This Nurse Took A Chance On Nursing And Found Her Calling In The NICU

Jackie Contreras switched from a math major to nursing without knowing what to expect. A clinical internship introduced her to neonatal intensive care, and she never looked back.

Welcome to Nurse Ascent, a twice-weekly newsletter created by nurses for nurses. This week, NICU nurse Jackie Contreras shares how an unexpected switch from mathematics to nursing led her to caring for critically ill newborns. We also explore why expecting new graduates to be fully practice-ready may contribute to turnover, what's driving rising health insurance premiums, and California's new initiative to train pharmacists for underserved communities. Plus, explore nursing jobs tailored to your location.

But first....

AI Training Jobs

In addition to our curated nursing jobs, we’re continuing to share flexible, paid opportunities that let you put your healthcare expertise to work in new ways.

A company is currently looking for healthcare and clinical experts to evaluate AI-generated work. The below roles can be completed on your own schedule and pays $55 to $150 per hour.

Let us know if you apply, and reply to this email if you’d like to see more opportunities like this in Nurse Ascent.

Featured Jobs

Not seeing jobs in your area? Reply to this email with your location to update your profile and get tailored openings.

🩺

Pulmonology Nurse Practitioner (NP), Adventist Health

Ukiah, CA

$175,000 - $200,000/year

Apply Now →

☤

Family Medicine Nurse Practitioner (NP) - Hot Springs, SD, AMN Healthcare

Hot Springs, SD

$280,000 - $300,000/year

Apply Now →

♡

Nursing Professional Development Practitioner (RN) Inpatient Surgical, Manchester Memorial Hospital

Enfield, CT

Apply Now →

Explore more jobs

Search hundreds of nursing roles on CollabWORK.

Browse all nursing opportunities →

Nurse Spotlight: Jackie Contreras RN, BSN, RNC-NIC, CLC

From our spotlight archives: Jackie Contreras wasn't sure nursing was right for her, even after getting into a competitive BSN program. Then a clinical internship introduced her to the NICU, where she discovered a passion for caring for critically ill newborns and building lasting relationships with their families. Read the full spotlight →

Headlines in Healthcare

Why 'practice-ready' nursing graduates are a myth

New graduates often struggle because the industry mislabels them as fully practice-ready upon graduation, contributing to high turnover rates. A National Academy of Medicine discussion paper argues that healthcare systems must pivot toward fostering system-level readiness instead of expecting instant proficiency. This shift is critical for nurses, as it highlights the need for continued institutional support rather than assuming academic benchmarks equate to clinical independence.

Health spending drives 91% of premium growth

Average private health insurance premiums surged 78.4% between 2011 and 2024, driven primarily by rising healthcare costs. According to a JAMA Health Forum study, overall spending growth accounted for 91% of this premium increase across private insurance markets. Researchers analyzed federal Medical Loss Ratio data to evaluate cost trends in the large-group, small-group, and exchange sectors.

California funds first-of-its-kind pharmacist pipeline program

California has invested $3.6 million to launch the PRIME Rx program at the UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The initiative aims to train pharmacists to practice in underserved areas, including regions along the U.S.-Mexico border. Most of the state funding will support scholarships for Doctor of Pharmacy students over the four-year program.

Share your story & be entered to win

As part of our effort to spotlight nurses, we’d love to feature you in an upcoming issue of Nurse Ascent! Share your story by filling out our quick interview form, and you’ll be entered into a raffle to win a $50 gift card.

CollabWORK is a community-powered hiring platform

CollabWORK connects job-seekers to roles shared in trusted spaces—like nurse-led Facebook groups, Slack channels, and industry newsletters. Create your account or log in to discover other roles in nursing, healthcare, and beyond.