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Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
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Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

I am a Graduate Nurse

Beginning a nursing career is exciting and full of new possibilities. At UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh graduate nurses can choose to work in a variety of pediatric specialties that offer a lifetime of opportunity and rewards. All units accept graduate nurses for employment and primarily schedule 12 hour shifts. Inpatient units that hire graduate nurses include:

Number of Beds on Unit or Patients Seen in Department
24 beds

Types of Patients Served
Adolescent medical to include endocrine as a primary focus, oncology overflow, and the Center for Overcoming Problem Eating.

Ages of Patients
Primarily 12-21 years old with occasional infant/toddler overflow.

Certifications Required and/or Provided by Children’s
Chemotherapy certification is required and provided by Children’s Hospital.

Personal Rewards of Working in This Unit/Department
Adolescent Medical/Endocrine staff has the opportunity to work with this special age group and to develop trusting relationships with those who have chronic illnesses.

Number of Beds on Unit or Patients Seen in Department
12 beds

Types of Patients Served
Dedicated care for critically ill patients with congenital and acquired cardiovascular disease as well as other complex cardiac problems such as trauma. Often these conditions require surgical interventions including heart/lung transplantation. Other interventions include extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), ventricular assist devices (VADs), mechanical ventilation, hemodynamic monitoring, pacemaker therapy, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and inhalation nitric oxide therapy.

Ages of Patients
All ages

Certifications Required and/or Provided by Children’s
PALS and ACLS certifications are required and provided by Children’s Hospital.

Personal Rewards of Working in This Unit/Department
The CICU staff delivers care to a wide range of patients with multiple cardiac diagnoses. The CICU nursing staff provides continuity of care in the critical care setting, through the acute care setting. As a member of the nursing team, there are many opportunities to gain experience in a highly specialized cardiac critical care setting and use of state-of-the-art technology.

Number of Beds on Unit or Patients Seen in Department
The North Surgery Center has four operating rooms and operates Monday-Friday and 1-2 Saturdays per month.

Types of Patients Served
ENT, dental, general and thoracic surgery, ophthalmology, GI, urology, orthopaedics, neurosurgery and plastics.

Ages of Patients
All children and young adults through 26 years of age.

Certifications Required and/or Provided by Children’s
PALS certification is required and provided by Children’s Hospital.

Personal Rewards of Working in This Unit/Department
The Surgical and Same Day/PACU nurses work closely with patients to prepare them for operative procedures, in addition to providing a calm, holistic atmosphere for patients and families throughout the surgical experience.

Number of Beds on Unit or Patients Seen in Department
41 beds
Approximately 80,000 visits per year.

Type of Patients Served
Medical and trauma patients with emergent, urgent and non-urgent conditions. UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh is the only Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center in western Pennsylvania.

Ages of Patients
All ages

Certifications Required and/or Provided by Children’s
Trauma certification and PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) are required and provided by Children’s Hospital. Also CEN (Certified Emergency Nurse), CPEN (Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse), ENPC (Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course) and CPN (Certified Pediatric Nurse) certifications are available through Children’s Hospital.

Personal Rewards of Working in This Unit/Department
Emergency Department staff has an opportunity to work within many disciplines throughout the hospital, all the while experiencing the diversity of patients. Nurses develop autonomy related to their skills and expertise. There is something new to learn every day as staff apply rapid assessment and interventional skills, and act as a patient advocate in the support of patients and families in their time of crisis.

Number of Beds on Unit or Patients Seen in Department
8

Types of Patients Served
Neurology and epilepsy patients requiring continuous video EEG monitoring for 23 hours up to several days.  Epilepsy surgery patients for Phase I and Phase II evaluations.

Ages of Patients
All ages

Certifications Required and/or Provided by Children’s
No certifications required

Personal Rewards of Working in This Unit/Department
The Epilepsy Monitoring Unit allows nurses to work closely with patients, families and EEG Technicians to provide specialty care to those with seizure disorders. In addition, the nurses become specialized in SPECT injections and care of the surgical epilepsy Phase I and II patients.

Number of Beds on Unit or Patients Seen in Department
25 beds

Types of Patients Served
Medical, non-complex general surgery, trauma

Ages of Patients
All ages

Certifications Required and/or Provided by Children’s
Trauma certification is required and provided by Children’s Hospital.

Personal Rewards of Working in This Unit/Department
7C offers staff the experiences to learn how to prioritize and organize care while working with many medical diagnoses. Nurses have the opportunity to provide direct care and family support throughout the patient’s hospital stay.

Number of Beds on Unit or Patients Seen in Department
23 beds

Types of Patients Served
General Thoracic Surgery, Urology, Plastic Surgery and Trauma

Ages of Patients
All ages

Certifications Required and/or Provided by Children’s
Trauma certification is required and provided by Children’s Hospital.

Personal Rewards of Working in This Unit/Department
6B offers staff the satisfaction and rewarding experience of supporting the child and family through all stages of surgery and assisting them in their recovery and transition to home.

Number of Beds on Unit or Patients Seen in Department
19 beds

Types of Patients Served
Hematology, Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplant, Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Transplant

Ages of Patients
All ages

Certifications required and/or provided by Children’s
Chemotherapy certification is required and provided by Children’s Hospital.

Personal Rewards of Working in This Unit/Department
Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant staff has the opportunity to work with high acuity/chronically ill children. The role of the Hematology/Oncology/BMT nurse is direct patient care, advocacy, education, consultation, research, and to develop trusting relationships with patients and families.

Number of beds on units or patients seen in Department
23 Beds

Types of Patients Served
Medical, GI, Pulmonology, and Neonatal overflow.

Ages of Patients
All ages

Certifications Required and/or Provided by Children’s
None

Personal Rewards of Working in This Unit/Department
8B nurses partner with interdisciplinary teams to provide care to patients with a variety of diagnoses. Staff gain experience and satisfaction working with patients and families in this fast-paced environment.

Number of Beds on Unit or Patients Seen in Department
55 beds

Types of Patients Served
Critically ill newborns and infants with complex medical problems. Often these conditions require surgical interventions, inhalation nitric oxide therapy or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

Ages of Patients
Newborns and infants

Certifications Required and/or Provided by Children’s
All staff members complete the Neonatal Resuscitation Program. In addition, more experienced nurses often choose to become CCRN-certified in the neonatal track or to complete the NICU fellowship program.

Personal Rewards of Working in This Unit/Department
Nurses in NICU work in partnership with family members to ensure the best possible experience for the family and the best possible outcome for the patient.

Number of Beds on Unit or Patients Seen in Department
13 operating rooms and 4 procedure rooms.

Types of Patients Served
Cardiac, dental, gastroenterology, general surgery, maxillofacial, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, plastics, transplant, trauma and urological surgery.

Ages of Patients
All ages (cardiac team may have some adult patients)

Certifications Required and/or Provided by Children’s
AORN certification recommended but not required.

Personal Rewards of Working in This Unit/Department
OR Staff has the opportunity to be a part of a multidisciplinary team that treats children who have simple to complex surgeries, including multi-organ transplant and trauma. The hospital performs more pediatric transplants and more kinds of transplant then any other hospital and sees many of the region’s pediatric trauma patients as the region’s only Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center.

Number of Beds on Unit or Patients Seen in Department 
24 beds

Types of Patients Served
Orthopaedic, Neurosurgical and Trauma

Ages of Patients
All ages

Certifications Required and/or Provided by Children’s
Trauma certification is required and provided by Children’s Hospital.

Personal Rewards of Working in This Unit/Department
6A offers staff the satisfaction and rewarding experience of supporting the child and family through crisis situations and assisting them in their recovery.

Number of Beds on Unit or Patients Seen in Department
18 bed spaces and two isolation rooms; caring for more than 14,000 patients per year

Types of Patients Served
Care of patients who have undergone general anesthesia or procedural sedation.

Ages of Patients
All ages

Certifications Required and/or Provided by Children’s
Trauma and PALS certifications are required and provided by Children’s Hospital.

Personal Rewards of Working in This Unit/Department
In the PACU, nurses provide education and support to the patient and family during the process of recovery after a procedure and/or surgery in preparation for discharge.

Number of Beds on Unit or Patients Seen in Department
36 beds

Types of Patients Served
Medical and surgical patients, including trauma, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), transplants, neurology, neurosurgical, orthopaedic, hematology, oncology, respiratory illness and ventilator-dependent patients.

Ages of Patients
All ages

Certifications Required and/or Provided by Children’s
Trauma and PALS certifications are required and provided by Children’s Hospital within three years, nurses are required to obtain CCRN certification.

Personal Rewards of Working in This Unit/Department
Caring for patients of all ages and diagnoses, the PICU nurses work collaboratively with a highly trained multidisciplinary team amid lifesaving technology. PICU nurses provide the maximum level of care to critically ill or injured children.

Number of Beds on Unit or Patients Seen in Department
There are approximately 170,000 patients seen annually in radiology. Two interventional radiology (IR) suites, 4 MRI units on Main campus and one at a Satellite location near the city, 2 CT units and a portable unit, Nuclear and PET departments, 8-pre procedural rooms and 8 post procedural rooms, four Ultrasound rooms, general radiology unit, including Fluoroscopy units, and Emergency Department support. Two Orthopedic general rooms, Dexa scanner, Cardiac Nuclear Stress testing. Radiation Oncology. 

Types of Patients Served
Inpatients, outpatients, clinic patients

Ages of Patients
All ages

Certifications Required and/or Provided by Children’s
Sedation course to be taken within the orientation period of employment. Training provided for pre-and post-care of general anesthesia and sedation patients, PALS certification is required and provided by Children’s Hospital.

Personal Rewards of Working in This Unit/Department
In radiology, nurses have the opportunity to provide direct care and family support, working in different modalities. Nurses apply critical-thinking skills, work independently and become specialized in the field of pediatric sedation and anesthesia (pre- and post-care).

Number of beds on units or patients seen in Department
8 Beds

Types of Services:
Inpatient unit with 24-hour skilled nursing care for children in need of rehab (PT, OT, speech) services and nursing care.

Ages of Patients:
All ages

Certifications Required and/or Provided by Children’s:
Trauma and PALS are required and provided by Children’s Hospital

Personal Rewards of Working in This Unit/Department
The CHRU staff has the opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary team to reintegrate patients back into the community. Nurses develop close relationships with patients and families providing education and supporting patients as they recover and rehabilitate.

Number of Beds on Unit or Patients Seen in Department
14 exam rooms for preoperative care, 14 bed spaces for postoperative care, and 10 bed spaces that can be used for either perioperative or post operative care; caring for more than 11,000 patients per year.

Types of Patients Served
Preoperative and postoperative care for all surgical specialties available at Children’s Hospital.

Ages of Patients
All ages

Certifications Required and/or Provided by Children’s
No certifications required

Personal Rewards of Working in This Unit/Department
Same Day Surgery staff provides education and support to the patient and family during the preoperative and postoperative phases of surgery.

Number of Beds on Unit or Patients Seen in Department
23 beds

Types of Patients Served
Abdominal Transplant and intestinal care

Ages of Patients
All ages

Certifications Required and/or Provided by Children’s
No certifications required

Personal Rewards of Working in This Unit/Department
While caring for high-acuity, chronically ill children, staff has an opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in caring for complex patients (central lines, investigational drug infusions, blood transfusions and complex dressing changes). Nurses develop close working relationships with patients and families on a long-term basis. Children’s Hospital is one of the country’s leading hospitals for transplantation.