Registered Nurse - NICU -10K Sign-On (2026-0079) New

JOB DESCRIPTION

The position description is a guide to the critical duties and essential functions of the job, not an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, qualifications, physical demands, and work environment conditions. Position descriptions are reviewed and revised to meet the changing needs of the organization.

TITLE: Registered Nurse

JOB OVERVIEW: The staff RN is a licensed professional who assumes responsibility and accountability for a group of patients for a designated time frame. This individual provides safe, quality care to these patients utilizing the nursing process as the basis for clinical practice.

DEPARTMENT: NICU

WORK HOURS: Nights

REPORTS TO: Nurse Manager/Assistant Nurse Manager

PREREQUISITES:

• BSN preferred.
• Current licensure to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state of Washington.
• Successful completion of a graduate nurse residency program orientation or six months' experience as a Registered Nurse.
• AHA BLS for healthcare providers required.

Preferred for advancement to charge nurse role:

• BSN
• Experience-Two years' practice in clinical nursing/leadership in area of responsibility preferred
• Unit specific prerequisites-see addendum.

Neonatal Intensive Care RN

• NRP within 3 months of hire
• Six months' Level II NICU experience or successful completion of a NICU residency program

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrates leadership skills with ability to lead and manage a team, utilize clinical judgment, clinical inquiry, innovation, and systems thinking.
• Able to communicate effectively in oral and written form.
• Adheres to the Professional Appearance Policy.
• Demonstrates effective interpersonal skills that are community-centered, compassionate, and meets the needs of diverse and vulnerable populations.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with the physical and emotional development of all age groups.
• Practices in a caring environment with excellent customer service skills.
• Functions within ANA Standards and Nurse Practice Act.
• Ability to access information and communicate in an electronic environment including but not limited to the use of order entry, e-mail, and computer documentation skills.
• Self-directed in advancing professional practice through continuing education and research.

UNIQUE PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS, ENVIRONMENT AND WORKING CONDITIONS:

Must be able to provide safe patient handling as defined in VMC's Safe Patient Handling guidelines and policies to safely and appropriately transfer or move patients (or objects) of varying abilities, weights, and amounts of staff assistance. Must be able to lift from the floor to overhead levels and carry items at waist level weight up to 40 pounds. Requires ability to participate in team lifting. Must be able to operate patient lifting equipment and patient handling devices accurately and safely. Requires the ability to stoop, bend, reach, crouch, and squat. Requires standing and walking for extensive periods of time as required for patient care, moving patients or supplies to other units, hourly rounding, bedside shift report and other nursing duties. Requires full body range of motion including ability to reach from floor to overhead levels, manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination. Requires corrected vision, hearing to normal range, and ability to distinguish colors.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Essential Responsibilities and Competencies:

• Assesses, guides, directs, and facilitates workflow on the unit. Recognizes when it is necessary for the charge nurse to assume a patient assignment and assumes that role.
• Make staff assignments that reflect patient acuity, continuity of patient care, staff competency and the necessity of admit, transfer and discharge activity inherent on all clinical units.
• Mentors staff, float, and agency personnel regarding unit/department/hospital policies, procedures/standards and annual goals and objectives.
• Integrates new staff and agency staff into the culture of the unit.
• Functions as a leader and role model for clinical staff.
• Acts as clinical resource to unit staff. Demonstrates safe use of patient care equipment and can teach others to use equipment safely.
• Identifies resource RN for LPN, PCA, and MST as necessary.
• Monitors and evaluates nursing care given to each patient, by direct observation, consultation, and patient rounds.
• Assesses unit/environmental safety during patient rounds and reports/corrects deficiencies.
• Maintains awareness of Joint Commission standards, state codes, and practice acts. Routinely monitors documentation, compliance with standards, and facilitates rapid turn-around cycles.
• Demonstrates excellent customer service skills.
• Responds to patient and family concerns/complaints.
• Reports significant events (patient/staff/physician/visitor) to administrative supervisors/manager and activates the chain of command per policy.
• Provides input into performance appraisal of clinical staff on assigned shift by documenting feedback and/or communicating concerns to manager/supervisor.
• Evaluates and provides adequate coverage for breaks.
• Maintains fiscal responsibility by monitoring and adjusting staffing during shift and determines staffing needs for the following shift by utilizing sound clinical judgment.
• Accepts personal responsibility to maintain competencies for direct patient care and team leadership.
• Communicates and collaborates with bed placement and the clinical resource to ensure clinical placement is expedited.