Critical Care New Graduate RN Residency (Cardiac ICU or Pediatric ICU)

The Nurse Residency Program offers new graduate nurses the opportunity to launch their careers in either the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) or Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) while receiving comprehensive support, mentorship, and hands-on training from expert pediatric critical care teams.

Our 26-bed CICU provides highly specialized care for patients with congenital and acquired heart disease and is home to advanced programs including ECMO, VAD, heart transplantation, and a state-of-the-art Telehealth Command Center.

Our 46-bed PICU, expanding to 60 beds in 2027, is a regional referral center and Level I Trauma Center caring for children with complex medical, surgical, trauma, neurologic, oncology, and respiratory conditions.

As a Nurse Resident, you will participate in a structured residency program that combines classroom learning, simulation, precepted clinical experiences, and ongoing professional development. Working alongside nationally recognized pediatric specialists and interdisciplinary teams, you will develop the skills and confidence needed to care for critically ill children and support their families during some of their most challenging moments.

Minimum Education

• Associate's Degree ASN (Required)
• Bachelor's Degree BSN (Preferred)

Minimum Work Experience

• 0 years (Required)

Required Skills/Knowledge

• The licensed Registered Nurse will successfully complete the hospital and nursing orientation at Children's National.
• Identify resources and know when to ask for assistance.
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills.
• Identify self learning needs and seek resources to meet those needs.

Required Licenses and Certifications

• Registered Nurse licensed in the District of Columbia, Maryland or Virginia dependent upon location of practice. (Required)
• Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) (Required)

Functional Accountabilities

Transformational Leadership

• Contribute to MagnetTM re-designation as evidenced by timely annual completion of professional profile and participation in relevant councils, committees, task forces and/or community outreach.
• Demonstrate critical thinking skills as evidenced by successful completion of change project.
• Recognize need to escalate patient care issues via chain of command.
• Utilize the currently identified process to ensure accurate hand off.
• Demonstrate ability to work cohesively with ancillary staff to meet patient care needs.
• Cooperate in the implementation of change and support management decisions.
• Demonstrate empathy, concern and a desire to be helpful to others.

Structural Empowerment

• Complete all mandatory education and regulatory requirements and participates in professional activities to enhance nursing practice.
• Participate in performance appraisal and peer review.
• Support department goals for formal education, national certification, national safety standards and service excellence.
• Work in a collaborative manner with all members of the healthcare team and is viewed positively by coworkers.

Exemplary Professional Practice

• Gather physical and psychosocial data on patient and family and complete accurate and timely patient assessment.
• Demonstrate clinical skills necessary to care for assigned patients.
• Develop assessment, organizational and prioritization skills necessary to care for patients whose clinical needs change throughout the shift.
• Complete documentation in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Continually assess and plan proactively for educational needs throughout hospital/clinic stay and before time of discharge.
• Organize care 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