Registered Nurse (New Grad) Peds Transplant and Cellular Therapy

Registered Nurse (New Grads) – Pediatric Transplant & Cellular Therapy/Oncology
Duke University Hospital 
Full Time | Day/Night Rotating 

Duke University Health System seeks to hire an experienced Registered Nurse with a passion for high-acuity, relationship-centered pediatric care to join our Pediatric Transplant & Cellular Therapy/Oncology Unit. This team plays a vital role in Duke Children’s mission of Advancing Health Together.

Unit Overview
This 17-bed blended pediatric specialty unit cares for a unique and complex patient population, including:

• Stem cell transplant recipients

• Cellular therapy patients (including CAR-T)

• Pediatric oncology patients with high-risk hematologic malignancies and brain tumors

• Children with sickle cell disease, metabolic disorders, and genetic conditions

The unit supports longer-term continuity-based care with an average length of stay of ~30 days, allowing nurses to develop deep and meaningful connections with patients and families.

Acuity Level:

• Transplant & cellular therapy patients: ICU-level (“ICU light”)

• Oncology patients: step-down acuity

Staffing & Support Structure

• RN-to-patient ratio: 1:1 to 1:3 depending on acuity

• Free-standing charge nurse 24/7 (no patient assignment)

• Health Unit Coordinator 24/7

• Nursing Assistants/NCAs on unit daily (7a–7p)

• Multidisciplinary rounds with active RN collaboration

What You Will Do
As a Clinical Nurse I, you will deliver comprehensive, evidence-based care in alignment with the medical and nursing plans of care. Responsibilities include:

Core Responsibilities

• Perform thorough pediatric assessments and ongoing monitoring of high-acuity transplant, cellular therapy, and oncology patients.

• Plan, provide, and document individualized nursing care using the nursing process.

• Administer chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and supportive regimens.

• Provide central line management (Broviac, Port-A-Cath, PICC).

• Administer and monitor blood products.

• Identify and respond to early signs of clinical deterioration.

• Educate patients and families on treatment, expectations, and home care.

• Delegate and supervise care delivered by licensed and unlicensed personnel.

• Serve as charge nurse or team leader as needed.

• Act as a preceptor and support the growth of new staff and learners.

• Contribute to clinical and operational performance improvement initiatives.

Specialized Clinical Skills You Will Develop

• Chemotherapy certification

• Cellular therapy and transplant competencies

• Management of:

  • Engraftment syndrome

  • Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)

  • Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS)

  • Neurotoxicity (ICANS)

• Advanced pediatric critical thinking and interdisciplinary communication

What You Can Expect

• A fast-paced, highly collaborative environment

• Relationship-based nursing with long-term patients and families

• Involvement in daily rounds and care planning

• Opportunities to grow in one of Duke’s highest-acuity pediatric care settings

What We Provide

• Paid training: 6–8 weeks of orientation based on experience

• Clinical Ladder advancement opportunities

• Tuition assistance

• Specialty certification bonus

• Performance increases

• Relocation assistance

• Employee referral program

• Comprehensive benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Pension, and more

• Robust professional development through Duke’s Office of Continuing Education

What You Will Need

• Graduation from an accredited BSN, ADN, or Nursing Diploma program

• Must be a December 2025 or May 2026 grad

• RNs without a BSN must enroll in a BSN program within 2 years and complete it within 7 years

Licensure & Certifications

• Current NC RN license or compact license

• BLS certification required

If you are a new grad seeking to grow in a high-acuity pediatric environment—and want to be part of a team that values compassion, competence, and collaboration—we invite you to apply.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.