Registered Nurse Coordinator – Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Program

Primary Location

Burnet Campus

Department

Device Nexus

Shift

Rotating (United States of America)

Schedule

Full time

Weekly Hours

40

FTE

1

Employee Status

Regular

 

*Expected Starting Pay Range

$81,723.20 - $104,208.00

*Starting pay is based on experience, skills, and equity; exceptions may apply for highly qualified candidates. Additional pay (e.g., shift, on‑call, or weekend differentials) and benefits may apply. Annual pay may vary based on FTE status.

 

Registered Nurse Coordinator – Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Program

Department: Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Program – Heart Institute
Shift/Hours: Days | Full-Time | 40 hours/week | Four 10-hour shifts (7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.) | Overnight, weekend on-call and holiday rotation required

Coordinate Life-Saving Care. Change Children's Lives.

At Cincinnati Children's, we come to work with one goal: to make children's health better. As one of the nation's leading pediatric heart programs, our Heart Institute provides world-class care for children with the most complex cardiovascular conditions. Our Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Program cares for children requiring mechanical circulatory support as a bridge to heart transplantation, recovery, or long-term therapy.

As the RN Coordinator – Ventricular Assist Device Program, you will serve as a clinical expert and care coordinator for pediatric patients supported by ventricular assist devices. This highly specialized role offers the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with patients and families while collaborating with nationally recognized physicians, surgeons, advanced practice providers, perfusionists, pharmacists, therapists, and nursing teams to provide seamless, comprehensive care.

Why Join the VAD Team?

The VAD Program provides highly specialized care for children with advanced heart failure requiring mechanical circulatory support. Every patient presents unique challenges, making this a rewarding opportunity for nurses who enjoy critical thinking, care coordination, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

In this role, you will:

• Coordinate care across the continuum—from inpatient hospitalization through outpatient follow-up.
• Develop lasting partnerships with patients and families during their transplant and recovery journey.
• Collaborate with nationally recognized pediatric heart failure and transplant specialists.
• Serve as a clinical resource for bedside nurses and interdisciplinary team members.
• Help advance innovative therapies that improve outcomes for children with complex heart disease.

Position Summary

The RN Coordinator is responsible for coordinating all aspects of care for pediatric patients requiring ventricular assist devices. This role ensures continuity of care across inpatient and outpatient settings while promoting patient safety, family education, and exceptional clinical outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate comprehensive care for pediatric patients receiving ventricular assist devices throughout their treatment journey.
• Serve as the primary nursing contact for patients, families, and referring providers.
• Collaborate with cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, advanced practice providers, intensivists, and multidisciplinary team members to develop and implement individualized care plans.
• Coordinate admissions, procedures, outpatient follow-up appointments, diagnostic testing, and transitions of care.
• Provide patient and family education regarding VAD management, medications, emergency preparedness, home care, and lifestyle considerations.
• Monitor patient progress, recognize changes in clinical status, and facilitate timely interventions.
• Participate in inpatient rounds, multidisciplinary conferences, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Support clinical program development through education, policy implementation, and evidence-based practice.
• Participate in overnight and weekend on-call coverage to provide clinical support for patients and families.

Qualifications

Required

• Current Registered Nurse license in the State of Ohio.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required or obtained within organizational guidelines.
• Minimum of five years of recent pediatric cardiac, critical care, or related nursing experience.
• Strong assessment, communication, organization, and care coordination skills.

Preferred

• Experience caring for pediatric patients with heart failure, ventricular assist devices, ECMO, cardiac transplant, or congenital heart disease.
• Care coordination or nurse coordinator experience.
• Certification in a pediatric or cardiovascular specialty.

Why Cincinnati Children's?

Working as a nurse at Cincinnati Children's means joining a nationally recognized organization committed to providing exceptional patient care while investing in your professional growth.

Our nurses practice relationship-based, family-centered care and are empowered to collaborate, innovate, and lead within an environment that values excellence and compassion.

As a Magnet-designated organization, Cincinnati Children's is recognized for nursing excellence and a commitment to delivering outstanding patient outcomes.

Join Cincinnati Children's and become part of a team dedicated to transforming the lives of children with advanced heart failure through exceptional, compassionate, and innovative care. Together, we make children's health better.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Clinical Inquiry - Follows standards and guidelines; implements clinical changes and research-based practices developed by others; Identifies research opportunities to promote improved clinical practice for VAD patients. recognizes the need for further learning to improve patient care; recognizes routine or obvious changing patient situation (e.g., deterioration, crisis); in unusual care situations, seeks help when needed to identify patient problem. Uses self-appraisal performance review and peer review, including annual goal setting, for assurance of competence and professional development to promote safe and ethical practice using the nursing process. Demonstrates openness to coaching and mentoring from others. Facilitates learning by assisting with peer and student learning experiences. Works with department managers, nurse council and magnet representatives to identify, share, implement and evaluate safety best practices.

• Collaboration - Receptive to the contributions of the interdisciplinary team in team meetings and discussion regarding patient issues. Attend daily rounds on Heart Failure and VAD in house patients; collaborate in the clinical coordination of inpatient and outpatient VAD care. Participate in transplant/heart failure conferences and meetings. Attend and participate in the VAD Outpatient Clinic. Proactively adjust one's style and/or efforts to complement those of others. Provides formal education to health care providers in the hospital and in the community. Functions as a liaison between hospital and community providers to ensure emergency plans are in place. Develop positive working relationships with peers/colleagues. Share knowledge and/or provide support for team members. Contribute to and promote a positive and professional work environment/atmosphere. Participates in shared governance at the point-of-care as a member of unit-based councils or by demonstrating awareness and contributing to shared decision making (reading minutes, giving feedback and implementing council decisions).

• Systems Thinking - Able to recognize pieces or components; sees patient and family within the isolated environment of the unit; understands use of self as key resource to support the family through the healthcare experience. Sustains a working understanding of regulatory requirements and accreditation standards. Supports leadership in efforts to meet and sustain the regulatory compliance efforts of the department and hospital. Monitors and complies with safety and departmental policies and procedures. Ensures all individual certifications and Safety College requirements are fulfilled in a timely basis. Is mindful of CCHMCs processes and compliance with CMS standards and freely communicates safety and compliance concerns to leadership team members.

• Inclusion - Works on behalf of patient and family; assesses personal values; aware of ethical conflicts/issues that may surface in clinical setting; makes ethical/moral decisions based on guidance of Ethics Department and hospital policies; represents patient when patient cannot represent self; aware of patients' rights. Assesses cultural inclusion. Recognizes the potential impact of culture on the patient/family experience and incorporates culturally inclusive concepts into patient care.

• Clinical Judgment - Collects clinical data; follows algorithms, follows algorithms, decision trees clinical guidelines, and protocols. Provide patient care including daily assessments and dressing changes. Matches formal knowledge with clinical events to make appropriate decisions within scope of nursing practice; uses available resources as needed, aware of own limitations and freely seeks the guidance of others. Documents plan of care, care delivered, and patient and family outcomes. Act as a clinical resource to staff and other members of the health care team. Demonstrate advanced competence in specific knowledge, skills and behaviors. Focuses on the usual and customary needs of the VAD patient and family; anticipates future needs; bases care on standards and protocols; maintains a safe physical environment; acknowledges death as a potential outcome. Consistently integrates age specific concepts into patient care, taking into consideration both the patient's chronological age and developmental functioning. Facilitates patient and family learning by providing structured education based on the plan of care goals and the needs of the patient and family.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor degree in related field. May require clinical license, certification or training

• ACEN/CCNE accredited BSN OR MSN OR Associate/Diploma RN AND 2 years experience and BSN/MSN agreement May be required to obtain other state licensure.

• Preferred: MSN

• 5+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

• Active Ohio RN License

At Cincinnati Children’s, we come to work with one goal: to make children’s health better. We believe in a holistic team approach, both in caring for patients and their families, and in advancing science and discovery. We strive to do better and find energy and inspiration in our shared purpose. If you want to be the best you can be, you can do it at Cincinnati Children’s. 

 Cincinnati Children's is: 

• Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 10  best Children's Hospitals in the nation for more than 15 years 

• Consistently among the top 3 Children's Hospitals for National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding 

• Recognized as one of America’s Best Large Employers  (2025), America’s Best Employers for New Grads (2025) 

• One of the nation's America’s Most Innovative Companies as noted by Fortune 

• Consistently certified as great place to work 

• A Leading Disability Employer as noted by the National Organization on Disability 

• Magnet® designated for the fourth consecutive time by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) 

 We Embrace Innovation—Together.  We believe in empowering our teams with the tools that help us work smarter and care better. That’s why we support the responsible use of artificial intelligence. By encouraging innovation, we’re creating space for new ideas, better outcomes, and a stronger future—for all of us. 

Comprehensive job description provided upon request.

Cincinnati Children’s is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an environment of dignity and respect for all our employees, patients, and families. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, genetic information, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. EEO/Veteran/Disability