Professional Staff Nurse, UPMC at Home

UPMC•Altoona, PA

About The Position

The Professional Staff Nurse delivers skilled nursing services to patients in their homes according to the physician’s plan of care, agency policies and procedures, applicable fiscal intermediaries and regulatory requirements, and recognized standards of nursing practice. The nurse assesses and interprets patient data to identify individual care requirements and establishes collaborative relationships with physicians, other health care providers, patients, and families to support desired outcomes throughout the continuum of care. Assignments are determined by the branch Clinical Manager based on factors such as leave coverage, increased patient volume, and vacancies. The role coordinates care within an interdisciplinary team, completes patient assessments, develops and implements plans of care in collaboration with the physician and care team, provides direct care and patient and family education, and evaluates and adjusts care as indicated. The nurse also supervises and teaches other nursing personnel as needed, completes timely and accurate electronic documentation, participates in meetings and process improvement, and takes part in weekend and on-call coverage rotation. Successful completion of Home Health/Hospice Orientation is required upon hire.

Requirements

Current Registered Professional Nurse licensure in the state where the facility is located, or licensure under an applicable multistate Nursing Licensure Compact agreement.
CPR certification meeting AHA standards, including didactic instruction and skills demonstration, within 30 days of hire.
Graduate nurses must complete the licensure examination within six months of hire or within one year of graduation, whichever comes first; UPMC requires examination within six months of the graduate nurse’s start date.
Automotive insurance.
Basic Life Support (BLS) or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
Driver’s license.
Registered Nurse (RN) license or Temporary Practice Permit (TPP).
Act 33 clearance.
Act 34 clearance.
OAPSA clearance.
Ability to establish and maintain positive, caring relationships with executives, managers, physicians, non-physician providers, ancillary and support staff, other departments, and patients and families.
Ability to work productively and effectively in a complex environment, manage multiple or changing priorities, and work with specialized equipment.
Good clinical judgment, critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving abilities related to patient care.
Critical thinking skills necessary to apply and lead others in the nursing process.
Mobility and visual-manual dexterity.
Physical stamina for frequent walking, standing, lifting, and positioning of patients.
Successful completion of Home Health/Hospice Orientation upon hire.
Demonstrate knowledge of lifespan growth and development and the ability to assess and interpret patient data to identify age-specific care requirements.
Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care for or interact appropriately with patients served by the assigned unit.

Nice To Haves

Zero to two years of experience preferred.
Six months of nursing experience in an Acute Care or Skilled Care Facility, Home Health, or Hospice Care preferred.
BSN preferred.

Responsibilities

Coordinate case management activities within an interdisciplinary health care team to ensure appropriate delivery of services to patients.
Attend compliance training and follow organizational standards of conduct, policies, and procedures.
Provide customer-focused service that supports optimal patient satisfaction.
Complete initial and comprehensive patient assessments.
Use feedback and self-identified developmental needs to improve knowledge, skills, and performance.
Initiate, coordinate, and maintain communication with physicians and other interdisciplinary health care team members.
Evaluate patients and provide family-centered health teaching.
Provide direct patient care, evaluate outcomes, and adjust the nursing care process as indicated.
Establish plans of care with the physician, patient, and interdisciplinary team in accordance with physician orders and patient needs.
Assign other interdisciplinary team members as appropriate to deliver services ordered in the plan of care.
Supervise and teach other nursing personnel, including LPNs and Home Health Aides, as needed.
Attend and participate in case conferences, team meetings, and other work-related meetings.
Recognize limitations and request assistance or direction to meet performance goals.
Complete required documentation accurately and promptly in the electronic documentation system, including visit assessments, plans of treatment, and verbal orders, while in the patient’s home and within agency and regulatory standards.
Transmit (data sync) information on the same day.
Identify and investigate organizational issues and recommend solutions.
Exercise independent judgment regarding emergent and non-emergent patient care needs and communicate with the physician.
Identify, develop, and participate in agency process improvement opportunities to enhance service quality.
Participate in weekend and on-call agency coverage rotation according to BU guidelines.
Demonstrate knowledge of UPMC’s standard of care delivery and proficiency in all aspects of patient care, including complex and specialized care.