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Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nurse Specialist - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

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UW Health

Madison, Wisconsin

RN

Posted Aug 25 · Not open to new grads

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Shift
Days
Unit
NICU

What the listing says

Role

Schedule
Days · 5 a week
Weekends
Weekends required
Term
Permanent
On the floor
Precepting expected
Setting
Hospital
Accepts
RN
More role details
Experience
3+ years

Ratio not posted. Ask in the interview.

Pay

Against the board
This role$59/hr
nursing in Wisconsin$38/hr

The median for nursing in Wisconsin is $38/hr, across 352 postings. It covers every nursing role in the state, so it is a bearing, not a like-for-like comparison.

Relocation
Help offered

About this role

Work

Schedule

Join our team as a Clinical Nurse Specialist or a Nurse Specialist and bring your neonatal nursing expertise! This unique opportunity is a 100% FTE position scheduled to typically work Monday through Friday, day shift hours, however some off hours or weekends may be required. Hours may vary based on the operational needs of the department. You will primarily work at American Family Children’s Hospital located in Madison, WI.

Be part of something remarkable

Read the full posting

Advance your professional nursing career at the #1 hospital in the state of Wisconsin!

Join our team as a CNS or NS

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS): An APRN with advanced education and specialized clinical expertise who integrates care across direct patient care, nursing practice, and organizational/system levels.

Nurse Specialist (NS): An RN with specialty expertise who serves as a clinical expert, mentor, consultant, and leader in evidence-based practice and quality improvement across patient care, nursing, and organizational settings.

We are seeking a Registered Nurse (RN) to

  • Lead evidence-based practice and quality improvement initiatives within American Family Children's Hospital's nationally ranked, Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, improving outcomes for critically ill newborns and their families.
  • Serve as the neonatal clinical expert by mentoring nurses, advancing nursing practice, implementing new technologies, and providing consultation for the care of medically and surgically complex neonates. Three or more years of NICU nursing experience is highly preferred.
  • Support one of Wisconsin's highest-acuity NICUs, caring for premature infants and newborns with complex surgical, cardiac, neurologic, genetic, metabolic, and congenital conditions in collaboration with nationally recognized multidisciplinary teams.
  • Drive innovation in neonatal care by identifying opportunities to improve care delivery, removing barriers to optimal patient outcomes, participating in research, and leading evidence-based practice change across the NICU.
  • Join a nationally recognized neonatal program featuring a 26-bed Level IV NICU and close collaboration with the UW Health Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Center, providing the highest level of care for newborns requiring advanced medical and surgical interventions.

Collaborate with nursing leadership, physicians, educators, and interdisciplinary teams to advance professional nursing practice, support staff development, and shape the future of neonatal care at UW Health.

At UW Health, you will have

  • An excellent benefits package, including health and dental insurance, paid time off, retirement plans, two-week paid parental leave and adoption assistance.
  • Options for a variety of schedules and shifts that offer flexibility and allow for work-life balance.
  • Access to great resources through the UW Health Employee Wellbeing Department that supports your emotional, financial, and physical well-being.
  • Acuity based staffing ratios for optimal safety.
  • A strong shared governance structure which assures every nurse has a voice.
  • A place where nursing excellence is recognized and celebrated in our inpatient and outpatient settings through several award programs.
  • Tuition benefits eligibility - UW Health invests in your professional growth as a nurse by helping pay for coursework associated with career advancement.
  • The opportunity to earn a referral bonus for referring friends, former colleagues or others to apply for open, posted positions.

Pay

Pay range is based on a full-time (100%) position.

Salary is prorated based on FTE.

Relocation assistance may be available for qualified applicants.

*This position may be filled as either a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) or Nurse Specialist (NS), based on the candidate's education, licensure, and qualifications. Please note that qualifications have recently been updated.

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Qualifications

Education

Master’s Degree or doctoral degree in Nursing Required

Work Experience

3 years of relevant clinical nursing experience Required

Previous experience as a clinical nurse specialist or other nurse leadership role Preferred

Experience in an academic medical center Preferred

Licenses & Certifications

Licensed as Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in the state of Wisconsin Required

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) certification in areas of specialty or population focus Required

Basic Life Support CPR/BLS certification Required

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification within 6 months Required

Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification within 6 months Required

Certification in specialty area of practice Preferred

Nurse Specialist

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor of Science – Nursing (BSN) Required and

Must obtain Master’s degree in Nursing or doctoral degree (DNP) in relevant specialty within five (5) years of start date in the Nurse Specialist title Required

MSN or DNP within six (6) months of start date Preferred

Completion of graduate program for Clinical Nurse Specialist Preferred

Work Experience

3 years of relevant clinical nursing experience Required

Previous experience in a nursing leader role Preferred

Experience in an academic medical center Preferred

Licenses & Certifications

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the state of Wisconsin or holds a license issued by a jurisdiction that has adopted the nurse licensure compact Required

Basic Life Support CPR/BLS certification Required

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification within 6 months Required

Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification within 6 months Required

Certification in specialty area of practice Preferred

Our Commitment to Social Impact and Belonging

UW Health is committed to fostering a workplace that creates belonging for everyone and is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. Our respect for people shines through patient care interactions and our daily work practices as we work to embrace the knowledge, unique perspectives and qualities each employee and faculty member brings to work each day. It is the policy of UW Health to provide equal opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin—also a Magnet®-designated facility—provides specialized care in a healing environment designed especially for pediatric patients and their families. American Family Children’s Hospital is a comprehensive pediatric medical and surgical center, with nationally recognized pediatric specialists in a wide range of fields. It is also home to our Level One Pediatric Trauma Center and Level IV NICU, which cares for the tiniest patients throughout Wisconsin and beyond.

Sourced from a public job board.

Master’s Degree or doctoral degree in Nursing Required Work Experience 3 years of relevant clinical nursing experience Required Previous experience as a clinical nurse specialist or other nurse leadership role Preferred…· from this posting

Requirements

  • Master’s Degree or doctoral degree in Nursing Required
  • Work Experience
  • 3 years of relevant clinical nursing experience Required
  • Previous experience as a clinical nurse specialist or other nurse leadership role Preferred
  • Experience in an academic medical center Preferred
  • Licensed as Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in the state of Wisconsin Required
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) certification in areas of specialty or population focus Required
  • Basic Life Support CPR/BLS certification Required
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification within 6 months Required
  • Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification within 6 months Required
  • Certification in specialty area of practice Preferred
  • Nurse Specialist
  • Bachelor of Science – Nursing (BSN) Required and
  • Must obtain Master’s degree in Nursing or doctoral degree (DNP) in relevant specialty within five (5) years of start date in the Nurse Specialist title Required
  • MSN or DNP within six (6) months of start date Preferred
  • Completion of graduate program for Clinical Nurse Specialist Preferred
  • Previous experience in a nursing leader role Preferred
  • Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the state of Wisconsin or holds a license issued by a jurisdiction that has adopted the nurse licensure compact Required
  • Our Commitment to Social Impact and Belonging
  • UW Health is committed to fostering a workplace that creates belonging for everyone and is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. Our respect for people shines through patient care interactions and our daily work practices as we work to embrace the knowledge, unique perspectives and qualities each employee and faculty member brings to work each day. It is the policy of UW Health to provide equal opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.
  • American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin—also a Magnet®-designated facility—provides specialized care in a healing environment designed especially for pediatric patients and their families. American Family Children’s Hospital is a comprehensive pediatric medical and surgical center, with nationally recognized pediatric specialists in a wide range of fields. It is also home to our Level One Pediatric Trauma Center and Level IV NICU, which cares for the tiniest patients throughout Wisconsin and beyond.

Place

City
Madison, Wisconsin
Median rent
$1,413/mo

rent and tenant-paid utilities · Census ACS 2024

Local household income
$78,050/yr

all local households, not nurse pay · Census ACS 2024

Metro price level
3% below the national average

Madison area index 97.3, where 100 is the national average.

Madison blends college-town energy with Midwestern warmth, offering a laid-back yet vibrant lifestyle. Wisconsin's capital sits between Lakes Mendota and Monona and is home to the University of Wisconsin. Outdoor recreation, farmers' markets, and a friendly, health-conscious community make it an appealing destination for an RN seeking a welcoming relocation spot.

Map showing the location of Madison, WI
Approximate location in Madison, WI. · © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap· Open the live map

Cost figures from U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · 2024 metro Regional Price Parities · Census ACS 2024.

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UW Health
Academic Medical Center

UW Health is the integrated health system affiliated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison, serving more than 867,000 patients each year across the Upper Midwest and beyond. With more than 2,000 physicians and 26,500 dedicated staff, the system provides care through…

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