Professional Staff Nurse, Outpatient - Women's Cancer Center

UPMC•Mechanicsburg, PA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Professional Staff Nurse plays a key role in setting and upholding the standards for high-quality patient care. In this role, you will exercise professional judgment, clinical expertise, and strong communication skills to deliver compassionate, evidence-based nursing care. You will be responsible and accountable for coordinating and providing care to a designated group of patients and their families, working collaboratively with physicians and the broader healthcare team to support optimal outcomes across the continuum of care. Building and maintaining positive, effective relationships with patients, families, and colleagues is central to this position. The Professional Staff Nurse also demonstrates a strong commitment to the nursing profession and to the community, contributing to a culture of excellence, safety, and continuous improvement. This position plays a central role in guiding patients through their treatment trajectories, serving as a trusted resource and advocate throughout the care journey. Candidates who value purpose-driven work, interdisciplinary collaboration, and long-term patient relationships will find this role both rewarding and personally fulfilling. This role offers the opportunity to provide care across the full continuum within a highly specialized women’s oncology setting. The department is deeply focused on women’s health and delivers comprehensive, patient-centered care from diagnosis through treatment and beyond. In addition to clinical excellence, the team is committed to community impact, education, and advocacy, allowing staff to contribute meaningfully both inside and outside the clinical environment. Our team emphasizes a collaborative, team-based approach to care, fostering strong professional relationships and a culture of mutual support. Oncology work is both meaningful and impactful, and team members often form close bonds through the shared mission of supporting patients during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. This role provides the opportunity to gain experience in a highly specialized area of oncology while continuing to grow professionally within a supportive and engaged team.

Requirements

Minimum six months experience preferred.
BSN preferred.
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.
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.
CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire.
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.
Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Registered Nurse (RN) OR Temporary Practice Permit (TPP)
Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting
Act 33
Act 34
Act 73 FBI Clearance
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.

Nice To Haves

UPMC approved national certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Actively leads and participates in quality improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to enhance patient care and satisfaction by applying evidence-based research and clinical best practices.
Establishes and maintains positive, collaborative relationships with executives, physicians, staff, patients, and families, effectively navigating complex, fast-paced environments with strong clinical judgment and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrates physical stamina and dexterity needed for patient care activities, including lifting, positioning, and use of specialized equipment.
Applies adult learning principles to educate patients, families, students, and new staff through clear, tailored communication—both in person and remotely—while fostering an environment of continuous learning and feedback.
Develops comprehensive, patient-centered care plans that address clinical, social, psychological, and spiritual needs; coordinates care with physicians and other providers, ensuring thorough documentation and effective communication across the care team.
Aligns patient care practices with national standards and organizational goals, promoting safety, quality, and patient satisfaction throughout each episode of care.
Demonstrates accountability for ongoing professional development, actively engages in shared governance, supports change management, and works collaboratively as a committed member of the care team.
Cultivates culturally sensitive, productive relationships while modeling professionalism, work-life balance, time management, and proactive communication regarding workplace safety.