Child Life Specialist: Dialysis

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 54,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO 30 days

Weekend differential

Job summary

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is seeking a Child Life Specialist for the Dialysis Unit in the Burnet Campus, Cincinnati, OH. This role supports pediatric patients and families during dialysis, providing emotional care, coping strategies, and education while coordinating with the care team.

The position offers a day shift, 40 hours per week, with opportunities for growth and close collaboration with outpatient CLS colleagues across the hospital.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field required.
• Completion of child life internship under the supervision of a certified CLS required. Please note: Candidates who have not completed the required internship will not be considered for this position.
• Must be Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) within one year of hire.

Responsibilities

• Patient Care
• Professional Responsibility
• Departmental Responsibility
• Data Management
• Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Completion of child life internship

Job description

Child Life Specialist: Outpatient Clinics with a focus on Child Life Services in the Dialysis Unit

This position serves as the primary Child Life Specialist in the dialysis unit and provides additional support to outpatient Child Life Specialists as needed.

About the Job

In pediatric dialysis, a Child Life Specialist supports children and families through dialysis by assessing emotional needs, reducing stress and anxiety, preparing and educating children about procedures, preserving normal play and social experiences, teaching coping skills, supporting caregivers, and collaborating with the healthcare team.

Location

Burnet Campus, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati OH 45229

Employment Details

• Primary Location: Burnet Campus
• Department: Child Life & Integrative Care
• Shift: Day (United States of America)
• Schedule: Full time
• Weekly Hours: 40
• Employee Status: Regular
• Full-time Equivalent: 1.0 FTE

Starting Pay

Expected Starting Pay Range: $53,705.60 - $67,142.40

Starting pay is based on experience, skills, and equity; exceptions may apply for highly qualified candidates. Additional pay (e.g., shift, on-call, or weekend differentials) and benefits may apply. Annual pay may vary based on FTE status.

Pay starts at $53,705.60 annually (as a salaried/exempt employee) and can increase based on years of experience.

Schedule

Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm. Weekend Rotation: working one weekend day every eight weeks is required. $5.00/hour weekend differential on qualified hours. Holiday responsibilities within the division's holiday coverage practice.

Benefits

• 30 days of paid time off accrued per year. Unused PTO rolls over.
• Weekend differential: $5.00 per hour on qualified hours.

Required Job Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field required.
• Completion of child life internship under the supervision of a certified CLS required. Please note: Candidates who have not completed the required internship will not be considered for this position.
• Must be Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) within one year of hire.

About Child Life at Cincinnati Children's

At Cincinnati Children's we want to ensure every visit is as safe, convenient, and comfortable as possible. Providing an exceptional level of care means reaching far beyond our medical expertise - that's where our Child Life Specialists come into action: promoting play, education, developmental progress, coping skills and psychosocial support. Whether it is a trip to the Emergency Department, a short follow-up appointment or an inpatient stay, a visit to the hospital can be a scary and overwhelming experience - for patients, siblings and for their families.

The Child Life Program works with patients of all ages in different medical settings to help support emotional safety and normalize the process of receiving medical care. Child Life Specialists are certified and have significant clinical expertise in the developmental impact of illness and injury. This helps improve patient and family care, satisfaction, and healthcare experiences. In addition, Clinical Assistants provide important opportunities for play-based activities that promote coping and normalization.

Job Responsibilities

• Patient Care
• Professional Responsibility
• Departmental Responsibility
• Data Management
• Teamwork

About Us

Cincinnati Children's, we come to work with one goal: to make children's health better. We believe in a holistic team approach, both in caring for patients and their families, and in advancing science and discovery. We strive to do better and find energy and inspiration in our shared purpose. If you want to be the best you can be, you can do it at Cincinnati Children's.

Cincinnati Children's is:

• Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as atop 10 best Children's Hospitals in the nation for more than 15 years
• Consistently among the top 3 Children's Hospitals for National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding
• Recognized as one of America's Best Large Employers (2025), America's Best Employers for New Grads (2025)
• One of the nation's America's Most Innovative Companies as noted by Fortune
• Consistently certified as great place to work
• A Leading Disability Employer as noted by the National Organization on Disability
• Magnet® designated for the fourth consecutive time by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

We Embrace Innovation-Together. We believe in empowering our teams with the tools that help us work smarter and care better. That's why we support the responsible use of artificial intelligence. By encouraging innovation, we're creating space for new ideas, better outcomes, and a stronger future-for all of us.

Comprehensive job description provided upon request.

Equal Opportunity

Cincinnati Children's is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an environment of dignity and respect for all our employees, patients, and families. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, genetic information, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. EEO/Veteran/Disability.