About the PICU:
Cincinnati Children’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is a 48-bed, state-of-the-art unit providing advanced, lifesaving care to the most critically ill children. We care for patients with complex, multisystem conditions requiring intensive monitoring and intervention, including those recovering from major surgery, trauma, respiratory failure, neurologic crises, and organ failure.

Position Summary:
We are seeking a highly skilled and compassionate Registered Nurse with a minimum of two years of nursing experience preferred to join our multidisciplinary team. As a PICU RN, you will play a critical role in providing direct, high-acuity care to our most vulnerable patients and their families. You will work collaboratively with physicians, advanced practice providers, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals to deliver evidence-based, family-centered care.

Responsibilities:

• Provide continuous assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of nursing care for critically ill pediatric patients

• Respond to rapidly changing clinical situations with confidence and expertise

• Administer medications, manage complex monitoring equipment, and perform critical interventions

• Advocate for patients and families through all phases of care

• Maintain accurate and thorough documentation in the electronic health record

• Participate in ongoing quality improvement initiatives and unit-based projects

Qualifications:

• Current RN licensure in the state of Ohio

• Minimum of 2 years of acute care nursing experience (pediatric or adult critical care preferred)

• BLS and PALS certifications (or willingness to obtain upon hire)

• Strong critical thinking, clinical judgment, and communication skills

• Ability to work in a high-stress, fast-paced environment while maintaining compassion and precision

Why Cincinnati Children’s:

• Nationally ranked among the top pediatric hospitals in the U.S.

• Magnet® recognized institution

• Ongoing professional development, tuition assistance, and opportunities for advancement

• Supportive team environment with an emphasis on collaboration and innovation

Make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and their families—join the PICU team at Cincinnati Children’s.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Compliance - Patient Services Staff - Sustain a working understanding of regulatory requirements and accreditation standards. Support leadership in Compliance efforts to meet and sustain the regulatory compliance efforts of the department and hospital. Be mindful and judicious in monitoring safety and departmental policies and procedures. Ensure all individual certifications and Safety College requirements are fulfilled in a timely basis. Work with department managers, nurse council and magnet representatives to identify and share safety best practices. Be mindful of CCHMCs processes and compliance with CMS standards and freely communicate safety and compliance concerns to leadership team members.

• Uses systems thinking - Sees the pieces or components; sees patient and family within the isolated environment of the unit; sees self as key resource to support the family through the healthcare experience through care coordination. Sustains a working understanding of regulatory requirements and accreditation standards. Supports leadership in efforts to meet and sustain the regulatory compliance efforts of the department and hospital. Monitors and complies with safety and departmental policies and procedures. Ensures individual certifications and Safety College requirements are fulfilled in a timely basis. Is mindful of CCHMCs processes and compliance with CMS standards and freely communicates safety and compliance concerns to leadership team members.

• Clinical judgment when performing caring practices - Collects clinical data; follow algorithms, decision trees, and protocols. Matches formal knowledge with clinical events to make appropriate decisions; uses available resources as needed. Documents plan of care, care delivered, and patient and family outcomes. Focuses on the usual and customary needs of the patient and family; anticipates future needs; bases care on standards and protocols; maintains a safe physical environment; acknowledges death as a potential outcome. Consistently integrates age specific concepts into patient care, taking into consideration both the patient's chronological age and developmental functioning. Using self-management support, develops care goals and actions through partnerships with patients and families. Facilitates patient and family learning by providing structured education based on the plan of care goals, and the needs of the patient and family; uses teach back to evaluate effectiveness.

• Clinical inquiry & performance review to improve practice - Follows standards and guidelines; implements clinical changes and research-based practices developed by others; recognizes the need for further learning to improve patient care; recognizes routine or obvious changing patient situation (e.g., deterioration, crisis); in unusual care situations, seeks help when needed to identify patient problem. Uses self-appraisal performance review and peer review, including annual goal setting, for assurance of competence and professional development to promote safe and ethical practice using the nursing process. Demonstrates openness to coaching and mentoring from others. Facilitates learning by assisting with peer and student learning experiences. Works with department managers, nurse council and magnet representatives to identify, share, implement and evaluate safety best practices.

• Collaborates with team using shared decision making - Is receptive to the contributions of the interdisciplinary team in team meetings and discussion regarding patient issues. Participates in shared governance at the point-of-care as a member of unit-based councils or by demonstrating awareness and contributing to shared decision making (reading minutes, giving feedback and implementing council decisions).

• Interprofessional Practice - Demonstrates consistent integration of the Interprofessional Practice Model (IPM) in all aspects of practice.

• Exhibits advocacy, moral agency and response to inclusion - Works on behalf of patient and family; assesses personal values; aware of ethical conflicts/issues that may surface in clinical setting; makes ethical/moral decisions based on rules; represents patient when patient cannot represent self; aware of patients' rights. Assesses cultural inclusion. Recognizes the potential impact of culture on the patient/family experience, and incorporates culturally inclusive concepts into patient care.

• Patient Care - Age Specific and Culturally Inclusive - Consistently integrates age specific and culturally inclusive concepts into patient care, taking into consideration both the patient's chronological age and developmental functioning.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate/Diploma prepared RNs from ACEN, CCNE or NLN CNEA accredited institution requires 2+ years of experience. If hired without a BSN or MSN, must enroll in a BSN or MSN program within 1 year of hire date/RN job date and complete program within 5 years of hire/RN job date.

• Preferred: BSN from ACEN, CCNE or NLN CNEA accredited institution or MSN.

• Active Ohio RN License. May be required to obtain other state licensure.