Registered Nurse (RN) - Neonatal and Pediatric Specialty Units (NICU) (PICU)

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 57,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Disability insurance

Health savings plan

Certification and education support

Job summary

UVA Health’ s NICU and PICU offer a clinically challenging practice environment for registered nurses dedicated to high-acuity neonatal and pediatric care.

Join a Magnet-recognized academic medical center where you will deliver evidence-based care, collaborate with specialists, and support families through complex journeys. The role emphasizes pattern recognition, clinical judgment, and ongoing professional development.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited nursing program; BSN within 5 years of hire.
• Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in Virginia; BLS certification.
• 1 year of relevant NICU/PICU experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive NICU/PICU care for neonates and pediatric patients.
• Coordinate care across multidisciplinary teams and families.
• Continuously assess patients and initiate timely interventions.
• Educate and support parents and caregivers throughout treatments.

Skills

Pattern recognition

Clinical judgment

Adaptability

Interdisciplinary communication

Evidence-based practice

Neonatal/pediatric care

Education

BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing)

Job description

Bring your critical care expertise to the moments when children and families need it most. This opportunity places experienced nurses at the center of high-acuity neonatal and pediatric care, where precise assessment, decisive intervention, and compassionate partnership directly influence outcomes.

Join UVA Health’s 60-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or 25-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and practice alongside multidisciplinary specialists within a nationally recognized pediatric academic environment. Whether caring for a critically ill newborn or managing the complex needs of an infant, child, or adolescent, you will combine advanced clinical practice with family-centered support, collaboration, and continuous learning.

The Role

As a registered nurse in the NICU or PICU, you will provide comprehensive care for patients experiencing complex, rapidly changing, and potentially life-threatening conditions. Each shift requires strong pattern recognition, clinical judgment, adaptability, and clear interdisciplinary communication. In the NICU, you may care for premature or critically ill newborns requiring advanced medical or surgical treatment. In the PICU, you may support infants, children, and adolescents who require intensive monitoring and specialized interventions. Across both environments, nurses play an essential role in coordinating care and helping families navigate emotionally complex experiences.

• Delivering evidence-based, patient- and family-centered critical care across a range of acuity levels
• Conducting continuous assessment and reassessment, recognizing subtle changes, and initiating timely interventions
• Caring for neonates with prematurity, respiratory distress, congenital anomalies, or complex postoperative needs
• Monitoring and managing pediatric patients requiring ventilatory support, vasoactive infusions, or invasive hemodynamic monitoring
• Collaborating with neonatologists, intensivists, advanced practice providers, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and other multidisciplinary partners
• Using advanced technologies and established clinical protocols to support individualized plans of care
• Educating and supporting parents and caregivers throughout complex and highly emotional care journeys
• Participating in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, research, and academic collaboration
• Contributing to a unit culture grounded in clinical excellence, teamwork, shared learning, and professional development

This opportunity is well suited for nurses who want a clinically challenging practice environment, meaningful relationships with patients and families, and the ability to expand their expertise within neonatal or pediatric critical care.

Why UVA Health

UVA Health offers pediatric critical care nurses the opportunity to practice within a Magnet-recognized academic medical center committed to nursing excellence, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. As part of UVA Children’s, you will contribute to a comprehensive pediatric care system designed to support patients across the full continuum of complex neonatal and pediatric needs.

Here, nursing expertise is valued as an essential part of clinical decision-making and care advancement. You will have opportunities to strengthen your specialty practice, contribute to quality initiatives, and learn alongside teams caring for some of the region’s most medically complex children.

• Practice within a pediatric system that includes a 60-bed NICU, 25-bed PICU, and 38-bed Acute/Intermediate Care Pediatric Unit
• Join a Magnet culture that supports nursing excellence, shared governance, and professional advancement
• Work in an academic environment that promotes research, innovation, evidence-based practice, and continuous clinical learning
• Collaborate with highly specialized teams delivering coordinated medical and surgical care
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives that advance neonatal and pediatric critical care
• Grow within an organization committed to nursing development, clinical advancement, and practice at the top of license
• Contribute to an expanding pediatric program with continued investment in neonatal and children’s services

Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates.

Why People Love Living in Charlottesville

Charlottesville combines the energy and cultural resources of a university community with convenient access to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Healthcare professionals and their families can enjoy hiking, biking, outdoor recreation, locally recognized dining, wineries, historic destinations, and a strong sense of community. Its blend of natural beauty, educational opportunities, and an engaging pace of life creates an appealing place to build both a meaningful career and a fulfilling life outside the hospital.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education: Graduate of an accredited nursing program required. Bachelor of Science in Nursing required within 5 years of hire.

Experience: 1 year of relevant experience.

Licensure: Licensed to Practice as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Virginia. American Heart Association (AHA) Health Care Provider BLS certification required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Job requires standing for prolonged periods, frequently traveling, bending/stooping. Proficient communicative, auditory and visual skills; Attention to detail and ability to write legibly; Ability to lift/push/pull 20 - 50lbs. May be exposed to chemicals, blood/body fluids and infectious disease.

The pay range for this role is $41.05 - $54.15 hourly. Individual compensation will be determined by the selected candidate's qualifications, previous work experience, and/or education.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Retirement Savings
• Long-term and Short-term Disability
• Health Saving Plans, and Flexible Spending Accounts
• Certification and Education Support

UVA Health is a world-class Magnet Recognized academic medical center and health system with a level 1 trauma center. 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals” guide rates UVA Health University Medical Center as “High Performing” in 5 adult specialties and 14 conditions/procedures. We are one of 70 National Cancer Institute designated cancer centers. UVA Health Children’s is named by 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report as the best children's hospital in Virginia with 9 specialties ranked among the best in the nation. Our footprint also encompasses 3 community hospitals and an integrated network of primary and specialty care clinics throughout Charlottesville, Culpeper, Northern Virginia, and beyond.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer.