Neonatal Care
NICU
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Premature and critically ill newborns. Ventilator management, TPN, developmental care, and family support.
Credential Required
RN, BSN
Typical Weekly Pay
$2,400–$3,400
Assignment Length
13 Weeks
Top Settings
Hospital NICU
The Role
What you'll do on assignment.
As a travel NICU nurse, you care for premature and critically ill newborns requiring specialized interventions — including ventilator management, TPN administration, thermoregulation, phototherapy, and developmental care. Your assessment skills and attention to subtle clinical changes are critical for the smallest and most fragile patients.
Travel NICU assignments typically place you in Level III or Level IV NICUs within hospital systems. You may care for micro-preemies, manage umbilical lines, assist with surfactant administration, and provide extensive family education and breastfeeding support throughout your contract.
Because Cuready understands healthcare professionals, your recruiter knows the difference between a Level II special care nursery and a Level IV regional NICU. They match you to assignments that align with your neonatal acuity experience and clinical comfort level.
Why Cuready
Your specialty, our expertise.
Neonatal Care-Focused Recruiters
Your recruiter has placed travel NICU nurses before. They understand the difference between Level II, III, and IV NICUs, know the patient acuity and staffing ratios you'll encounter, and ensure your assignments match your neonatal experience.
Transparent Pay, Every Time
We break down your full package from day one — base pay, housing stipend, travel reimbursement, and take-home total. No surprises mid-assignment. Your recruiter negotiates for what your neonatal experience and certifications actually command.
One Contact, Every Assignment
No call centers. No handoffs. You have one dedicated recruiter from first conversation through your final paycheck — available to handle licensing questions, housing issues, or anything that comes up mid-assignment.
Requirements
Ready to travel? Here's what you need.
Required
- Active RN license — compact or state-specific
- BLS & NRP certifications — current AHA/AAP
- 2+ years NICU experience — within the last 2 years
Preferred
- BSN degree — preferred by most facilities
- RNC-NIC certification — Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing
Training & Education
Your path to the field.
From nursing school to neonatal critical care — what the professional journey looks like for NICU nursing.
Your recruiter knows this pathway.
Because Cuready is built by healthcare professionals, we understand what each credential means and how to match your training to the right assignments.
NICU nurses hold an ADN or BSN from an accredited nursing program. Most travel NICU positions require a BSN. Programs include neonatal-specific coursework and clinical rotations. Many NICU nurses complete hospital-based neonatal residency or fellowship programs before entering travel nursing.
The base credential is an active RN license (state or compact). The RNC-NIC (Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing) from NCC is the recognized specialty certification. NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) is universally required for NICU assignments.