Registered Nurse; RN - Pediatric Intensive Care Unit; PICU New Graduate Nurse Residency- Cohort

Position: Registered Nurse (RN) I - Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) New Graduate Nurse Residency-August Cohort
Full-Time | Rotating Shifts

The 12-month Pediatric Nurse Residency Program, also known as our Transition to Practice Program (TPP), is designed to provide the nurse resident with an opportunity to transition into the role of a professional nurse under the guidance and support of our clinical nursing staff, nurse educators and program facilitators.

The program includes a Human Resources orientation, a Unit-Based orientation, and acute and critical care tracks. Start date for PICU is March 2026.

The acute and critical care tracks include curricula designed to augment the learning experience for the nurse resident through professional development and to achieve the overall goals of the program. The critical care track includes nurse residents from the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Department.

Children's National Hospital, based in Washington, D.C., celebrates over 150 years of pediatric care, research, and commitment to community. Today, 150 years stronger, it is among the nation's top 10 children's hospitals. It is highly ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. Children's National is transforming pediatric medicine for all children. Children's National has been designated four times in a row as a Magnet® hospital, demonstrating the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery.

Unit Description:

The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is a 46-bed unit. We will be expanding to 60 beds in 2027! This unit serves as a regional referral center and is a designated Level I Trauma Center for comprehensive care to pediatric patients and their families. The PICU Patient Care Management Team coordinates interdisciplinary patient assessment and patient care and provided by pediatric intensivists and specialty nurses in conjunction with multiple specialty services within the Medical Center.

Patients are admitted to the PICU from the ED, Trauma Services, the Operating Room, and transfers from in-house units as well as transports from other institutions via the Pediatric Transport team. Trauma patients comprise about 10%-15% of patients in the PICU. These patients often have multiple injuries or severe head trauma.

The PICU is also a Pediatric Burn Center and receives referrals from the region. Other complex patients requiring general surgery, ENT, craniofacial, neurosurgical and other surgical subspecialties are also cared for in the PICU. Medical patients comprise 50%-60% of patients and include children with respiratory failure, meningitis or seizures, sepsis, multi-system organ failure and chronically ill children. Children with cancer also require PICU care for complications that develop as part of the underlying disease, chemotherapy or following bone marrow transplantation.

All nursing practice is based on the legal scope of practice, national and specialty nursing standards, Children's National Policies and Procedures, and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Professional Model of Care requires registered professional nurses to be responsible and accountable for their own practice. Children's National supports the development of RN relationships within the community; specifically those relationships associated with the health and well being of the community at large.

Qualifications:
Minimum Education
Associate's Degree ASN (Required)
Bachelor's Degree BSN (Preferred)

Minimum Work Experience
0 years (Required)

Required Skills/Knowledge
The licensed Registered Nurse will successfully complete the hospital and nursing orientation at Children's National.
Identify resources and know when to ask for assistance.
Demonstrated leadership and management skills.
Identify self learning needs and seek resources to meet those needs.

Required Licenses and Certifications
Registered Nurse Registered Nurse licensed in the District of Columbia, Maryland or Virginia dependent upon location of practice. (Required)
Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) (Required)

Functional Accountabilities
Transformational Leadership

• Contribute to Magnet
  
  TM re-designation as evidenced by timely annual completion of professional profile and participation in relevant councils, committees, task forces and/or community outreach.

• Demonstrate critical thinking skills as evidenced by successful completion of change project.

• Recognize need to escalate patient care issues via chain of command.

• Utilize the currently identified process to ensure accurate hand off.

• Demonstrate ability to work cohesively with ancillary staff to meet patient care needs.

• Cooperate in the implementation of change and support management decisions.

• Demonstrate empathy , concern and a desire to be helpful to others.

Structural Empowerment

• Complete all mandatory education and regulatory requirements and participates in professional activities to enhance nursing practice.

• Participate in performance appraisal and peer review.

• Support department goals for formal education, national certification, national safety standards and…