RN Pediatric ICU | $25K Sign On Bonus!

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) previously awarded the Children's National Pediatric Intensive Care Unit with a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence. The three-year award marked an important milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and achieving a healthy work environment. The silver-level designation signifies continuous learning and effective systems to achieve optimal patient care and shows alignment practices with AACN's six Healthy Work Environment Standards.

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.

The Division of Critical Care Medicine (CCM) provides services and care to all patients admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Specifically, care is provided for all patients in the PICU, patients within the hospital by request, patients within the hospital as part of all emergencies and resuscitations, and patients in the ED for "medical alerts" and "trauma stats". The scope of services includes resuscitation, life support, monitoring and treatment for life threatening events and diagnostic issues related to these items. Patients may be admitted to and discharged from the PICU based on pre-established guidelines. See section on critical care units.

The department utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach to care, utilizing the services of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, respiratory therapists, social services and other support services necessary to provide quality care. Attending physicians providing care are board eligible or certified in Pediatric Critical Care. The PICU provides CAT (Rapid Response Services) and Code Blue team leadership to support in house clinical emergencies. An attending or fellow along with an ICU nurse and Respiratory Therapist respond to assist in clinical rescues of in-house patients. This service can also be activated by a concerned parent.

Minimum Education
ADN Required, BSN Preferred

Minimum Work Experience
1 year RN experience (Required)

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)

BLS for Providers (Required)