Child Life Program Internship

Mercy Children’s Center

Mercy Children’s Center is a network of pediatric services within Mercy Medical Center, a 917-bed acute care, not-for-profit Catholic hospital situated on three campuses. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1893, Mercy is Des Moines’ longest continually operating hospital and one of the largest employers in the state, with more than 6,800 employees and a medical staff of 900 physicians and allied health professionals.  Mercy is also one of the Midwest’s biggest referral centers, offering a variety of specialty services that are unique to Iowa and the region. Mercy Children’s Center pediatric services include inpatient care, Children’s Emergency Center, Variety Club Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Variety Club Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Children’s Heart Center, Pediatric Clinics, Pediatric Subspecialty Clinic, Mercy Franklin Center and Pediatric Rehab.  Mercy Children’s Center is proud to be Central Iowa's only pediatric cardiology and cardiovascular surgery program.   

Child Life Program

The Child Life Program at Mercy Children’s Center is a vital component of the healthcare team.   Staffed by professionally trained individuals, our Child Life team helps children and their families cope with the emotional and psychological stress of medical experiences.  Beginning in 1996 with just one Child Life Specialist providing services to Pediatrics and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, the program has expanded to include six Child Life Specialists providing services throughout the Medical Center.  Areas of service include Pediatrics and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Medical Imaging, Pediatric Emergency Department and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.  Child Life Specialists are also on-call 7 days a week to work with children of patients in adult units and throughout the hospital who could benefit from Child Life interventions.  Our goal is to meet the psychosocial needs of as many children as we can within the Medical Center. 

Child Life Intership Program

The 14-week Child Life Internship is offered in the Spring and Fall at Mercy Children’s Center consists of a two week orientation, two five-week rotations and a two week enrichment rotation that enables a more in depth learning experience of a specific child life service area of your choice. The units in which you could be rotating include:

• Pediatrics/Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

• Medical Imaging

• Pediatric Emergency Department

• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Additional learning opportunities that are part of the internship include a daily journal, presentation of a case study, completion of an intern project, and weekly educational sessions discussing Child Life related journal articles.  Our internship experience includes all clinical internship essential curriculum topics recommended by the Child Life Council.  The purpose of this internship is to demonstrate how Child Life theory is applied in the clinical setting and to facilitate your transition from student to entry-level Child Life professional. Skills observed and learned throughout your experience will also help to prepare you for the Child Life certification exam.

Child Life Internship Prerequisites

• Bachelor’s Degree or college senior enrolled in one of the following recommended degrees:  Child Life, Child Development, Child and Family Services, Psychology

• High Academic Achievement:  GPA of 3.0 or higher

• Ability to commit to 14 week, 560 hour internship. Interns will be required to work 40 hours per week including some weekend and evening hours

• Ability to pass mandatory health screening and show proof of up-to-date immunization record

• Ability to sign contract of agreement for internship participation with your college/university

• Required readings PRIOR to internship start date:

• Gaynard, L., Wolfer, J. Goldberger, J., Thompson, R., Redburn, L., and Laidley, L. (1990).  Psychosocial Care of Children in Hospitals:  A clinical Practice Manual.

• Thompson, R., Stanford, G. (1981).  Child Life in Hospitals.