Professional Staff Nurse, 8 South Neurology

Job Description

UPMC Hamot, a Magnet designated facility located in Erie, PA, is currently hiring a Full-Time Staff Nurse to support 8 South - Neurology (Med Surg). 

About UPMC Hamot  

UPMC Hamot, an ANCC Magnet-recognized hospital since 2016, is the region's only trauma center and certified comprehensive stroke center. We are the first hospital in the nation to use new, groundbreaking robotic technology for earlier detection of lung cancer. We are also the first and only hospital in the region to offer kidney transplants and the first hospital in Erie to perform the transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedure. 

At UPMC Hamot we want the next step in your nursing career to be the right one. We believe that as a nurse, the care you provide can have a positive effect on not only the quality of life of your patients and their families but can be a driving force in your career development. Join us at UPMC Hamot as we provide Life-Changing Medicine to our community.   

Title and salary will be determined based on education and nursing experience.  

Sign-On Bonus Details (Full Time status)

• $20,000 sign-on bonus available for nurses with over one year of experience
• $15,000 sign-on bonus available for graduate nurses

Neurology and Neurosurgical Acute care Unit 8 South is a 20-bed unit who cares for adult and geriatric neurological or neurosurgical patients. Within the 20 beds are 9 beds capable of accommodating intermediate care patients and 2 beds capable of accommodating epilepsy monitoring patients (EMU). The unit provides service to patients with neurological conditions that include cerebral vascular accidents (CVAs), seizures, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), multiple sclerosis (MS), and other neurological disorders.  The unit also provides for patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures, which include craniotomies, back surgeries, spinal cord stimulators, deep brain stimulators, cranial nerve decompressions, and aneurysm coilings/clippings. This unit has a 6:1 nurse-patient ratio every shift.

As a nurse at UPMC, you will find:  

• Competitive wages  

• A highly rated benefits package, including tuition reimbursement.   

• Top clinicians, leading researchers, and the most modern equipment and technology in health care today  

UPMC is committed to investing in nurses like you – financially, personally, and professionally – starting on day one of your career. From tackling student loans to advancing your career later in life, UPMC is the partner you need to succeed and thrive in your nursing career.  

Here’s how we support our nurses:  

• Up to five and a half weeks of Paid Time Off annually, plus seven paid holidays each year  

• Dedicated career ladders, including a self-promoting nursing career ladder, allowing you to achieve your highest potential while rewarding you for your experience and advanced education  

• Tuition reimbursement of up to $6,000 per academic year at any accredited institution, is available to employees and their dependents (plus discounts for UPMC employees including no-cost RN-MSN options!)  

Purpose: The Professional Staff Nurse is a Registered Nurse who plays a key role in delivering high-quality patient care. They are accountable for setting care standards, managing patient care, and collaborating with healthcare teams. Their responsibilities include leadership, communication, and supervision, ensuring effective partnerships with physicians, patients, and families to achieve optimal health outcomes. They also demonstrate a strong commitment to both the community and the nursing profession.

Responsibilities:

• Develops and maintains productive working relationships internally and externally by demonstrating accountability for actions, enthusiasm, motivation and commitment to patients and colleagues. Demonstrates an understanding of cultural differences and holds peers accountable for healthy relationships.
• Maintains a conscious balance between work and personal life. Models safe work hours, time management and healthy lifestyle. Communicates with peers and management any safety hazards identified in the workplace.
• Demonstrates knowledge of adult learning principles (and/or teaching children if applicable) and applies in teaching of patients, families, students and new staff. Provides detailed and appropriate teaching to patients and families to effectively guide them through the episode of care as well as transition to another level of care and/or home.
• Supports the development of students, new staff and colleagues, may serve as a preceptor. Creates an environment of open dialogue, inquiry and continuous development by asking for feedback and improving practice.
• Applies the nursing process within the framework of Relationship Based Care to create a healing environment. Formulates daily goals and a plan of care for patients that involves the patient as partner and considers the individual needs of the patient in a holistic manner.
• Demonstrates critical thinking in the identification of clinical, social, safety, psychological and spiritual issues for the patient care within an episode of care. 
• Practices solid communication skills, and is able to articulate and translate the patient's condition to other care providers and to negotiate and make recommendations for changes in patient care and unit practices. Patient documentation is comprehensive and promotes communication between caregivers. 
• Incorporates national professional organization as well as business unit and health system's goals to improve patient safety, quality and satisfaction. Creates a caring and compassionate patient focused experience by building healing relationships with patients, families and colleagues.
• Demonstrates accountability for professional development that improves the quality of professional practice and the quality of patient care. Actively participates in unit-based shared governance, goal setting and supports the change and transition process to improve quality of care and the practice environment.
• Serves as a highly engaged and full partner on the care team and responds willingly to care team member needs for assistance and partnership. Participates in work that improves patient care and the professional practice environment. Adapts to change and demonstrates flexibility with the change process.
• Actively participates in department or unit-specific quality improvement efforts. Identifies opportunity for quality improvement to colleagues and management. Takes personal responsibility in improving patient satisfaction with the quality of care and service.
• Utilizes research and evidence-based practice to support improvement in clinical care: identifies research issues or articles related to clinical specialty or areas of interest, discusses opportunities for quality improvement at multidisciplinary rounds, and influences patients' plans of care.

• Demonstrates knowledge and skills to care for patients of varying ages, as required by the assigned unit.
• Understands growth and development principles across the lifespan.
• Assesses and interprets patient data to meet age-specific care needs per department policies.
• 0–2 years of nursing experience required. BSN preferred.
• Builds and maintains positive, caring relationships with staff, departments, and patients/families.
• Works effectively in complex environments with shifting priorities and specialized equipment.
• Possesses strong clinical judgment, critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Applies and leads others in the nursing process using critical thinking.
• Requires mobility, visual/manual dexterity, and physical stamina for frequent walking, standing, lifting, and patient positioning. -
• UPMC offers flexible scheduling options, including night and weekend shifts with premium pay. - Special shift programs require at least 6 months of nursing experience and may include orientation during regular hours. Candidates interested in special programs should inform their recruiter during the interview.
  Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
  
   
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) within one year of hire or transfer
• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire.
• NIH Stroke Scale (NIH) within 6 months of hire or transfer.
• Registered Nurse (RN) OR Temporary Practice Permit (TPP) Graduate nurses must complete licensure examination within SIX MONTHS of hire or within one year of graduation, whichever comes first. Though temporary permits are valid for one year from the date of graduation, not one year from issue of permit (or until the results of the examination are known at which time it becomes null and void), UPMC requires that GNs take the licensure examination within 6 months of their start date or they will be terminated or demoted from the GN position, at the discretion of the BU.
• Act 34
• UPMC approved national certification preferred.

*Current licensure either in the state where the facility is located or, if the facility is in a state covered by the multistate Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) agreement, a multistate license issued by a participating NLC state. Hires and current employees working on an out-of-state NLC license who later change their residency to the state where the facility is also located will have 60 days upon changing their residency to apply for licensure within that state.