Registered Nurse (RN) II - Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse

Kids Are Our Everything.

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. Services are provided daily, 24 hours per day.

A Registered Nurse (RN) in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) provides specialized, high-acuity care to critically ill and injured infants, children, and adolescents requiring continuous monitoring and advanced life support. Working within a 46-bed regional referral and Level I Trauma Center, the PICU RN collaborates closely with pediatric intensivists, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, and multidisciplinary specialty teams to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care. The RN manages complex medical and surgical patients, including those with respiratory failure, sepsis, multi-system organ failure, seizures, meningitis, severe trauma, burn injuries, cancer-related complications, and post-operative needs following neurosurgical, craniofacial, ENT, and other specialty procedures. Responsibilities include performing comprehensive patient assessments, monitoring hemodynamic status, administering medications and blood products, managing ventilators and invasive lines, responding to emergencies and resuscitations, and providing family-centered education and support. The PICU RN also participates in rapid response and Code Blue events throughout the hospital, helping stabilize critically ill patients while ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, and compassionate care 24 hours a day.

Minimum Education BSN Graduated from an approved school of nursing. (Preferred)Minimum Work Experience 1 year RN experience (Required)Required Skills/Knowledge The licensed Registered Nurse will successfully complete the hospital and nursing orientation at Children's National. Keep knowledge base current with new information or changes in specialty area.Required Licenses and Certifications Registered Nurse in District of Columbia Registered Nurse licensed in the District of Columbia, Maryland or Virginia dependent upon location of practice. (Required)

Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Required

Transformational Leadership

• Contribute to Magnet re-designation as evidenced by independent updating of professional profile and initiation of council involvement, committees, task forces and /or community outreach.

• Demonstrate critical thinking skills by problem solving appropriately during patient care.

• Communicate to reflect development of plan of care and ability to advocate to meet patients' needs.

• Independently initiate escalation of issues utilizing chain of command.

• Demonstrate proper use of the currently identified hand off processes.

• Demonstrate a collegial and respectful relationship with ancillary staff.

• Participate in implementing change and support management decisions.

• Role model behavior that reflects empathy, concern and a desire to help others.

Structural Empowerment

• Independently maintain regulatory requirements e.g. license, BLS.

• Plan for attendance at mandatory education and professional activities to enhance nursing practice.

• Demonstrate professional review of peers through timely participation in evaluations.

• Seek out opportunities to participate in enhancing departmental goals by ensuring adherence to national safety standards and service excellence standards; support advancement of education and certification as well.

• Collaborate with members of the healthcare team and role model professional behavior and teamwork with coworkers.

• Utilize resources as needed and know when to escalate to next level.

Exemplary Professional Practice

• Utilize assessment data gathered from patient and family to ensure completion of data base and plan of care within identified timeframes.

• Demonstrate clinical skills with complex patients that reflect analysis of patient status and appropriate interventions.

• Role model skill in prioritization and organization for complex patient with rapidly changing needs.

• Documentation exemplifies adherence to the highest standards of practice.

• Anticipate and proactively plan for educational needs verified with patient and family throughout the hospital/outpatient stay and prior to discharge.

• Role model organizational skills, adjust for changes and is able to complete assignment on time.

• Demonstrate caring in all encounters with patient and family as evidenced by feedback from parents and an increase in patient satisfaction scores.

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance

• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation

• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation

• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication

• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers

• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance

Organizational Accountabilities New Knowledge, Innovations, and Improvements

• Identify ways to improve operations through quality improvement and assist in implementation of solutions.

• Identify self learning needs and take initiative to meet those needs.

• Ensure care is based on evidence with the literature and benchmarking

Organizational Commitment/Identification

• Partner in the mission and upholds the core principles of the organization

• Committed to diversity and recognizes value of cultural ethnic differences

• Demonstrate personal and professional integrity

• Maintain confidentiality at all times

Customer Service

• Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met

Teamwork/Communication

• Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior

• Partner with all team members to achieve goals

• Receptive to others' ideas and opinions

Performance Improvement/Problem-solving

• Contribute to a positive work environment

• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change

• Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes

• Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment

Cost Management/Financial Responsibility

• Use resources efficiently

• Search for less costly ways of doing things

Benefits That Support You:

• Comprehensive health coverage, including medical, prescription, infertility, and transgender health services.
• Generous paid time off, including vacation accrual from day one, sick leave, holidays, and a personal day.
• Financial wellness support, including a 401(k) plan and healthcare and dependent care spending accounts.
• Employer-paid life, AD&D, and long-term disability coverage