Registered Nurse Thoracic Surgery Stepdown

UPMC • Pittsburgh, PA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Join UPMC Shadyside's Surgical Team! This is a Full-Time position for a Registered Nurse on the 3 Main Thoracic Surgery Stepdown unit. UPMC Shadyside is a Magnet-designated teaching hospital with ongoing research and education. The 3 Main Surgical Unit is a 38-bed post-op care unit specializing in thoracic surgery recovery and acting as Shadyside’s surgical stepdown unit. They care for high-acuity patients undergoing procedures such as minimally invasive esophagectomy and lobe resections. The unit also handles interventional cardiac cases from cath and electrophysiology labs. It is a dynamic learning environment where nurses gain hands-on experience with various procedures in a fast-paced teamwork setting. Registered Nurses work rotation shifts including weekends and holidays to ensure 24/7 coverage.

Requirements

• Zero to two years of experience required
• Demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed to provide care and interact with all ages of patients.
• Understand the principles of growth and development over the lifespan.
• Establish and maintain positive, caring relationships with patients and their families, executives, managers, physicians, non-physician providers, ancillary and support staff, and other departments.
• Work productively and effectively in an environment with changing priorities that require specialized skills.
• Think critically to analyze and problem-solve to deliver the best patient care.
• Use sound clinical judgment and problem-solve to deliver quality patient care when it matters most.
• Understand, apply, and champion nursing best practices.
• Ability to work productively and effectively within complex environment, handle multiple/changing priorities and specialized equipment.
• Physical stamina for frequent walking, standing, lifting, and positioning of patients.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) within 12 months of hire
• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) required based on AHA standards that include both didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire.
• 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.
• Graduate nurses must complete licensure examination within SIX MONTHS of hire within one year of graduation, whichever comes first.
• UPMC approved national certification preferred
• Act 34

Nice To Haves

• BSN preferred.

Responsibilities

• Foster positive relationships with colleagues and patients.
• Understand cultural differences and promote healthy interactions.
• Maintain work-life balance and prioritize safety.
• Apply adult learning principles to educate patients, families, and staff.
• Guide patients through care transitions and provide detailed teaching.
• Support colleagues’ development and create an open learning environment.
• Use the nursing process within Relationship Based Care.
• Set daily goals and consider individual patient needs.
• Communicate effectively with care providers and document comprehensively.
• Actively engage in shared governance and quality improvement.
• Adapt to change and contribute to improving patient care.
• Enhance patient satisfaction through evidence-based practices.

Benefits

• Sign-On Bonus: $20,000 for registered nurses with at least one year of RN experience
• UPMC’s Monthly Loan Repayment Program, exclusively for 2026 and 2027 nursing graduates, offering $20,000 in loan repayment paid over three years (Eligible flex full-time RN roles to receive prorated amount).
• Up to five and a half weeks of Paid Time Off annually, plus seven paid holidays each year.
• Dedicated career ladders allowing you to achieve your highest potential while rewarding you for your experience and advanced education.
• Tuition reimbursement of up to $6,000 per academic year at any accredited institution, available to employees and their dependents (plus discounts for UPMC employees including no-cost RN-BSN/MSN options!).

What This Job Offers

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