Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse

Role Overview

This position places a skilled neonatal nurse at the bedside of newborns who are premature, critically unwell, or born with very low birth weight, where split-second decisions and continuous observation can change the course of a child’s life. The nurse combines advanced technology skills with calm, hands-on assessment to keep fragile infants stable, support physicians during complex procedures, and help parents understand and participate in their baby’s care. The role is essential to the unit’s ability to lower neonatal complications, improve survival rates, and prepare families for a safe transition home.

Key Responsibilities

• Track neonatal vital signs, heart rhythms, breathing effort, oxygen levels, and neurological responses, recognising subtle signs of deterioration and acting on them without delay.
• Set up, adjust, and troubleshoot NICU equipment such as incubators, mechanical ventilators, CPAP devices, phototherapy units, infusion pumps, and bedside monitors.
• Prepare and give neonatal medications, IV fluids, total parenteral nutrition, and blood products safely, including dose calculation, compatibility checks, and monitoring for adverse reactions.
• Support neonatologists and paediatricians during endotracheal intubation, umbilical line placement, lumbar puncture, surfactant administration, and other advanced bedside procedures.
• Take part in resuscitation and stabilisation of newborns facing acute respiratory failure, shock, or other life-threatening emergencies.
• Carry out routine and urgent interventions such as non-invasive ventilation, oxygen therapy, gastric tube feeding, thermoregulation, skin care, and umbilical care.
• Educate and emotionally support parents on breastfeeding, expressed breast milk, kangaroo mother care, infection prevention, and safe discharge practices.
• Maintain accurate care plans, assessments, and handover records; interpret arterial blood gases, laboratory results, and bedside imaging to guide nursing actions; join ward rounds, audits, mortality reviews, and quality improvement work; mentor junior nurses, interns, and students; and uphold strict aseptic and infection prevention standards while working shifts and on-call rosters.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A nursing diploma or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (KRCHN or BScN) from an accredited institution.
• A higher diploma in neonatal nursing, or in critical care nursing with a neonatal specialty, from a recognised training institution.
• Current registration and a valid annual practising licence with the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK).
• At least three years of post-specialisation NICU experience in a high-volume Level 4, Level 5, or Level 6 hospital.
• BLS certification is mandatory.
• NRP and PALS certification would strengthen an application considerably.
• Strong clinical and technical nursing abilities in high-acuity neonatal intensive care and resuscitation.
• Sound judgment and fast problem-solving when a newborn’s condition changes or an emergency unfolds.
• Situational leadership, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to work smoothly within a multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent communication, especially the capacity to explain complex clinical situations with compassion to worried families.
• High ethical standards, professionalism, and close adherence to nursing practice standards.
• A patient-centred, deeply compassionate, and empathetic approach to newborns and their families.
• Demonstrated resilience and efficiency under pressure in high-stress emergency settings.
• Meticulous organisation, with accurate documentation, clinical reporting, and data collection habits.
• A firm commitment to continuous professional development and evidence-based quality improvement.