Graduate Nurse: Journey to ICU- Acute Care Track (UPMC Williamsport)

Graduate Registered Nurse Opportunity

Do you have a career goal to become a skilled ICU nurse? UPMC Williamsport is currently hiring a Full-Time Graduate Registered Nurse to join our Progressive Care Unit Team! Gaining experience in this department will better prepare nurses to transition into our ICUs.

This Journey to ICU Program is designed to equip you with the skills and confidence needed to become a successful ICU nurse. The program currently offering night shift (7p-7a) and requires every other weekend, every other holiday. We are currently hiring for graduating classes of Winter 2026 and Spring 2027!

Participants will begin their first year on our Progressive Care Unit (PCU), where they will build a strong foundation in caring for a diverse and high-acuity patient population. After completing one year from their orientation completion date on the PCU, nurses will have the opportunity to interview for a transition into our Intensive Care Unit (ICU). During this time, our goal is to support new graduate nurses in gaining the clinical knowledge, critical thinking skills, and hands-on experience necessary to thrive in the ICU environment at UPMC Williamsport.

About the Units:

Progressive Care Unit (Step Down) The 6 East Progressive Care Unit (PCU) at UPMC Williamsport is a 24-bed step-down unit that provides an intermediate level of care for patients who require close monitoring and specialized nursing support, but do not meet criteria for intensive care. The unit is designed to bridge the gap between the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and general medical-surgical units, ensuring high-quality, patient-centered care. The nurse to patient ratio is 1:4 or 1:5 depending on staffing availability. Patient Population: The unit serves a diverse and complex patient population, including but not limited to:

• Cardiac conditions: Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), Myocardial Infarction (MI), post-pacemaker insertion, ablation procedures, and post-cardiac catheterization
• Hemodynamic support: Patients receiving intravenous drips such as Nitro, Lidocaine, Milrinone, Dobutamine, Dopamine, Amiodarone, Cardizem
• Anticoagulation and diuretic therapy: Heparin and Lasix drips
• Respiratory support: Chronic ventilator management and V60 BiPAP
• Endocrine emergencies: Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) requiring insulin infusions
• Trauma patients requiring intermediate care
• Patients requiring a higher level of monitoring and intervention than a general medical unit, but who do not meet ICU criteria

The 6 East PCU is committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care in a collaborative environment that promotes healing and recovery.

Intensive Care Unit

UPMC Williamsport's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a state-of-the-art, 28-bed unit designed to provide advanced care for a diverse and high-acuity patient population. Each room is private, featuring en-suite bathrooms and showers, with four rooms equipped for negative pressure isolation. Eleven rooms are outfitted with MAXI Sky lifts to support safe patient mobility, and all rooms are compatible with the AIR Tap system to enhance safety for both patients and staff. Our ICU delivers a wide range of critical care treatments, including ECMO, IMPELLA, IABP, CRRT, TTM, and more. We maintain 24/7 onsite coverage by our Advanced Practice Provider (APP) team and are supported by a full critical care management team. Nurse-to-patient ratios are typically 1:2, with flexibility for 1:1 care when clinically necessary.

The unit features a centralized monitoring system, three multidisciplinary touchdown stations, and dedicated support from Respiratory Therapy, Occupational and Rehabilitation Services, and an on-unit Pharmacist. Additional amenities include:

• On-site sleeping quarters for perfusionists during ECMO cases
• Two dietary rooms and a hospital telemetry monitoring room
• A staff relaxation room for restorative breaks
• A secure locker room and a well-appointed staff break room
• A clean, welcoming visitor waiting area and a private family room for sensitive conversations

Daily huddles are held twice a day in the central hallway to share updates, celebrate HACHP scores, and reinforce our commitment to patient safety. Our leadership team includes four clinical leaders, a dedicated educator, and a unit director, all supported by the Clinical Director of Critical Care and hospital leadershipensuring a collaborative and successful environment for both staff and patients.

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:

• UPMC's brand new Monthly Loan Repayment program, exclusively for graduate nurses, offering $20,000* in loan repayment paid over three years (*Eligible flex full-time RN roles to receive prorated amount)
• Up to five and a half weeks of Paid Time Off annually, plus seven paid holidays each year
• Dedicated career ladders, 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, available to employees and their dependents (plus discounts for UPMC employees including no cost RN-BSN/MSN options!)

This position is eligible for a generous sign-on bonus! Sign-On Bonus Details:

$7,500 sign-on bonus available for Graduate Nurses and nurses with less than one year of experience

**Final candidates will be placed at the appropriate level of the career ladder based on education and years of experience. *

The Professional Staff Nurse is a Registered Nurse and a member of the care delivery team. The Professional Staff Nurse is responsible to set the standards for the level and quality of care. The Professional Staff Nurse has responsibility, authority, and accountability for the provision of nursing care. The Professional Staff Nurse manages and provides patient care activities for a group of patients and their families through the application of independent judgment, communication, and collaboration with all team members. The role of the Professional Staff Nurse encompasses leadership, partnership, collaboration, and supervision. The Professional Staff Nurse establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with physicians, other health care providers, patients, and their families, to achieve desired patient outcomes throughout the continuum of care. The Professional Staff Nurse demonstrates a commitment to 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 a 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 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 a 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, can articulate and translate the patient's condition to other care providers and 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 members needs