Even if they’re shared by countless others, your reasons for becoming a pediatric nurse are unique to you. For some, it’s as simple as always having loved children and wanting a career that lets you work with them and help them. For others, it goes back to a personal story or experience – an illness, or a friend or family member’s illness, where a pediatric nurse made all the difference. No matter your motivation, if you’re a pediatric nurse then you’re dedicated to the wellbeing of infants, children, and adolescents, you’ve met all the goals and requirements of your nursing program, and you’ve proven yourself as an intuitive, communicative, empathetic individual.
Professionals like you are all about excellence, no matter what your work setting may be. For you, an organization like Rady Children’s Hospital represents the cream of the crop, and an amazing opportunity for furthering your career goals.
Rady Children’s Hospital is a true standout in the field of pediatric care. A 511-bed teaching hospital affiliated with the University of California/San Diego School of Medicine and a major pediatric clinical research center, Rady is California’s largest children’s hospital, the San Diego area’s only pediatric hospital, and the only designated pediatric trauma center in the entire region. The hospital’s stated mission is to “restore, sustain and enhance the health and developmental potential of children through excellence in care, education, research and advocacy,” and working towards that mission is demonstrated in myriad ways.
Rady is one of the most awarded children’s hospitals in the country. It earned rankings in all ten specialties surveyed by U.S. News & World Report, with four ranking in the top ten: the hospital’s Orthopedics program ranked #2 in the country, Neurology and Neurosurgery ranked #8, Neonatology ranked #9, and its Diabetes and Endocrinology program was #10. Additionally, the facility earned a Great Place to Work Certification, was recognized as one of Chime Digital Health’s “Most Wired” acute facilities, and has earned Magnet Designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center twice. The hospital was also recognized as one of the World’s Best Specialized Hospitals by Newsweek magazine, was honored for its emergency care by the Emergency Nurses Association, and its pediatric intensive care unit received a gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
Compared to other notable organizations, Rady is one of the nation’s newer pediatric hospitals. It was founded in 1954 to help address the scourge of polio, and at that time it treated just 12 patients. Its incremental expansion saw the addition of a child development clinic, a speech and hearing clinic, the purchase of a convalescent hospital and the opening of a surgical wing. Shortly after that, in 1984, the hospital was designated San Diego County’s only pediatric trauma center. In recent years Rady has opened a center for child protection, a new pavilion, a rehabilitation institute, and more, partnering with the University of California/San Diego and growing to its present size and remarkable stature.
Today, Rady Children’s provides care to nearly 300,000 children each year, including nearly 18,000 inpatient admissions and caring for nearly 1,000 trauma patients. The hospital performs approximately 18,000 surgeries per year, including heart surgeries performed at its Heart Institute; offered state-of-the-art cancer care; operates an Autism Discovery Institute that treats hundreds of children, and offers orthopedic and rehabilitation care at both clinics, its Orthopedics and Scoliosis Center, and through its 360 Sports program. All of these programs are supported by and rely upon pediatric nurses.
Rady Children’s Hospital recognizes that its nurses are leaders within their facility and the larger community, and they celebrate the care and compassion that these professionals demonstrate every day. The facility’s commitment to nursing excellence is reflected in its Magnet designation but is also reflected in the way that it rewards its nursing staff every day. Nurses have the opportunity to further their nursing practice, collaborate with other nursing and healthcare professionals, and lead the way in achieving remarkable outcomes for their patients through innovative solutions. The hospital is dedicated to transforming nurses’ caregiving roles.
Nurses on Rady’s staff are offered tuition assistance up to $2,000 each year for tuition fees that support the development of additional skills or knowledge that contribute to their current position or career goals. They are also eligible to receive $300 every two years to pay for workshops and resources that support educational opportunities; paid time off to attend seminars; and a 25% tuition reduction scholarship when attending one of the system’s affiliates. The hospital also offers classes that advance professional development and financially supports nurses pursuing certification in Pediatric Nursing; Critical Care, Pediatric Hematology Oncology; Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing; Pediatric Emergency Nursing; Perioperative Nursing; and Nurse Executive Board Certification.
New graduate nurses are eligible to participate in any of three New Graduate Nurse Residency cohorts held each year designed to transition them from students to hands-on practitioners. The organization also offers similar training programs for registered nurses with a minimum of one year of experience that are ready to specialize in pediatrics.
Rady looks to its nursing staff to bring the magic to the care they provide. While the hospital is specifically dedicated to the care of children, the administration has fostered a culture where that care is spread to everyone else, from families to co-workers. The hospital works to ensure that nurses know how much they are valued through its Total Rewards benefits and compensation program, which offers medical, dental, vision, life, and pet insurance along with a retirement plan, tuition assistance, and a robust wellness program. The organization also provides infertility reimbursement, annual merit increases, longevity increases, success sharing, and a paid leave cash-out program.
Pediatric nurses interested in advancing in their careers can begin their search on Incredible Health’s career page. In just minutes, you can set up a profile and begin hearing from high-quality employers whose opportunities match your preferences.
