU nurse job description? IntelyCare can help you reach a nationwide network of talent. Post to our nursing-only job board today and let our targeted, AI-matching algorithm facilitate your applicant search.