RN - NICU Level IV

Madison, Wisconsin

Provide care for critically ill newborns, infants and their families across the continuum of care, from admission to discharge. UW Health is an academic medical center.

Posted Jun 16 · New grads welcomed

Shift and hours: 8- or 12-⁠hour shifts · evening and night shifts 75% FTE, 8/12 hour evening/night shifts including every other weekend with a holiday rotation.
Unit and setting: NICU at American Family Children’s Hospital · Hospital Provide care for critically ill newborns, infants and their families across the continuum of care, from admission to discharge.critically ill newborns, infants and their families
License: RN license Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of WI or holds a license issued by a jurisdiction that has adopted the nurse licensure compact Upon Hire RequiredWI RN license or compact-state RN license
Term: Permanent 75% FTE, 8/12 hour evening/night shifts including every other weekend with a holiday rotation.75% FTE

Do you qualify?

New grads: Welcomed, residency program
License: WI RN license or compact-state RN license Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of WI or holds a license issued by a jurisdiction that has adopted the nurse licensure compact Upon Hire Required Check your license
Certification: current CPR/BLS Current CPR/BLS Certification Upon Hire Required
Certification: NRP within 6 months NRP within 6 months Required
Experience: six months nursing experience or current Nurse Residency Program participant

Preferred

Certification: relevant certification Relevant certification Preferred
Education: BSN Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) Preferred
Also asks: relevant RN experience Relevant RN Experience Preferred

Your six-month RN application plan

Start about six months before graduation. Some programs open earlier; use each employer’s application dates. See program calendars.

Graduation month

6 months before
Shortlist units
Check application windows. Gather clinical experience, references and your expected graduation date.
Find residencies
4–6 months before
Apply as windows open
Apply before graduation when the program allows it. Keep the cohort date and license deadline with each application.
Explore new grad jobs
2–3 months before
Meet the unit manager
Ask about overtime, a shadow shift, preceptor continuity and the schedule after orientation.
Prepare your questions
Around graduation
Confirm your start
Coordinate NCLEX, the required license and your start date. Get relocation and repayment terms in writing.
Plan your license

What it pays

Against similar roles: Top of Madison staff RN payMadison staff RN postings that state pay run $38/hr to $44/hr, the middle half $40/hr to $40/hr, across 251 postings.
Pay differential: Shift Differentials: $4/hour evening and $5/hour night as applicable for hours worked. Shift Differentials: $4/hour evening and $5/hour night as applicable for hours worked.
Weekend differential: $4.25/hour as applicable for hours worked. Weekend Differential: $4.25/hour as applicable for hours worked.
Extra pay: $4/hour evening and $5/hour nightas applicable for hours worked
Extra pay: $4.25/hour weekendas applicable for hours worked

Benefits

Benefitshealth insuranceAn excellent benefits package, including health and dental insurance, paid time off and retirement plans.
Benefitsdental insurance
Benefitspaid time off
Benefitsretirement plans
Benefitstuition reimbursement after 1 year of employmentTuition reimbursement eligibility after 1 year of employment
BenefitsWellness Options at WorkAccess to UW Health’s Wellness Options at Work that to support employee/family well-being.
Tuition Reimbursement

The role and schedule

Floating: Floats to other units
Day to day: care for critically ill newborns, infants and families from admission to discharge Provide care for critically ill newborns, infants and their families across the continuum of care, from admission to discharge.
Patients: infants requiring advanced diagnostic and therapeutic services, medical and surgical complexities Provide care for infants requiring the most advanced diagnostic and therapeutic services, including a wide variety of medical and surgical complexities.
Unit size: 26-bed NICU This 26-bed NICU is a model for patient-and family-centered care.
Hours stated: 75% FTE, 8/12 hour evening/night shifts including every other weekend with a holiday rotation. Hours may vary based on the operational needs of the department.
Weekends: every other weekend 75% FTE, 8/12 hour evening/night shifts including every other weekend with a holiday rotation.
Holidays: holiday rotation
Details: hours vary with department operational needs Hours may vary based on the operational needs of the department.
Details: part of NICU expansion; multiple positions available This position is part of a NICU expansion and multiple positions are available.
Details: shared governance structure A strong shared governance structure which assures every nurse has a voice.
Details: schedule options for flexibility Options for a variety of schedules and shifts that offer flexibility and allow for work-life balance.
Details: Magnet-designated facility also a Magnet®-designated facility

Support on this unit

Nurse to patient: acuity-based staffing ratios Acuity based staffing ratios for optimal safety.
Orientation: Residency program

The workplace

UW Health

Academic Medical Center

4.7 Google rating

Facility profile Employer website

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Your fit

Questions to ask

Can you walk me through base pay range?
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What preceptor time and ongoing unit support are included?
How are patient load and staffing support handled day to day?

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On your path

NICU / Neonatal is open from year one. Residencies hire in directly, and the unit's level sets the work.

See your route →Check first: New-grad residency fine print

Original listing

Posted on UW Health’s careers page.

Read full text

75% FTE, 8/12 hour evening/night shifts including every other weekend with a holiday rotation. Hours may vary based on the operational needs of the department. You will be working at American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, WI. This position is part of a NICU expansion and multiple positions are available.

Pay

Additional components of compensation may include

Shift Differentials: $4/hour evening and $5/hour night as applicable for hours worked.

Weekend Differential: $4.25/hour as applicable for hours worked. Be part of something remarkable Join the #1 hospital in Wisconsin!

We are seeking a Registered Nurse (RN) to

Provide care for critically ill newborns, infants and their families across the continuum of care, from admission to discharge. This 26-bed NICU is a model for patient-and family-centered care. Provide care for infants requiring the most advanced diagnostic and therapeutic services, including a wide variety of medical and surgical complexities. Take a virtual tour of our NICU and see the REMARKABLE care our nurses provide

At UW Health, you will have

An excellent benefits package, including health and dental insurance, paid time off and retirement plans. Acuity based staffing ratios for optimal safety. A strong shared governance structure which assures every nurse has a voice.

Options for a variety of schedules and shifts that offer flexibility and allow for work-life balance. Access to UW Health’s Wellness Options at Work that to support employee/family well-being. A place where nursing excellence is recognized and celebrated in our inpatient and outpatient settings through several award programs.

Tuition reimbursement eligibility after 1 year of employment- UW Health invests in your professional growth as a nurse by helping pay for coursework associated with career advancement. Qualifications Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) Preferred Work Experience Inpatient Units and Central Float (Adult & Pediatric), Venous Access Team (VAT), Radiology, Hemodialysis, Cardiovascular Laboratory: Six (6) months nursing experience or current participant in UW Health’s Nurse Residency Program with successful completion of the Nurse Residency Orientation on unit/similar unit. Required Relevant RN Experience Preferred Licenses & Certifications Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of WI or holds a license issued by a jurisdiction that has adopted the nurse licensure compact Upon Hire Required Current CPR/BLS Certification Upon Hire Required NRP within 6 months Required Relevant certification 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. Job Description UW Hospital and Clinics benefits

What's around it?

In Madison, WI

Madison, WIFrom Census ACS 2024.

Living costs about 3% below the US average

Median rent: $1,413/mo
Household income: $78,050/yr, all local households, not nurse pay

Life in Madison, WI

NeighborhoodsRecent grads and young professionals on Reddit often look at East Washington Avenue and blocks right by the Capitol, plus East Side pockets that stay cheaper than the near-east even as they gentrify; Sun Prairie comes up as a cheaper bedroom-community commute. Extra Space’s 2026 roundup flags Hill Farms-University as the in-city budget option (median home $274,000, median rent $708), Marquette for historic charm and lakeside recreation ($298,833 / $1,186), Vilas near UW–Madison ($393,950 / $1,475), and Dudgeon-Monroe as a tree-lined mix of families and young pros with more than a mile and a half of Monroe Street shops ($423,567 / $1,287). Families are frequently pointed toward suburbs Verona, Middleton, and Waunakee.

Recent grads and young professionals on Reddit often look at East Washington Avenue and blocks right by the Capitol, plus East Side pockets that stay cheaper than the near-east even as they gentrify; Sun Prairie comes up as a cheaper bedroom-community commute. Extra Space’s 2026 roundup flags Hill Farms-University as the in-city budget option (median home $274,000, median rent $708), Marquette for historic charm and lakeside recreation ($298,833 / $1,186), Vilas near UW–Madison ($393,950 / $1,475), and Dudgeon-Monroe as a tree-lined mix of families and young pros with more than a mile and a half of Monroe Street shops ($423,567 / $1,287).

Families are frequently pointed toward suburbs Verona, Middleton, and Waunakee.

Sources

As of Sep 11, 2026Source 1: reddit.com Source 2: extraspace.com Source 3: facebook.com

Getting aroundU.S. News puts the typical Madison commute at about 18.31 minutes. Metro Transit’s Rapid Route A BRT runs east-west from the Sun Prairie Park and Ride to Junction Road with 15-minute weekday service until 8:00 p.m. and 15-minute Saturday service until 7:00 p.m.; Routes B and F also board along that corridor, so a home near a BRT station can feel closer than the map suggests. Redfin scores transit 35/100 and flags limited, inconsistent buses especially in the suburbs, so most nurses will still want a car. The west side holds about 33,000 residents and more than 23,000 jobs concentrated around University Research Park; UW Hospital and Clinics is the named major healthcare hub. Hospital parking and shift-specific routes are not covered in these sources.

U.S. News puts the typical Madison commute at about 18.31 minutes. Metro Transit’s Rapid Route A BRT runs east-west from the Sun Prairie Park and Ride to Junction Road with 15-minute weekday service until 8:00 p.m. and 15-minute Saturday service until 7:00 p.m.; Routes B and F also board along that corridor, so a home near a BRT station can feel closer than the map suggests.

Redfin scores transit 35/100 and flags limited, inconsistent buses especially in the suburbs, so most nurses will still want a car. The west side holds about 33,000 residents and more than 23,000 jobs concentrated around University Research Park; UW Hospital and Clinics is the named major healthcare hub.

Hospital parking and shift-specific routes are not covered in these sources.

Sources

As of Sep 11, 2026Source 1: realestate.usnews.com Source 2: susansuttonhomes.com Source 3: redfin.com Source 4: apartmentguide.com

OutdoorsMadison sits between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona among five area lakes, with 307 parks, a free Henry Vilas Zoo, and more than 200 miles of biking and hiking trails including the Capital City State Trail. Named greenspaces include Olbrich Park and Hillington Green Park in Dudgeon-Monroe; residents kayak, fish, boat, and paddleboard the lakes, and state parks sit within about an hour’s drive. Winters shut down much of this, but summers turn the lakes, beer gardens, and trail network into daily life rather than weekend trips.

Madison sits between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona among five area lakes, with 307 parks, a free Henry Vilas Zoo, and more than 200 miles of biking and hiking trails including the Capital City State Trail. Named greenspaces include Olbrich Park and Hillington Green Park in Dudgeon-Monroe; residents kayak, fish, boat, and paddleboard the lakes, and state parks sit within about an hour’s drive.

Winters shut down much of this, but summers turn the lakes, beer gardens, and trail network into daily life rather than weekend trips.

Sources

As of Sep 11, 2026Source 1: visitmadison.com Source 2: redfin.com Source 3: youtube.com Source 4: apartmentguide.com Source 5: extraspace.com

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Living in Madison

Madison is a mid-size capital and Big Ten town squeezed between Lakes Mendota and Monona, with 307 parks, 200-plus miles of trails, a free Henry Vilas Zoo, and the Dane County Farmers' Market on the Capitol Square. Nurses get UW Hospital and Clinics plus west-side jobs at University Research Park; typical commute is about 18 minutes, but Rapid Route A is the only frequent BRT spine and Transit Score is 35, so most still drive. Young professionals land on the East Side, East Wash, and near the Capitol; Hill Farms-University is the budget in-city option, Dudgeon-Monroe and Vilas cost more near Monroe Street and campus. Food is a genuine draw—The Old Fashioned, Graze, State Street Brats, Olbrich Biergarten, and a thick brewery circuit. Locals are blunt about tradeoffs: winters can run November through March, listings hit about $486k in 2026, diversity is limited, and this is not a big city. If you bike, boat, and can handle a long winter, daily quality of life is the pitch.

AI area guide

Sources

As of 2026Source 1: visitmadison.com Source 2: realestate.usnews.com Source 3: susansuttonhomes.com Source 4: extraspace.com Source 5: redfin.com Source 6: concoursehotel.com Source 7: youtube.com Source 8: thehonestlocal.com

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Preferred

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What it pays

Benefits

The role and schedule

Support on this unit

The workplace

Ask Mira

Your fit

Questions to ask

On your path

Original listing

Pay

Additional components of compensation may include

We are seeking a Registered Nurse (RN) to

At UW Health, you will have

What's around it?

Madison, WIiFrom Census ACS 2024.

Life in Madison, WI

Moving for this role?

Nurses on this role

Nurses on this role

Life in Madison, WI

Moving for this role?

Nurses on this role

Madison, WIFrom Census ACS 2024.