Professional Staff Nurse- PACU

Professional Staff Nurse, BSN Expert (PACU)

Are you an experienced BSN-prepared Registered Nurse ready to take your practice to the next level? Join our PACU team as a Professional Staff Nurse, Expert, where you'll serve as a clinical leader, mentor, and change agentshaping patient care while developing the next generation of nurses.

Why This Role Stands Out

• Flexible scheduling: 40 hours/week with options for (4) 10-hour shifts or (2) 8-hour + (2) 12-hour shifts
• Daylight-focused: PACU hours between 5:00 AM 11:30 PM (variable start times)
• Minimal call commitment:
• Weekend daylight call: every 46 weeks
• One holiday daylight call per year
• Work-life balance: No scheduled nights, weekends, or holidays
• No floating required
• Supportive culture: Collaborative, cohesive team with a strong, positive unit environment

What You'll Do

As a nurse leader on the unit, you will:

Deliver Expert-Level Patient Care

• Manage and coordinate care for a group of patients using critical thinking and clinical expertise
• Develop and implement individualized, holistic care plans in partnership with patients and families
• Promote a safe, compassionate, and healing patient experience

Lead and Mentor

• Precept and develop students, graduate nurses, and new hires
• Identify learning opportunities and foster continuous professional development
• Serve as a role model and trusted resource for the care team

Drive Quality & Innovation

• Lead and participate in quality improvement and evidence-based practice initiatives
• Support process improvements that enhance patient outcomes and staff engagement
• Actively contribute to shared governance and unit/hospital-wide councils

Collaborate & Communicate

• Build strong interdisciplinary relationships across the care continuum
• Advocate for patients while effectively communicating with providers and team members
• Promote a healthy, respectful workplace culture

What We're Looking For

• BSN-prepared Registered Nurse
• Demonstrated clinical expertise and strong critical thinking skills
• Passion for teaching, mentoring, and professional development
• Commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care and teamwork
• Proven ability to lead initiatives and influence positive change

Your Impact

In this role, you'll go beyond bedside careyou'll shape practice standards, mentor future nurses, and drive meaningful improvements in patient care delivery, all within a supportive and high-performing PACU team.

• At least 1 year of experience preferred.
• BSN preferred.
• Annual completion of a professional contribution selected from department, hospital or system goals, and approved by Unit Director AND either:
• UPMC approved nursing certification required within 1 year of hire/transfer and must be maintained.
• Certification not required if Master's in nursing or DNP is held. If a BSN is held, a Master's degree in a related field may be substituted in lieu of Certification.
• The individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and/or interact appropriately to the ages of the patients served by his/her assigned unit as specified below.
• They must also demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs and to provide the care needs as described in the department policy and procedures.
• Must obtain a Solid/Strong/Good or higher on a Professional Staff Nurse Performance Evaluation to be promoted to this level. Must maintain a Solid/Strong/Good or higher on annual performance evaluation to maintain status.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive, caring relationships with executives, managers, physicians, non-physician providers, ancillary and support staff, other departments, and patients/families.
• Ability to work productively and effectively within a complex environment, handle multiple/changing priorities and specialized equipment.
• Exemplary clinical judgment with critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving abilities required as related to various aspects of patient care.
• Critical thinking skills necessary to exercise and to lead others in application of the nursing process.
• Mobility and visual manual dexterity.
• Physical stamina for frequent walking, standing, lifting and positioning of patients.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

Additional License Requirements Annual completion of a professional contribution selected from department, hospital or system goals, and approved by Unit Director AND either: UPMC approved nursing certification required within 1 year of hire/transfer and must be maintained. Certification not required if Master's in nursing or DNP is held. If a BSN is held, a Master's degree in a related field may be substituted in lieu of Certification. CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire. Current licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse either in the state where the facility is located or in a state covered by a licensure compact agreement with the state where the facility is located.

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Act 34
• 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.

Applicants will be placed in the appropriate job title and salary from the career ladder, based on their individual experience and education.

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran