Professional Staff Nurse, Expert - Nights - ED Observation - UPMC West Shore Experienced RNs Only

UPMC•Mechanicsburg, PA

About The Position

The Professional Staff Nurse, Expert is a Registered Nurse and member of the care delivery team who is responsible for nursing care and for seeking opportunities to improve practice. The nurse sets standards for the level and quality of care and is accountable for managing and providing care to a group of patients and their families through independent judgment, communication, and collaboration. The role includes leadership, partnership, collaboration, and supervision, as well as maintaining collaborative relationships with physicians, other health care providers, patients, and families to achieve desired outcomes across the continuum of care. The nurse also demonstrates commitment to the community and nursing profession. The Expert nurse serves as a role model and unit leader in areas such as clinical expertise, teaching, specialized resources, or evidence-based practice. They support professional learning, precept students and new staff, promote quality improvement and patient safety, and contribute to a caring, culturally aware, healthy workplace. They participate in shared governance, hospital-wide councils, and teams that improve patient care and the work environment. This position is for the Emergency Department Observation unit at UPMC West Shore and is listed for nights. Title and starting pay may vary based on experience. The position is intended for experienced RNs.

Requirements

At least 4 years of experience.
Current Registered Professional Nurse licensure in the state where the facility is located or an applicable multistate license under the Nurse Licensure Compact.
Basic Life Support (BLS) or CPR; CPR must meet AHA standards, including didactic and skills demonstration components, within 30 days of hire.
An UPMC-approved nursing certification is required within 1 year of hire or transfer and must be maintained, unless exempted by the stated graduate-degree qualifications.
Annual completion of a professional contribution selected from department, hospital, or system goals and approved by the Unit Director.
Must have a Solid/Strong/Good or higher Professional Staff Nurse Performance Evaluation to be promoted to this level and maintain that rating on annual evaluations.
Ability to establish and maintain positive, caring relationships with executives, managers, physicians, other providers, support staff, other departments, and patients and families.
Ability to work effectively in a complex environment, manage multiple or changing priorities, and handle specialized equipment.
Exemplary clinical judgment, critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving abilities related to patient care.
Critical thinking skills to apply and lead others in applying the nursing process.
Mobility and visual manual dexterity.
Physical stamina for frequent walking, standing, lifting, and positioning of patients.
Ability to demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed to care for or interact appropriately with the ages of patients served by the assigned unit, including knowledge of lifespan growth and development and age-specific assessment and care needs.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.
A Master's degree in nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) removes the nursing-certification requirement.
For a nurse holding a BSN, a Master's degree in a related field may substitute for the nursing-certification requirement.

Responsibilities

Precept students, graduate nurses, and new hires, and identify learning opportunities to improve patient care practices.
Seek feedback, pursue continuous professional improvement, and support clinical learning by sharing research and professional resources, presenting on the unit, and supporting journal clubs.
Apply the nursing process within Relationship Based Care to create a healing environment and develop patient-involved, holistic daily goals and plans of care.
Communicate and document patient conditions and care comprehensively, collaborate with other care providers, and make recommendations about patient care and unit practices.
Use critical thinking to identify clinical, social, safety, psychological, and spiritual issues relevant to patient care.
Incorporate professional organization, business unit, and health system goals into daily work to improve patient safety, quality, and patient experience.
Build caring, compassionate relationships with patients, families, and colleagues, and foster a healthy workplace with cultural awareness and attention to horizontal violence and impairment.
Identify opportunities for clinical quality and workplace improvement and apply evidence-based practice.
Serve as a recognized unit leader, provide appropriate feedback to health care team members, and participate in nursing peer review.
Promote changes that improve patient care and the unit environment; serve on teams and lead successful teams.
Demonstrate advanced clinical assessment and analytical skills and participate actively in unit shared governance and hospital-wide councils.
Perform in accordance with system-wide competencies and behaviors and perform other duties as assigned.
Complete an annual professional contribution selected from department, hospital, or system goals and approved by the Unit Director.
Maintain a Solid/Strong/Good or higher annual performance evaluation.