About this role
Overview:
Job Description Summary:
Job Description:
Essential Functions:
- Develops and implements interventions and activities to promote emotional and social well-being, provide emotionally safe care, and support coping mechanisms for patients and families.
- Assesses and addresses the psychosocial needs and risks of children and their families during hospitalization, medical procedures, illness and injury, or end of life care, using evidence-based assessment tools.
- Collaborates with healthcare team to provide education and support to patients and families regarding medical procedures and diagnoses.
- Maintains accurate and timely documentation of patient interactions and progress.
- Serves as a developmental expert and provides input about the impact of healthcare experiences on patients and families.
- Provides supervision and education to adult learners related to the needs of patients and families in the healthcare setting.
- Participates in continuing education and professional involvement in the field to promote professional growth and integrate new knowledge and skills into practice for self and others.
Education Requirement:
Bachelor’s Degree in child life or related field, required.
Licensure Requirement:
(not specified)
Certifications:
Certification in Child Life (CCLS) or within three years of hire, required.
Skills:
- Working knowledge of child development, developmentally appropriate practices, patient assessment, family systems and the psychosocial impact of hospitalization on children and families.
- Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
- Demonstrates proficiency in all child life competencies and standards of clinical practice as defined per The Association of Child Life Professionals.
Experience:
Experience in a pediatric health care setting including completion of a child life clinical internship, required.
Physical Requirements:
OCCASIONALLY: Biohazard waste, Climb stairs/ladder, Flexing/extending of neck, Hand use: grasping, gripping, turning, Lifting / Carrying: 11-20 lbs, Lifting / Carrying: 21-40 lbs, Lifting / Carrying: 41-60 lbs, Lifting / Carrying: 61-100 lbs, Loud Noises, Pushing / Pulling: 0-25 lbs, Pushing / Pulling: 26-40 lbs, Pushing / Pulling: 41-60 lbs, Reaching above shoulder, Repetitive hand/arm use, Sitting
FREQUENTLY: Bend/twist, Blood and/or Bodily Fluids, Color vision, Communicable Diseases and/or Pathogens, Depth perception, Lifting / Carrying: 0-10 lbs, Peripheral vision, Squat/kneel, Standing, Walking
CONTINUOUSLY: Audible speech, Computer skills, Decision Making, Hearing acuity, Interpreting Data, Patient Equipment, Problem solving, Seeing – Far/near
Additional Physical Requirements performed but not listed above:
(not specified)
"The above list of duties is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this classification. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties performed by the individuals so classified, nor is it intended to limit or modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under their supervision. EOE M/F/Disability/Vet"
Other facts
About Nationwide Children's Hospital
Nationwide Children’s is one of America's largest pediatric hospitals, an international leader in research and is ranked in all 10 specialties on U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-26 “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” list. Our staff, comprised of 1,600 medical professionals and over 16,000 employees, provides state-of-the-art pediatric care for 1.8 million patient visits annually. And, according to the Children’s Hospital Association, Nationwide Children's is the #1 provider of pediatric surgery in the country.
Our doctors represent every major pediatric sub-specialty. With over 50 locations throughout Ohio, signature programs include heart, cancer, gastroenterology and neonatology care, all of which are internationally recognized. Tim Robinson is CEO of Nationwide Children’s Hospital, which includes the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation and The Center for Family Safety and Healing at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s physicians train the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the Top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded freestanding pediatric research facilities. Nationwide Children’s remains true to the original mission since its founding in 1892 of providing care regardless of a family’s ability to pay. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org.
What you'll do
- Develop and implement interventions to support the emotional and social well-being of children and their families. Collaborate with the healthcare team to provide education and support regarding medical procedures and diagnoses.
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