Primary City/State:

Tucson, Arizona

Department Name:

Child Life Specialists-Hosp

Work Shift:

Day

Job Category:

Clinical Care

Find your path in health care. We want to change the lives of those in our care – and the people who choose to take on this challenge. If you’re ready to change lives, we want to hear from you.

FT day 8a-4:30pm Monday- Friday

This Child Life Specialist position will support a 32 bed general medical/surgical pediatric unit day to day – provide support, coping mechanisms, help decrease anxiety of families. Provide education on disease, bereavement, sibling support, and therapeutic play. Must have completed a 600 hour Child Life Internship and be able to sit for the Child Life Certification exam within 12 months of hire.

Banner - University Medical Center Tucson is nationally recognized for providing exceptional patient care, teaching future health-care professionals and conducting groundbreaking research. Also located on the campus is Diamond Children's - recognized for its specialized pediatric services including neonatal and intensive care, emergency medicine and cancer therapies. Banner - University Medical Center Tucson is a Level 1 Trauma Center, meaning we care for the most critically injured patients. The hospital is consistently listed among the nation's top hospitals in the prestigious Best Hospitals ranking by U.S. News & World Report. The academic medical center has earned Magnet Recognition becoming the only hospital in southern Arizona to meet the rigorous standards of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program® for nursing excellence. The hospital's physicians are full-time faculty of the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson. Our specialty services include comprehensive heart and cancer care, advanced neuroscience techniques and a multi-organ transplant program.

POSITION SUMMARY
This position addresses the unique developmental needs of children from birth to 18 years of age, and their families, to reduce the stress accompanying hospitalization by providing child-friendly, family-centered care.

CORE FUNCTIONS
1. Provides opportunities for and facilitates a variety of play and activity forms, which promote self-healing, self-expression, understanding and mastery. Uses developmentally appropriate methods in preparing children and families for diagnostic and treatment procedures.

2. Extends support and offers counsel to family members, with respect to their own stress and needs. Supports family bonds and utilizes family strengths in the care of the child. Offers counsel specific to the impact of health care experience.

3. Provides consultation on the impact of environmental factors on the child’s adaptation to hospitalization and treatment. Utilizes stress reduction techniques to facilitate adaptive coping. Provides emotional support during identified stress points.

4. Provides child health care education. Provides or cooperates with programs, which assure continuity in the child’s normal life experience, e.g. school programs, personal and holiday celebrations.

5. Provides inter-disciplinary in-service on child development and the impact of illness, injury, and hospitalization on children and families.

6. Provides consultation to the health care team regarding the developmental status and individual needs of children to promote adaptation to treatment. Documents Child Life services in the patient’s care record, as well as program service statistics.

7. Although based in Pediatrics, incumbent may be assigned to serve in the Emergency Department, the Preoperative Areas, or the Outpatient Treatment Center, in addition to general Pediatrics and Pediatric Intensive Care. Incumbent may also be called to consult in any area of the hospital where there are children. The position will serve one facility, but will consult with other facilities at any time in keeping with the purpose of the position. The internal customers served by this position are the patients and their families, as well as volunteers. The external customers are individuals and groups in the community who contact the department with requests, or offers of assistance.


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

This position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Child Life or related field, and a completed Child Life internship supervised by a CCLS. As of January 1, 2019, the clinical internship requirement = 600 hours.

Requires Professional Child Life Certification, or eligibility for Certification. Those without current Child Life Certification will be required to obtain Certification within one year of hire.
BSS applicants must present a current Child Life Certification to be eligible for a BSS position.

Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is a requirement of the job.

The incumbent must possess strong skills in the following areas: growth and development, play and activities, the learning process, coping, assessment, interventions to prevent emotional trauma, collaboration with other health professionals, and a basic understanding of children’s illnesses and medical terminology.

Must be proficient with commonly used office software.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Additional related education and/or experience preferred.

EEO Statement:

EEO/Female/Minority/Disability/Veterans

Our organization supports a drug-free work environment.

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