Child Life Specialist Pediatric ED

Primary City/State:

Tucson, Arizona

Department Name:

Child Life Specialists-Hosp

Work Shift:

Day

Job Category:

Clinical Care

$5,000 sign-on bonus!

*Eligibility for the sign-on requires one year commitment.

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. Banner – University Medical Center Tucson has been named Tucson’s top hospital and the third best in Arizona by U.S. News & World Report. This recognition is based on the latest rankings for the 2024-2025 Best Regional Hospitals, considering performance in 15 specialties and 20 procedures and conditions.

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.

This Child Life Specialist position will provide services to pediatric patients ages birth through 21 years of age and will cover our new state of the art pediatric ED which includes 22 dedicated beds consisting of our medical/surgical unit. You will be providing preparation, procedure support, education, sibling support, trauma, and bereavement support. This position offers the opportunity to work collaboratively on initiatives and expanding Child Life services with the multidisciplinary medical team as well as the Child Life Team.

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

Shift schedule: 

• 40 hours a week (hours are to be discussed during interview)

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, inc