Child Life Specialist - NE

To qualify for the Child Life Specialist position at Novant Health, you will need a Bachelor's degree in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Recreational Therapy, Psychology, or a related field. Certification from the Association of Child Life Professionals is required. Additionally, having at least one year of experience and a total of 10,400 hours as a Certified Child Life Specialist will strengthen your application, making you an ideal candidate for this impactful role.

As a Child Life Specialist at Novant Health, your responsibilities will include providing emotional support and therapeutic interventions to pediatric patients and their families. You will also participate in program development, mentorship of new staff, and lead interdisciplinary education. Apart from direct patient care, you’ll be involved in research initiatives, development of new clinical programs, and various activities aimed at enhancing the pediatric experience during medical encounters.

Novant Health offers diverse career advancement opportunities for Child Life Specialists. You can expect to participate in leadership roles and mentorship programs, engage in specialized training, and contribute to program development within the Child Life Center. Your growth can lead to more senior positions where you can make significant impacts in pediatric care and support your colleagues in their professional journeys.

At Novant Health, we prioritize diversity and inclusion in all our healthcare roles, including that of the Child Life Specialist. We believe that leveraging diverse talents and perspectives can enhance patient care and team dynamics. You will be encouraged to share your unique experiences and insights while supporting varied patient demographics, ensuring that every child receives compassionate and personalized care.

At Novant Health, Child Life Specialists can expect robust support from a collaborative, multidisciplinary team. You will have access to ongoing training, resources for professional growth, and opportunities to participate in departmental meetings and community involvement activities. Our supportive environment aims to empower you to excel in your role and provide exceptional care to pediatric patients.

When answering this question, provide specific examples of situations where you have successfully offered emotional support to children during medical procedures. Highlight your techniques, such as using play therapy or providing education to alleviate fears, to illustrate your approach and effectiveness in creating a comforting environment.

Explain your strategies for multitasking and prioritizing patient care, such as using assessments to evaluate the urgency of each patient's needs or collaborating with your healthcare team. Share a relevant experience demonstrating your ability to manage multiple responsibilities successfully while ensuring quality care for all patients.

Emphasize the collaborative nature of your role within a multidisciplinary team, detailing how you contribute to patient care discussions, share insights from therapeutic interactions, and support other team members in understanding the emotional and psychological needs of pediatric patients.

Discuss your communication and support techniques for engaging families. Highlight the importance of keeping families informed, encouraging their involvement in the treatment process, and providing resources or counseling services to help them cope with their child's situation.

Describe your approach to program development, including assessing patient needs, collaborating with other staff members for input and resources, and using evidence-based practices to craft impactful therapeutic activities. Share any successful initiatives you've led to showcase your capability in this area.

Demonstrate your understanding of child behavior by discussing strategies to engage reluctant patients. Share techniques such as building rapport, using creative engagement methods, or adapting activities to better align with the child's interests, emphasizing your flexibility and sensitivity.

Highlight your understanding of culturally competent care and share examples of how you've tailored your interventions to respect and honor the diverse backgrounds of your patients and their families, ensuring that your care is inclusive and respectful of personal values and traditions.

Discuss your methods for ongoing professional development, such as attending workshops, conferences, and staying active in the Association of Child Life Professionals. Share how you integrate new knowledge and skills into your practice to provide the best care possible.

Be prepared to share a specific example, titling the challenge faced, your approach to resolving it, and what you learned from the experience. This demonstrates your problem-solving abilities and resilience in difficult situations.

Offer your perspective on the core qualities that support effective child life practice, such as empathy, effective communication, flexibility, and the ability to advocate for patients and their families. Your answer should reflect a deep understanding of the role's significance in a healthcare setting.