Nurses who choose a pediatric focus are dedicated to children’s wellbeing, and those who work in pediatric hospitals are particularly committed to the mission. These facilities offer cutting edge care that makes a world of difference and offer great hope … but they’re also the place where the sickest children are treated, and the greatest compassion, empathy, and emotional strength are needed. Working at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago puts nurses at the center of the highest quality medical care, collaborating with some of the world’s top pediatric professionals.
Lurie Children’s Hospital has received a long list of awards and accolades. The 140-year-old facility was named one of the country’s 20 most innovative children’s hospitals in the country by Parents Magazine and was ranked the top children’s hospital in Illinois by U.S. News & World Report. It was also named one of America’s Best Midsize Employers by Forbes. Of special interest to nurses, not only was Lurie the very first free-standing pediatric hospital in the nation and first hospital in Illinois to receive Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center; it is also one of the few hospitals in the country to have achieved Magnet recognition five times.
Lurie prides itself on providing the best possible care for patients and their families, as well as on advancing knowledge on how best to treat children of all ages. They see more than 239,000 infants, children and teens every year, and as the largest pediatric provider in the region employ more than 1,800 physicians and allied health professionals in 70 pediatric specialties. Their facilities include a level I pediatric surgery center and one of the only freestanding pediatric research centers in the country, the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute.
The hospital’s promotion of children and adolescents’ health and wellbeing does not stop within its own walls. Lurie is actively involved in community initiatives that help children thrive where they live, learn, and play. The hospital is focused on addressing the root causes of health disparities, implementing child and adolescent health programs throughout the region. Beyond local interest, the hospital has assumed an active role in public policy, establishing its Public Policy Committee of the Board to recommend institutional positions on legislation and regulations.
Lurie Children’s Hospital’s mission is to serve every child and promise them a healthier future while providing the highest standard of care. They provide a welcoming and safe environment that makes it a respite for children and their families and an organization that pediatric nurses are proud to work for. Pediatric nurses at Lurie are empowered to find meaning and purpose in their work and their accomplishments.
The hospital employs more than 1,800 nurses, including 300 Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. The nursing staff can serve in a wide range of pediatric specialty areas, including:
- Inpatient Neurology/Endocrine/Neurosurgery/Orthopedic Surgery
- Pediatric Surgery/Transplant Unit
- General Medical, Infectious Disease, Pulmonary, Allergy & Medical Observation Unit
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
- Cancer and Blood Disorders
- Cardiac Care Unit
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- Transport Team
- Emergency Department
- Resource Team
- Operating Room
- Pre- and Post-Procedural Services
- Post-Anesthesia Care
- Sedation Team
- Child Psychiatry
- Vascular Access Team
- Outpatient Department
- Center for Advanced Practice
Nurses at Lurie Childrens Hospital enjoy the benefits that come from working for an employer that recognizes and values their skills, knowledge, and contributions. The facility offers a variety of professional development and scholarship opportunities to help them move forward in their career, as well as the opportunity for deploying their talents within the wider community. Nurses can participate in professional governance councils and committees at either the unit or hospital-wide level to promote collaboration with colleagues and improve patient outcomes. There are also programs designed specifically to reflect Magnet designation standards of excellence, educational support, college tuition and certification assistance and scholarships, and more.
Newly graduated and aspiring nurses can take advantage of a robust student nurse and internship program, while tenured nurses on staff enjoy being recognized through the unique Nurse Exemplar program. Nurses interested in pediatric nursing research are encouraged to take advantage of the many grant programs that provide funding of nurse-initiated research, or to be recognized for primary research as Carroll Scholars.
Pediatric nurses at Lurie Children’s will find the work rewarding and the benefits and compensation generous. In addition, the hospital offers resources to help staff manage their professional and personal priorities including back-up family care (in-home or childcare centers in network, nannies, sitters, and virtual care, educators for learning pods, eldercare, pet care, housekeeping, and more); a retirement savings plan eligible for matching contributions up to 5% of pay; and wellness incentives for employees and their spouses.
Finally, while every healthcare setting is predictably unpredictable, nurses working with a pediatric population face special challenges and emotions. In recognition of the toll that this environment can take, Lurie Children’s provides a special team dedicated to providing traumatic service-related counseling and peer support. Nurses are also offered workshops in building resiliency to support them through compassion fatigue and burnout and to encourage and teach preventive self-care.
Lurie Children’s Hospital works hard to ensure that the pediatric nurses who care for their patients can realize their full potential and feel supported in their work and wellbeing.
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.
