Child Life Specialist (Minnesota)
Program description
Mayo School of Health Sciences (MSHS) offers a 480-hour Internship in child life at Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minn. This program meets the requirements for those students who wish to become a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS).
Child Life interns are given opportunities to apply their academic learning to patient care interactions and guided to refine skills in establishing professional relationships, patient assessments, preparing children for hospital procedures and facilitating coping skills. At Mayo Clinic, you will:
- Work closely with experienced and skilled child life staff who will give you personal, one-on-one attention as you develop your own competence and style.
- Work with Mayo Clinic nurses, child life specialists, physicians, social workers, chaplains and other allied health professionals in an atmosphere of respect for each professional's role.
- Serve a large, diverse patient population with common and uncommon medical conditions.
Patients are evaluated based on information from standard assessments, observations, medical records, and discussions with medical staff and family members and the patient. Child life specialists may instruct patients in relaxation techniques, and other coping skills as they prepare for medical tests and procedures. Child life specialists also direct planned and spontaneous play activities with and for pediatric patients. Child life specialists are members of the psychosocial team that supports patients and families as they navigate through stressful times. Additionally, specialists observe and document patients' participation, reactions and progress.
Accreditation
Mayo Foundation is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Higher Learning Commission.
- Higher Learning Commission
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30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400
Chicago, IL 60602-2504
- Phone : 800-621-7440 (toll-free) or 312-263-0456
- Fax: 312-263-7462
Facilities
The site for this internship is Saint Marys Hospital, part of Mayo Clinic in Rochester. You will train primarily on the pediatric units, and may have exposure to the Emergency Department and to adult patient care units in response for assistance with children of adult patients.
The Mayo Clinic campus in Rochester comprises an extensive outpatient complex, two hospitals and research and education facilities. Mayo Clinic, which also includes campuses in Arizona and Florida, is among the largest, most advanced medical centers in the world.
Graduation and certification
Students receive a degree from their college or university commensurate with their didactic and clinical training.
Graduates then must schedule and complete their certification exam through the Child Life Council, Inc. (CLC). It is recommended that you successfully pass this certification examination before or within the first year after you begin work as an entry-level child life specialist.
Hours
For the majority of the internship, your learning schedule will include eight-hour days, five days per week. While the regular workweek is usually 40 hours, additional projects, patient activities and homework may be assigned. Some weekend hours will also be included in your schedule.
Class size
Each fall, Mayo School of Health Sciences admits two students to its Child Life Internship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. This ensures you will receive a comprehensive educational experience within a very small cohort.
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