Clinical Nurse Specialist RN NICU

CommonSpirit Health; San Bernardino (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Community Hospital of San Bernardino, part of a larger CommonSpirit Health network, seeks a NICU Clinical Nurse Specialist to lead and inspire the NICU team. You will translate evidence into bedside practice, mentor staff, and drive initiatives that set the standard for neonatal nursing.

You will partner with leadership to shape policies, deliver education, and promote continuous improvement in patient outcomes, while guiding a multidisciplinary team toward excellence in care.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two (2) years of clinical nursing experience, with at least one (1) year in a NICU-equivalent CCS facility.

Responsibilities

• Clinical Leadership: Collaborate with the leadership team to plan, implement, and evaluate high-quality nursing care across the NICU.
• Staff Development: Oversee competency-based orientation and provide ongoing coaching, teaching, and professional development for unit personnel.
• Strategic Planning: Assist in establishing departmental goals, strategic initiatives, and outcome measures to drive continuous improvement.
• Education Delivery: Identify clinical knowledge gaps and develop/facilitate comprehensive educational programs and courses for staff.
• Policy & Protocol: Partner with leadership to develop and refine clinical policies, procedures, and evidence-based performance standards.
• Continuity of Care: Facilitate multidisciplinary collaboration between medical teams and patient families to optimize outcomes and resource utilization.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Staff development

Strategic planning

Education delivery

Education

Master’s Degree in Nursing or Doctorate in Nursing

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) licensed

Active California Registered Nurse License

Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (NICN) Certification

Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification

Neonatal Resuscitation Program Instructor Certification

Job description

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our NICU Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), you will serve as the heartbeat of our Neonatal Intensive Care unit, acting as a high-level clinical expert, mentor, and visionary leader.

Everyday you will not only oversee the delivery of exceptional care for our most vulnerable patients but also champion the mission of Community Hospital of San Bernardino by driving initiatives that define the standard of neonatal nursing. You will be a central figure in our patient care team, responsible for translating the latest evidence-based research into compassionate, life‑saving bedside practice while fostering an environment of continuous professional growth and clinical excellence.

To be successful in this role, you must possess a rare combination of robust clinical knowledge, technological proficiency, and genuine compassion, along with the leadership acumen to inspire, educate, and guide a multidisciplinary team toward superior patient outcomes.

• Clinical Leadership: Collaborate with the leadership team to plan, implement, and evaluate high-quality nursing care across the NICU.
• Staff Development: Oversee competency‑based orientation and provide ongoing coaching, teaching, and professional development for unit personnel.
• Strategic Planning: Assist in establishing departmental goals, strategic initiatives, and outcome measures to drive continuous improvement.
• Education Delivery: Identify clinical knowledge gaps and develop/facilitate comprehensive educational programs and courses for staff.
• Policy & Protocol: Partner with leadership to develop and refine clinical policies, procedures, and evidence‑based performance standards.
• Continuity of Care: Facilitate multidisciplinary collaboration between medical teams and patient families to optimize outcomes and resource utilization.

Job Requirements

Required

• Minimum of two (2) years of clinical nursing experience, with at least one (1) year in a facility with a NICU equivalent to a Regional, Community, or Intermediate CCS NICU.
• Master’s Degree in Nursing or Doctorate in Nursing upon hire.
• Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) licensed by the State Board of Registered Nursing.
• Active California Registered Nurse License.
• Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (NICN) Certification from a nationally recognized accrediting organization.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification.
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program Instructor Certification within 90 days of hire.

Where You'll Work

Founded in 1910, Dignity Health - Community Hospital of San Bernardino is a 343‑bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital. Serving over 75,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services including a Level II NICU, maternity care and pediatrics, and behavioral health and long‑term subacute care for adults and children.

Additionally, Community Hospital of San Bernardino has been recognized with the gold seal of approval by the Joint Commission, as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, and rated five stars for Children’s Subacute Center by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In 2025, we were voted Best Hospital by Inland Empire Magazine.

Community Hospital of San Bernardino shares a legacy of humankindness with Dignity Health and CommonSpirit Health, one of the nation’s largest health care systems, dedicated to providing compassionate, high‑quality, and affordable patient‑centered care.

One Community. One Mission. One California