Be part of a culture of learning and growth.
At Seattle Children's, we are committed to making our patients and their families feel as safe and comfortable as possible during their stay with us.
If you are an RN with the spirit and commitment to care for children, we'll provide the support, whether you are a new graduate, experienced adult RN or highly experienced pediatric RN.
Because Children's is a premier research and teaching facility, you'll have the opportunity to work with the foremost pediatric healthcare experts as well as the latest — often newly emerging — therapies, treatments and technologies.
Nursing practice at Children's is evidence-based. Our shared governance councils include unit-based and nursing-wide Evidence-Based Practice Councils where nurses receive support for reviewing existing evidence or developing projects to identify pediatric nursing best practices. Our Nursing Research Committee provides support for protocol development and Institutional Review Board approval.
"The working environment can be summed up in one word: 'collegial.' I feel that the nurses and MDs work so well together in order to provide thorough care."
Elaine Beardsley, CNS, in the Emergency Department
You'll have access to the resources of the University of Washington School of Nursing, which was rated number one in the country and is just a mile away. Seattle University and Seattle Pacific University also have outstanding graduate programs.
Children's is committed to using Continuous Performance Improvement (CPI) to deliver the best healthcare to patients and families. At the heart of this effort are our patients, and a pledge to find better ways to deliver the highest service and value while removing wasteful practices. Nurses lead and are involved in successful CPI initiatives in all areas at Children's.
Our Services, Your Specialty: Nursing Units
Ambulatory Clinics
Ambulatory Services encompasses more than 30 different specialties, with additional subspecialty clinics offered at the hospital and at five regional locations. Primary care services are also offered at Odessa Brown Children's Clinic. Nursing roles include direct patient care, phone advice and education, coordination of care across multiple settings and case management.
Consulting Nurse Services
Consulting nurses provide telephone triage and consultation, child health education and referrals in a 24-hour call center.
Dialysis
The all-RN dialysis staff works with acute and chronic patients requiring hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and continuous renal replacement therapy. You'll apply your skills and knowledge to meet new challenges on a daily basis.
Emergency Department
Our ED handles more than 37,000 patient visits annually, treating children with all medical, surgical and hematology-oncology emergencies, as well as minor trauma.
"I work in the ED because of its atmosphere of change. I am surrounded by 'can-do' people who embrace change for the good of patients and families."
Jenni Zanatta, Charge RN
Home Care Infusion Therapy
As a Home Care Services infusion RN, your role will involve starting peripheral IVs, management of outpatient infusion administrations, and the use and maintenance of central lines. You'll also be cross-trained to provide enteral and infusion discharge teaching at Children's and during home visits.
Inpatient Psychiatric Unit (IPU)
As an RN on the IPU team, you will be responsible for leading the mental health specialists in the day-to-day management of the children on the IPU. This includes administering medications, managing parent communications and directing staff responding to challenging patient behaviors. You will be caring for children ages 3 to 17 who have a variety of behavioral health disorders, including ADHD, depression, eating disorders and autism.
Medical Unit
As part of our 78-bed Medical Unit, you will work in collaboration with our multidisciplinary team. You'll learn EEG telemetry; asthma management skills; and management of diabetes, seizures, cystic fibrosis, Crohn's disease, newborn sepsis and many other medical conditions that affect infants through young adults. Staff RNs also have the opportunity to develop expertise in airway management and respiratory assessment while caring for patients with tracheotomies and on ventilators. The unit's family-centered environment provides you with many opportunities for teaching and primary nursing.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
This 19-bed unit provides quaternary care to neonates up to 44 weeks gestational age. Many of the patients have congenital diagnoses requiring specialized pre-operative and post-operative surgical care. Critically ill neonates with complex medical issues are also cared for in this unit. The all-RN staff works closely with respiratory therapists, nutritionists, social workers, pharmacists and physicians to provide specialized care, including nitric oxide, ECMO/ECLS (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation/extracorporeal life support) and infant ground transport. One of the goals of the NICU is to provide a family-centered care environment where parents are partners in care.
Occupational Health Services
Occupational Health Services manages occupational health programs and services. Nurses work with a primarily adult population of employees and volunteers. Typical activities include ensuring that employees have adequate immunity to vaccine-preventable disease, managing response to employee communicable disease exposures, and developing and administering programs to prevent occupational injuries and illnesses.
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit/Cardiac ICU
The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is separated into two teams: PICU and Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU). The PICU/CICU is a 26-bed quaternary care center for patients from newborns (44 weeks gestational age) up to young adults. The all-RN staff works closely with respiratory therapists, nutritionists, social workers, pharmacists and physicians to care for these critically ill children.
PICU patients have conditions including septic shock, solid organ transplant (liver, intestine, kidney), advanced bone marrow transplant, neurosurgery and other pediatric surgeries. Specialized care provided in the PICU includes ECMO/ECLS (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation/extracorporeal life support), continuous renal replacement therapy, liver dialysis, nitric oxide and intracranial pressure monitoring.
CICU patients, ranging in age from newborn to 21 years, have complex congenital defects requiring surgery, cardiology and/or cardiac transplant care. Specialized care provided in the CICU includes ECMO/ECLS, continuous renal replacement therapy, nitric oxide, ventricular assist devices, open chest procedures and temporary pacemakers.
Rehabilitation/Complex Care Unit
Collaborating with a cross-disciplinary team, you'll care for children with traumatic brain injury, spinal cord trauma, burns and neurological disorders, as well as physical or cognitive disabilities. As care coordinators for patients and families, rehab RNs help to organize the family's experience and prepare them for the transition back to their community.
Research
As a research nurse, you'll make complex research observations and perform precise collections of specimens, while providing exemplary patient care. You'll apply the knowledge and skill necessary to provide appropriate interactions with staff, families and patients of all ages.
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (Hematology/Oncology) Unit
The Northwest source for diagnosing and treating childhood cancers, this 39-bed unit is part of the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA), a unique partnership among three world-class organizations: Seattle Children's, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and University of Washington Medicine. Here, you'll care for children, adolescents and young adults who have cancer, blood disorders or who need bone marrow transplants. New RN staff receive extensive orientation with a preceptor. Learning opportunities are ongoing with colleagues throughout the SCCA.
Surgical Services
The OR suite consists of 14 operating rooms, Phase I and II PACU, Surgery Center and Pre-Anesthesia Clinic. We perform procedures on newborns to adults in the following services: Cardiovascular, Neurosurgery, Plastic, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, Urology, General Surgery, Dental, Orthopedics, GI, Dermatology and Ortho-oncology.
Surgical Unit
As a nurse on the 66-bed Surgical Unit, you'll care for patients ranging from newborn to 21 years old. Family-centered care is a hallmark of our practice. Our unit is comprised of two teams:
- G3 Surgical Unit: This is primarily a post-operative unit. Most patients here are cared for by the Neurosurgery, Orthopedics or General Surgery services. Other services include Urology, Otolaryngology, Plastic Surgery and Craniofacial. This is a fast-paced unit with the average length of stay less than two days.
- G4 Cardiac/Transplant Unit: This is primarily an intermediate care unit with the largest population of patients cared for by the Cardiac Surgery, Cardiology or Solid Organ Transplantation services. Other services include Nephrology, GI as a bridge to small-bowel transplant, and General Surgery. Patients on this unit have high acuity and complex care needs.
"Our morning-rounds process actively involves patients and families, and ensures that the General Surgery team understands each child's plan of care first thing in the morning."
Ronelle Caskey, PNP, Surgical Unit
Learn more about Children's clinical services.