Travel Registered Nurse NICU Job
San Luis Obispo, CA
Contracted
Adventist Health Sierra Vista - Westways
Mid Level
Embark on a transformative NICU travel nursing opportunity as a Registered Nurse in California’s scenic Central Coast, San Luis Obispo. This is your moment to blend clinical excellence with a lifestyle that celebrates the best of coastal living. As a NICU specialist, you’ll step into a high-acuity environment where every shift is a chance to influence outcomes for vulnerable newborns and guide families through one of the most challenging chapters of their lives. From the moment you begin, with a start date of March 16, 2026, you’ll join a dedicated team that values precision, compassion, and continuous learning. Beyond the hospital walls, you’ll discover a region famed for its temperate climate, panoramic beaches, thriving vineyards, and outdoor adventures—from hiking along rugged coastal trails to exploring charming downtowns. Working in San Luis Obispo offers not only clinical fulfillment but also an opportunity to immerse yourself in California’s enviable quality of life, where work-life balance and professional purpose coexist beautifully. And for those who relish variety, this program affords the possibility of rotating through premier NICUs across the United States, broadening your practice, expanding your network, and enriching your professional story with experiences unique to each locale.
Location benefits extend beyond the immediate setting. San Luis Obispo presents a welcoming community with robust neonatal care networks, state-of-the-art equipment, and collaborative multidisciplinary teams that foster growth and confidence. The central coast provides a supportive environment for advanced neonatal practice, complicated case reviews, and family-centered rounds, all while you enjoy a region known for its accessibility, safety, and natural beauty. For travel professionals, the program opens doors to additional assignments across California and other states, giving you the chance to refine your clinical repertoire, learn new care models, and build enduring professional relationships. You’ll benefit from stable leadership, mentorship opportunities, and the chance to tailor your assignments to your evolving career goals, whether you seek deeper subspecialty skills, leadership experience, or broader exposure to diverse NICU populations. The result is a richly rewarding cycle of clinical impact and personal renewal, anchored by the quality of life in one of California’s most desirable coastal locales.
In this role, you’ll deliver expert NICU nursing care with a focus on infants with complex needs, respiratory support, and evolving clinical conditions. Your duties include direct patient assessment, hemodynamic monitoring, ventilator management, IV therapies, central line care, and meticulous medication administration. You’ll participate in rounds with neonatology, coordinate transitional care and discharge planning with families, and educate parents on care techniques, equipment use, and warning signs for potential complications. Your nurses’ notes will reflect careful documentation, adherence to evidence-based protocols, and an unwavering commitment to infection control and patient safety. You’ll lead shifts with confidence, model best practices for junior staff, and collaborate with respiratory therapists, lactation consultants, social workers, and case managers to optimize each infant’s trajectory. The environment invites professional growth: opportunities to advance neonatal resuscitation skills, expand your knowledge of temperature regulation, thermoregulation strategies, feeding advancements, and equipment innovations, as well as potential involvement in unit quality improvement projects. This assignment emphasizes flexibility and learning, offering block arrangements designed to maximize clinical impact while enabling you to pursue personal interests during downtime.
The benefits mirror your professional ambition. Competitive weekly pay in the broad range of $1,729 to $1,805 supports your exceptional level of expertise, with transparency around variable shifts and caseloads. We provide housing assistance to ease relocation logistics, a valuable bonus structure to recognize your contributions, and extension opportunities to align with your long-term travel goals or to transition into permanent roles if desired. You’ll have access to comprehensive support 24/7 while you travel with the company, ensuring that clinical needs, travel logistics, and personal well-being are expertly managed. Expect orientation that sets you up for success, continuous access to clinical leadership, and ongoing education resources to sharpen your NICU skill set. The program embraces the chance to extend your contract, revisit assignments in other NICUs with favorable terms, and strategically align changes with your career milestones. While you deliver life-saving care, you’ll also be empowered to advocate for families, participate in interdisciplinary rounds, and contribute to a culture that values excellence, compassion, and accountability.
Our company values are woven into every aspect of this experience. We are dedicated to empowering our staff—supporting clinical autonomy exercised within a framework of safety and evidence-based practice. Career advancement is not a rumor here; it’s a defined pathway supported by mentorship, formal education stipends, leadership opportunities, and recognition for clinical excellence. We cultivate a respectful, collaborative, and inclusive work environment where your expertise is celebrated, your voice heard, and your well-being prioritized. This is a place where travel experiences fortify your resilience and clinical confidence, where your accomplishments are acknowledged, and where you can grow into leadership roles or specialized NICU responsibilities that align with your aspirations.
Ready to take the next step? Apply now to join a travel nursing program that values your NICU expertise and respects your professional journey. This is more than a job—it’s a dynamic platform to shape neonatal care, broaden your horizons, and advance your career while savoring the unique charm of California’s Central Coast. If you’re seeking a role that blends clinical mastery with personal fulfillment, this opportunity was designed for you. Connect with our recruitment team to discuss assignment blocks, location preferences, and how we can tailor this experience to your goals. Your impact on fragile newborns starts here, and your future in neonatology can unfold across new horizons as you travel, learn, and lead.
Note: The hours and pay rates listed are estimates and may vary. Final compensation packages and guaranteed hours will be confirmed during the hiring process.
Location benefits extend beyond the immediate setting. San Luis Obispo presents a welcoming community with robust neonatal care networks, state-of-the-art equipment, and collaborative multidisciplinary teams that foster growth and confidence. The central coast provides a supportive environment for advanced neonatal practice, complicated case reviews, and family-centered rounds, all while you enjoy a region known for its accessibility, safety, and natural beauty. For travel professionals, the program opens doors to additional assignments across California and other states, giving you the chance to refine your clinical repertoire, learn new care models, and build enduring professional relationships. You’ll benefit from stable leadership, mentorship opportunities, and the chance to tailor your assignments to your evolving career goals, whether you seek deeper subspecialty skills, leadership experience, or broader exposure to diverse NICU populations. The result is a richly rewarding cycle of clinical impact and personal renewal, anchored by the quality of life in one of California’s most desirable coastal locales.
In this role, you’ll deliver expert NICU nursing care with a focus on infants with complex needs, respiratory support, and evolving clinical conditions. Your duties include direct patient assessment, hemodynamic monitoring, ventilator management, IV therapies, central line care, and meticulous medication administration. You’ll participate in rounds with neonatology, coordinate transitional care and discharge planning with families, and educate parents on care techniques, equipment use, and warning signs for potential complications. Your nurses’ notes will reflect careful documentation, adherence to evidence-based protocols, and an unwavering commitment to infection control and patient safety. You’ll lead shifts with confidence, model best practices for junior staff, and collaborate with respiratory therapists, lactation consultants, social workers, and case managers to optimize each infant’s trajectory. The environment invites professional growth: opportunities to advance neonatal resuscitation skills, expand your knowledge of temperature regulation, thermoregulation strategies, feeding advancements, and equipment innovations, as well as potential involvement in unit quality improvement projects. This assignment emphasizes flexibility and learning, offering block arrangements designed to maximize clinical impact while enabling you to pursue personal interests during downtime.
The benefits mirror your professional ambition. Competitive weekly pay in the broad range of $1,729 to $1,805 supports your exceptional level of expertise, with transparency around variable shifts and caseloads. We provide housing assistance to ease relocation logistics, a valuable bonus structure to recognize your contributions, and extension opportunities to align with your long-term travel goals or to transition into permanent roles if desired. You’ll have access to comprehensive support 24/7 while you travel with the company, ensuring that clinical needs, travel logistics, and personal well-being are expertly managed. Expect orientation that sets you up for success, continuous access to clinical leadership, and ongoing education resources to sharpen your NICU skill set. The program embraces the chance to extend your contract, revisit assignments in other NICUs with favorable terms, and strategically align changes with your career milestones. While you deliver life-saving care, you’ll also be empowered to advocate for families, participate in interdisciplinary rounds, and contribute to a culture that values excellence, compassion, and accountability.
Our company values are woven into every aspect of this experience. We are dedicated to empowering our staff—supporting clinical autonomy exercised within a framework of safety and evidence-based practice. Career advancement is not a rumor here; it’s a defined pathway supported by mentorship, formal education stipends, leadership opportunities, and recognition for clinical excellence. We cultivate a respectful, collaborative, and inclusive work environment where your expertise is celebrated, your voice heard, and your well-being prioritized. This is a place where travel experiences fortify your resilience and clinical confidence, where your accomplishments are acknowledged, and where you can grow into leadership roles or specialized NICU responsibilities that align with your aspirations.
Ready to take the next step? Apply now to join a travel nursing program that values your NICU expertise and respects your professional journey. This is more than a job—it’s a dynamic platform to shape neonatal care, broaden your horizons, and advance your career while savoring the unique charm of California’s Central Coast. If you’re seeking a role that blends clinical mastery with personal fulfillment, this opportunity was designed for you. Connect with our recruitment team to discuss assignment blocks, location preferences, and how we can tailor this experience to your goals. Your impact on fragile newborns starts here, and your future in neonatology can unfold across new horizons as you travel, learn, and lead.
Note: The hours and pay rates listed are estimates and may vary. Final compensation packages and guaranteed hours will be confirmed during the hiring process.
Privacy & Consent
By applying, you agree to TLC Healthforce's Privacy Policy and consent to receive job-related text messages; message/data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out.
About TLC Nursing
TLC Healthforce is a nationwide travel healthcare staffing agency pairing Nursing and Allied Health professionals with high-quality travel and local contracts across the U.S.
ShiftShield™ – Traveler Protection
ShiftShield™ protects travelers from preventable facility-driven cancellations and ensures fair compensation for schedule disruptions.
Why Travelers Choose TLC
- Competitive weekly pay
- Fast credentialing
- 24/7 recruiter & clinical support
- Nationwide assignments
Referral Bonus
Earn up to $1,000 per referral — no employment required.
EEO Statement
TLC Healthforce is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Apply for this position
Required*