RN Shift Coordinator - Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)

Children's National Hospital; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 74,112 - 90,581; Full time

Job summary

Children's National Hospital is hiring a Charge Nurse for the PICU. This full-time role requires a Bachelor's Degree and experience in pediatrics. The Charge Nurse will lead the patient care team, manage unit-based clinical care, and ensure quality patient service. The PICU offers a multi-disciplinary approach to care and is recognized for excellence. The position includes a salary range of $82,347.20 and 12-hour rotating shifts. Join a committed team focused on exceptional pediatric care in Washington, D.C.

Qualifications

• 2 years of nursing experience required.
• 1 year of recent pediatric experience in a comparable setting required.
• Registered Nurse in District of Columbia required.

Responsibilities

• Direct activities of patient care delivery team.
• Participate in planning and evaluating unit-based clinical care.
• Ensure continuity of care.

Skills

Patient/family assessments

Therapeutic communication skills

Conflict resolution

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Children's National Hospital is growing. This permanent Charge Nurse role is for the experienced PICU nurse seeking advancement into leadership.

Full‑Time | Rotating Shifts

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

The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is a 46‑bed unit and will expand to 60 beds in 2027. It 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 care delivered by pediatric intensivists and specialty nurses together 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 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.

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.

All nursing practice is based on the legal scope of practice, national and specialty nursing standards, CNMC Policies and Procedures, and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The professional model of care requires registered professional nurses to be responsible and accountable for their own practice.

The Shift Coordinator, on a shift‑to‑shift basis, directs the activities of and/or participates as a member of the patient care delivery team. In collaboration with unit leadership, they participate in planning, managing and evaluating unit‑based clinical care and ensuring that continuity of care is maintained.

Minimum Education

Bachelor's Degree (Required)

Minimum Work Experience

• 2 years of nursing experience (Required)
• 1 year of recent pediatric experience in a comparable setting (Required)

Required Licenses and Certifications

• Registered Nurse in District of Columbia (Required)

Functional Accountabilities

Professional Practice/Research

• Participate/support shared leadership.
• Contribute to CNMC’s Magnet Journey.
• Ensure that nursing is based on evidence of best practice.
• Accountable for supporting/participating in the Division of Nursing’s Performance Improvement process.
• Participate in community activities.

Assessment, Planning, and Implementation of Nursing Process

• Continuously perform patient/family assessments as necessary to ensure needs are met.
• Assess and modify skill mix and staffing levels using manager or clinical coordinator for complex issues.
• Function as a resource in planning patient discharge and all clinical issues.
• Utilize multidisciplinary approach to meet patient care needs.

Demonstrates Ability to Communicate Effectively

• Demonstrate therapeutic communication skills by adopting techniques for specific situations.
• Provide performance feedback to all staff in a constructive, timely manner.
• Effectively manage conflict resolution.
• Serve as consumer advocate for patient/family concerns.

Educates Patient/Family

• Facilitate learning opportunities for all staff.
• Ensure that patient/family educational needs are met.

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 take 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 to self‑check behavior and performance.

Organizational Accountabilities

Demonstrates

• Awareness of cost containment strategies by efficiently planning staffing patterns, level and mix to meet patient care needs.
• Ensure staff adherence to unit/hospital policies.
• Participate in the performance appraisal process for all staff.
• Implement change with a positive impact.
• Display strong leadership in a team environment through example.
• Demonstrate initiatives and leadership through involvement in projects and committee work.

Organizational Commitment/Identification

• Partner in the mission and uphold the core principles of the organization.
• Committed to diversity and recognize value of cultural and ethnic differences.
• Demonstrate personal and professional integrity.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times.

Customer Service

• Anticipate and respond to customer needs; follow up until needs are met.

Teamwork/Collaboration

• 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.

Primary Location: District of Columbia – Washington
Work Location: CN Hospital (Main Campus)
Organization: Patient Services
Position Status: Regular
Work Schedule: Full‑Time, DNR, EOW, 12‑hour shifts
Job Posting: April 15, 2026, 9:01:34 PM
Full‑Time Salary Range: $82,347.20