Professional Staff Nurse, Expert, BSN - 7E Spinal Cord Injury Rehab

UPMC • Pittsburgh, PA

1d

About The Position

UPMC Mercy is hiring a full-time Professional Staff Nurse, Expert, BSN, for its 7E Spinal Cord Injury Rehab unit. The title and salary depend on education and nursing experience. The Expert level requires four years of nursing experience; candidates with less experience are hired at the appropriate career-ladder level, and graduate nurses are encouraged to apply.

The 20-bed spinal cord injury unit provides coordinated, individualized care for spinal cord injury patients and their families. The program is one of 14 U.S. spinal cord injury model systems designated by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and participates in research and testing new treatments. Nurses are integral members of the multidisciplinary team and coordinate aspects of patient care. Patients have access to technology and comprehensive rehabilitation services.

The Professional Staff Nurse provides competent, empathetic patient care and treatment, using independent judgment, clear communication, and partnership with physicians, other care providers, patients, and families to achieve outcomes across the continuum of care. The nurse sets and is accountable for the standard and quality of nursing care, contributes to the community and profession, and serves as a role model and recognized unit leader in areas such as clinical expertise, teaching, specialized resources, or evidence-based practice.

The Expert-level nurse develops others, supports continuous learning, applies the nursing process and evidence-based practice, and contributes to patient safety, quality, satisfaction, shared governance, and a healthy workplace. The role requires maintaining the applicable professional contribution, certification or qualifying degree status, and performance standards. Required licensure, certifications, and clearances include RN licensure, BLS or CPR, and Act 34 clearance.

Requirements

• At least four years of experience for the Expert level.
• BSN preferred.
• Complete an annual professional contribution selected from department, hospital, or system goals and approved by the Unit Director.
• Obtain UPMC-approved nursing certification within one year of hire or transfer and maintain it, unless exempt through a qualifying Master's in nursing or DNP; if the nurse holds a BSN, a Master's degree in a related field may substitute for certification.
• Achieve a Solid/Strong/Good or higher rating on a Professional Staff Nurse Performance Evaluation for promotion to this level and maintain that rating on annual evaluations.
• Establish and maintain positive, caring relationships with executives, managers, physicians, non-physician providers, ancillary and support staff, other departments, and patients and families.
• Work productively and effectively in a complex environment, manage multiple and changing priorities, and handle specialized equipment.
• Demonstrate exemplary clinical judgment, critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving abilities related to patient care.
• Possess the critical thinking skills needed to apply and lead others in applying the nursing process.
• Demonstrate the knowledge and skills to care for or interact appropriately with the ages of patients served by the assigned unit, including knowledge of growth and development across the lifespan and the ability to assess and interpret age-specific patient needs.
• Have mobility and visual manual dexterity.
• Have physical stamina for frequent walking, standing, lifting, and positioning of patients.
• Hold current Registered Professional Nurse licensure in the facility state or an eligible multistate license under the Nursing Licensure Compact.
• Have BLS or CPR; CPR must meet AHA standards, including didactic and skills-demonstration components, within 30 days of hire.
• Meet the stated Act 34 clearance requirement.

Nice To Haves

• BSN.
• A Master's degree in nursing or DNP, which exempts the nurse from the stated certification requirement.
• If the nurse holds a BSN, a Master's degree in a related field may substitute for certification.

Responsibilities

• Precept students, graduate nurses, and new hires, and support their development.
• Analyze clinical and behavioral situations to identify learning opportunities that improve patient care.
• Seek feedback and apply continuous professional improvement.
• Support clinical-area learning by sharing research and professional materials, presenting on the unit, and supporting journal clubs.
• Apply the nursing process within Relationship Based Care to create a healing environment.
• Set daily patient goals and plans of care that involve patients as partners and consider their individual, holistic needs.
• Communicate and document patient conditions comprehensively; make recommendations and negotiate changes to care or unit practices with other care providers.
• Use critical thinking to identify clinical, social, safety, psychological, and spiritual issues during patient care.
• Incorporate professional organization, business unit, and health system goals into daily work to improve safety, quality, and patient satisfaction.
• Build caring, healing relationships with patients, families, and colleagues.
• Build and mend colleague relationships and model cultural awareness, including preventing and addressing horizontal violence and impairment.
• Balance work and personal life through prioritization and delegation.
• Identify opportunities to improve clinical quality and the workplace.
• Apply evidence-based practice in professional practice.
• Serve on or lead teams that implement patient-care innovations or support a healthy workforce.
• Model professional nursing practice and serve as a recognized unit leader in one or more areas, including clinical expertise, teaching, specialized resources, or evidence-based practice.
• Give appropriate feedback to members of the health care team and participate in nursing peer review.
• Promote changes that improve patient-care quality and the unit environment.
• Serve on teams and lead successful teams as part of daily practice.
• Demonstrate highly developed clinical assessment and analytical skills within Relationship Based Care.
• Participate actively in unit-level shared governance and serve on hospital-wide councils.
• Perform in accordance with system-wide competencies and behaviors and complete other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Generous sign-on bonus; eligibility varies by experience.
• Monthly loan repayment program for graduate nurses, offering $20,000 over three years; eligible flex full-time RN roles receive a prorated amount.
• Up to five and a half weeks of paid time off annually.
• Seven paid holidays each year.
• Tuition reimbursement up to $6,000 per academic year at an accredited institution, available to employees and their dependents.
• UPMC employee discounts, including no-cost RN-BSN/MSN options.
• Dedicated career ladders, including a nursing career ladder, with advancement and recognition for experience and advanced education.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior