CHILD LIFE SPECIALIST

Company: University of New Mexico - Hospitals
Location: Albuquerque
Posted on: January 2, 2026

Job Description:

Sign-On Bonus Available Minimum Offer $ 22.49/hr. Maximum Offer $ 27.91/hr. Compensation Disclaimer Compensation for this role is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to experience, education, and other business and organizational considerations. Department: Child Life FTE: 1.00 Full Time Shift: Days Position Summary: Provide information, therapeutic and crisis intervention, project management, health education, and conducts needs assessment and developmental screening for Pediatric patients and their families. Assist with the supervision of playrooms. Ensure adherence to Hospitals and departmental policies and procedures. Patient care assignment may include: Neonate, Pediatric, Adolescent, Adult and Geriatric age groups. Detailed responsibilities: * DEVELOPMENT - Enhance professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, reading current literature, attending in-services, meetings and workshops * MEETINGS - Attend meetings as required, and participate on committees as directed * ETHICS - Adhere to the Child Life Code of Ethics * EDUCATION - Provide education to professionals as appropriate to introduce information regarding the philosophy of Child Life and developmental and psychosocial issues * DOCUMENTATION - Document patient care services and program activities in medical charts and related documentation formats in compliance with quality assurance and JCAHO standards * INFORMATION - Coordinate and refer patients, families and healthcare providers to appropriate Child Life Program area and/or Family Resource Library for information about illness, pain, disease advocacy, hospitalization, human development and schooling * NEEDS - Attend, collaborate and participate in regular meetings with Child Psychiatry, Pediatric Oncology and others as appropriate addressing psychosocial and developmental needs of pediatric patients/parents; determine appropriate referrals * ASSESSMENT - Interview and assess the psychosocial and emotional status of patients and their families consequent to illness and hospitalization * PLAY SESSIONS - Assist inpatient and outpatient coordinators with the supervision of playroom sessions and/or clinic sessions * THERAPY - Plan, evaluate and provide an overall program of therapeutic interventions designed to address the psychosocial and emotional needs of hospitalized and/or outpatient children and families * PAIN MANAGEMENT - Assess, develop and provide behavioral pain management techniques appropriate for individual needs * ADVOCACY - Advocate individual pediatric patients/parents concerns, special needs, and rights in accordance with Family-Centered Care practices * EDUCATION - Provide support and education to pediatric patients/parents regarding the grief process and promote effective and developmentally appropriate coping skills * CONSULTS - Respond to consults received from hospital staff within 24 hours * DOCUMENTATION - Report and/or document observations, assessments, and interventions to other health care professionals * PROJECTS - Assist in developing and maintaining projects as designed by the Team Leader * PATIENT SAFETY 1 - Follow patient safety-related policies, procedures and protocols * PATIENT SAFETY 2 - Demonstrate proactive approach to patient safety by seeking opportunities to improve patient safety through questioning of current policies and processes * PATIENT SAFETY 3 - Identify and report/correct environmental conditions and/or situations that may put a patient at undue risk * PATIENT SAFETY 4 - Report potential or actual patient safety concerns, medical errors and/or near misses in a timely manner * PATIENT SAFETY 5 - Encourage patients to actively participate in their own care by asking questions and reporting treatment or situations that they don't understand or may "not seem right" Qualifications Education: Essential: * Internship * Bachelor's Degree Nonessential: * Master's Degree Education specialization: Essential: * Child Life Internship * Related Discipline Nonessential: * Related Discipline Experience: Essential: Nonessential: Bilingual English, Spanish, Keres, Tewa, Tiwa, Towa, Zuni, or Navajo Supervisory experience 2 years directly related experience Credentials: Essential: * CPR for Healthcare/BLS Prov or Prof Rescuers w/in 30 days * Child Life Certification within 1 year of position Physical Conditions: Medium Work: Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work. Working conditions: Essential: * Sig Hazard: Chemicals, Bio Hazardous Materials req PPE Department: Clinical Nursing Support

Keywords: University of New Mexico - Hospitals, Albuquerque , CHILD LIFE SPECIALIST, Healthcare , Albuquerque, New Mexico