Whether taking care of infants or treating adolescents, all pediatric nurses are champions for children. Nurses who choose pediatric practice do so with complete understanding that their careers will be as challenging as they are rewarding, and with the hopes that their talents will be deployed in a setting where patients and their families are at the center of care. That is exactly what they find at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in South Florida.
As South Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital has earned its position as Florida’s pediatric leader. The 309-bed facility offers innovative services to children throughout the state, and its over 4,200 employees are integral to the care that it provides. In 2022 the hospital recorded 16,220 inpatient admissions; 15,235 surgeries; over 97,000 emergency department visits; and more than half-a-million outpatient visits.
The hospital is the largest provider of pediatric medical education in the southeastern United States, offers dental services to underserved children and adolescents, provides primary care services for children at 74 public school campuses, and each year offers more than a thousand health and safety classes, support groups, and community events for the benefit of Florida’s children and families. All this and it’s a noted research organization too.
The hospital, which is consistently ranked among the top pediatric hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report has received numerous awards for excellence, including being designated an Association of American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility. Nicklaus was the fifth pediatric hospital in the nation to achieve this recognition, and has also received the organization’s Magnet Prize for its Humpty Dumpty Falls Prevention Program, which is being applied at hospitals worldwide.
For pediatric nurses, the opportunity to work for a world class children’s hospital is a dream come true, especially when the organization is as dedicated to nursing excellence as Nicklaus is. Beyond its four-time Magnet designation, the hospital recognizes and values its nurses for their ability to interpret and act upon the needs of its young patients and to support their families through their healthcare journeys. The hospital works to foster nurse leadership and research, inviting and encouraging staff involvement and innovation to inspire teamwork and excellence in care.
Nurses who have extended their specialty practice beyond pediatrics will find themselves in an environment where their knowledge and experience are prized and put to good use. The hospital has three specialized intensive care units, including its Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and its Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. The hospital has further distinguished itself by being one of only two freestanding pediatric hospitals in the country to have been awarded a gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses for all three units.
Additionally, pediatric nurses will find opportunities in a wide range of medical service areas and locations, including the hospital’s Brain Institute,; Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute; Heart Institute; Orthopedics, Sports Medicine & Spine Institute; Sports Health center; and several urgent care centers, outpatient centers, and pediatric care centers. Nurses provide hands-on treatment as well as being able to reach children through virtual technology.
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is also a source of high-quality continuing nursing education and has been recognized by the ANCC as an Accredited Provider. This means that experienced Nicklaus nurses have access to some of the best interprofessional continuing education programming available, while new nurses will benefit from the hospital’s Horizon Nurse Residency Program, whose Practice Transition Accreditation Program facilitates nurses’ transition to proficiency.
Nurses interested in adding to their professional expertise and leadership have the opportunity to participate in the hospital’s nursing research program as well as in its unique Shared Leadership nursing council/committee structure. Both provide pediatric nurses with unmatched options for career advancement and leadership.
Pediatric nurses considering a career at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital will enjoy the many benefits that come with working for a South Florida “Employer of Choice,” including low vacancy and turnover rates. In addition to an environment that is centered on extraordinary care, the hospital offers attractive, generous benefits that include flexible scheduling, tuition reimbursement, and rewards/incentive programs. Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s Total Rewards Package includes financial benefits, training, education, and tuition as well as health and wellness, but also prioritizes a healthy work-life balance for its employees.
Perks include extensive paid time off (with a twice-per-year cash out program); schedule flexibility; a leave sharing plan; retirement with matching contributions; Florida’s prepaid college program; adoption assistance; onsite dry cleaning, car wash, credit union, and mailroom; a pharmacy and gift shop; a weekly farmers’ market; an onsite gym, nutritionist and care clinic, and a discounted transit program.
These benefits barely scratch the surface of the many ways that Nicklaus Children’s Hospital works to recognize and reward its nursing staff. Incentive programs and referral programs, employee events held throughout the year, an annual service awards program are all enhancements to the professional rewards that come with working for this leader in pediatric care.
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.
