NICUs in Alaska

Specialties NICU

Published

I am considering taking a neonatal travel nurse position in Alaska. THe past few years I have not been working in level 3...more like a level 2A (short term vents, CPAP, no surgery, etc). Most of my NICU level 3 work was in Australia and I am no longer famialiar with many of the US drug names, equipment, etc. I can handle level 2 no problem. I know that Providence NICU is a full on level 3. But what about Alaska Regional and the Native American Hospital NICUs? I recently saw on the internet that Regional was upgrading to a level 3 sometime this year. I have no info on the Native American hospital. So..I am really interested in knowing what kinds of babies are kept at these two hospitals. Also, do these two hospitals take on travel nurses, and which companies do they generally use? Thanks for any info!

Specializes in NICU.

Alaska Regional and the Native hospital both have very low quality NICU's in the sense that they are not level III and it is almost laughable to even say they qualify as level II. Almost all level II and definately all Level III infants are sent to the Providence NICU. However, I am finishing up a job at the Providence NICU and I am almost certain they are not hiring any more travellers. Alaska used to have a lot of jobs available, but since the lower 48's economy has worsened we don't have many to speak of up here anymore becuase they have almost all been taken.

That being said, I haven't heard anything about either of the hospitals (Regional or Native) upgrading to a level III and I have no idea what travelling RN companies they use.

Lastly, and a bit nit-picky...If you want to be perceived well up here, I would definately refrain from using the term Native American in regard to Native Alaskans. They prefer the latter term, and its often just shortened to 'natives.'

iloveleeks

28 Posts

Specializes in NICU, missions.

Thanks..very informative. I was thinking of getting my Alaskan license to be prepared just in case an assignment comes up. But...since it's quite expensive to get the license.. I'll review that decision!

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