Magnet Designation
Learn More About Us:
- Children’s Mercy Hospital, Hospital Hill, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, Missouri
Our staff includes:
|
Job Title |
# of Staff |
|
Nurse Manager |
1 |
|
Assistant Nurse Manager |
1 |
|
Charge Nurse |
6 |
|
Staff Nurse |
65 |
|
Unit-Based Education Coordinator |
1 |
|
Discharge Coordinator |
1 |
|
Licensed Practical Nurse |
1 |
|
Equipment Technician |
2 |
|
Care Assistant |
25 |
|
Unit Secretary |
2 |
Our nursing unit is supported by:
- Multiple Child-Life Specialist assigned to both inpatient and outpatient settings
- Respiratory Therapy support 24/7
- Daytime Satellite Pharmacy support / Central Pharmacy support 24/7
- Social Work support 24/7
- Chaplain support 24/7
- Nutrition support
CMH provides a unique group of staff to care for our patients, including 10 attending physicians. Each physician works with an Advanced Practice Nurse or Physician Assistant as well as a Social Worker to meet the needs of the patient and family. We also have 2 APNs that oversees the inpatient oncology patients receiving chemotherapy.
Staffing ratios provide nurses adequate time to ensure comprehensive care and teaching for the patient and family. The average nurse to patient ratio is 1:3 on the Hematology/Oncology Unit and 1:2 on the Blood and Marrow Transplantation Unit.
Full-time employees on our unit work 3 12-hour shifts each week:
- 7:00 am-7:30 pm
- 7:00 pm-7:30 am
We also have part-time, PRN, and Weekend Option positions.
We have a Charge Nurse on each shift, who typically is not assigned a patient load. Our Charge Nurses are involved with managing the day-to-day operations of our unit.
We generally have a “resource nurse” available Monday through Friday to assist others with procedures, transports, admissions, etc. The Resource Nurse does not usually take a patient assignment unless acuity is very high on the unit.
Orientees train one-on-one with an assigned preceptor throughout the orientation process. Orientation typically ranges from 8 weeks for RNs with experience to 14 weeks for Introductory(Graduate)Nurses, but may be increased or decreased, as needed by the orientee.
Orientees gradually accept patient care responsibilities, taking on a full patient load about halfway through orientation, while being observed closely by the preceptor. At 2-week intervals, the orientee, preceptor and Education Coordinator meet to discuss progress.
Orientees also attend classes in pediatric hematology-oncology that cover a wide range of topics, including disease processes, treatment, and chemotherapy.
Staff Nurses receive ongoing training, to include:
- Educational updates and CEU opportunities throughout the year.
- Certification in sedation and central line care, including basic and advanced skills.
- Certification in Pediatric Advanced Life Support.
- Oncology/Chemotherapy courses, teaching diagnosis, treatments, policies and procedures.
After 2 years of Hematology/Oncology experience, RNs may take the Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse exam.
Paid training is available to become a preceptor, improve leadership skills, attain PALS certification, and more!
We hire Graduate Nurses. Graduate Nurses work with a preceptor for 12 to 14 weeks. Refer to Orientation and Ongoing Training Opportunities for details.
Advancement from Graduate Nurses to Staff Nurse occurs after completing orientation and passing NCLEX.
