What it Takes to be Successful in the NICU with Jill Smith

Jill Smith has been with the Children’s of Alabama Neonatal Intensive Care unit (NICU) since 2011. Before joining the organization, she gained experience in a variety of roles, leading other NICUs in Kentucky and in Alabama.

“I have been a NICU nurse all my life. My journey started in Kentucky and I have worked up the career ladder since then. I started working as a director and charge nurse at another hospital. From there I moved to an Alabama-based hospital to lead their NICU. While in that role I was able to work with nurse practitioners from Children’s of Alabama. I grew close to that group, and they referred me to the director role at the Children’s of Alabama NICU. The rest is history.”

Today, Jill is the Director of NICU. In her role, she manages a department of about 200 RNs, 25 nurse practitioners and a team of clinical support staff. She oversees the daily management of the NICU, ensuring that patient care is delivered in a safe and effective manner. It is her responsibility to oversee all these disciplines and staff members.

As director, it is also her responsibility to find the best nursing talent for the team. We sat down with her to discuss what she looks for when hiring new nurses, and the skill set these candidates need in order to be successful in the Children’s of Alabama NICU.

Must-Haves for a Successful Children’s of Alabama NICU Nurse

1. Confidence

“I look for someone who is not timid. If you come into the interview not speaking clearly or if I have to draw your words out, you might not be the best fit. I need someone who is confident. NICU nurses are typically outspoken and I look for someone who has the ability to use their voice confidently. If you can’t advocate for yourself, you won’t be able to advocate for our patients.”

2. Critical Thinking Skills

“As a NICU nurse, you must have the ability to think critically. In the interview, I ask questions around critical thinking to see how candidates respond to certain situations. For example, I have asked some candidates to explain a time when they had to work with a difficult parent. Different responses to these types of questions allow me to understand how they deal with difficult situations.”

3. Compassion and Empathy

“I want to make sure my nurses have compassion and empathy so that they can relate to the parents and what they are going through. You have to show compassion and be understanding with our patients and their families when you work with them. Having these traits is essential to being successful in our NICU."

4. Ability to Overcome Challenges

“At Children’s of Alabama, we are different because we see so many complex issues that aren’t seen anywhere else in the state of Alabama. Therefore, I am upfront with all nurses looking to work here because they have to know beforehand that we deal with a lot of difficult cases. If you are looking for a highly rewarding place, and you are willing to work hard and face challenges, then Children’s of Alabama NICU is the place for you.”

We would love to have you apply today to join our NICU team!