Travel Nurse RN - NICU - Neonatal Intensive Care - $2,576 per week

First Connect Health is seeking a travel nurse RN NICU - Neonatal Intensive Care for a travel nursing job in Bakersfield, California.

Job Description & Requirements

• Specialty: NICU - Neonatal Intensive Care
• Discipline: RN
• Start Date: 08/31/2026
• Duration: 13 weeks
• 36 hours per week
• Shift: 12 hours, days
• Employment Type: Travel

DAY-SHIFT NICU RN CONTRACT – CALIFORNIA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

First Connect Health has an immediate 13-week travel contract opening for an experienced Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Registered Nurse (RN) in Bakersfield, California. Operating within the NICU department at a premier regional hospital, this position features a structured 3x12 daytime schedule. If you are a dedicated neonatal critical care nurse looking to secure a solid California pay package with tax-free stipends, deliver specialized care to vulnerable newborns, and utilize Cerner EMR, this assignment is built for you!

PRE-CALCULATED PAY PACKAGE

• Weekly Gross: $2,576.00
• Weekly Tax-Free Stipend: $1,442.00
• Hourly W2 Rate: $27.00/hr (24 regular hours)
• Daily Overtime Rate: $40.50/hr (12 daily OT hours included under California labor guidelines)

SHIFT & POSITION DETAILS

• Schedule: Day shifts, 3x12-Hours. Block scheduling configurations are not available.
• Guaranteed Hours: 36 regular/OT hours guaranteed weekly.
• On-Call Requirements: Standby call rates apply at $18.00/hr ($152.41/hr call-back rate).
• Clinical Scope & Responsibilities: Independently prescribes, delegates, and coordinates specialized nursing care to acutely ill neonates and premature infants. Executes physiological assessments, monitors developmental progress, manages advanced neonatal interventions, and coordinates care with interdisciplinary teams and families in accordance with BRN and ANA practice standards.
• EMR Charting System: Cerner EMR.
• Floating Expectations: Travelers must be able and willing to float as needed based on unit census.

REQUISITE QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUBMISSION

• Experience: Minimum 3 years of clinical NICU RN experience is strictly required. Direct experience with Cerner EMR is required.
• Licensure: Valid and unrestricted State of California Registered Nurse License (RN License) must be active and in-hand at the time of submission.
• Certifications Required:
  • Advanced NRP
  • AHA Basic Life Support (BLS)

✨ WORK WITH FIRST CONNECT HEALTH

Avoid administrative processing delays on broad public job boards. Apply directly to this posting to lock in your file with our specialized neonatal recruitment team. We guarantee 100% upfront financial transparency, immediate document checklist mapping, and fast-track your profile straight to the account manager for prioritized presentation!

Click "Apply Now" to complete your screening and secure your August start date!

Location Details: Assignment is located in Bakersfield, CA 93306. ⏱️ Assignment Timeline: 13-week contract running from August 24, 2026, through November 20, 2026. Unit Expectations: Block scheduling is not available. Travelers are required to float within related units as needed.

About First Connect Health

Benefits

• Sick pay
• 401k retirement plan
• Weekly pay
• Referral bonus