Nurse: ICU Acute Care Track Career Path

Are you looking to launch your nursing career in a dynamic and supportive environment? UPMC Williamsport is currently hiring a Full-Time Registered Nurse to join our Progressive Care Unit Team. Our Journey to ICU Program is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to become a successful and confident ICU nurse.

This program is tailored to provide you with a comprehensive learning experience, allowing you to gain hands-on experience in our Progressive Care Unit and subsequently transition to our ICU. Our team is committed to helping you develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed in this challenging and rewarding field.

About the Units:

Progressive Care Unit (Step Down)

The Progressive Care Unit is a 24-bed Step Down Unit, providing a safe and supportive environment for patients requiring a higher level of care. Our nurse-to-patient ratio is 1:4 or 5, ensuring that each patient receives individualized attention and care.

The patient population served on the unit includes patients with congestive heart failure, MI, pacer, ablation, cardiac cath, hemodynamic drips, chronic ventilator, V60 Bipap, DKA-insulin gtt, trauma patients, and patients requiring a higher level of care but do not meet ICU criteria.

Intensive Care Unit

Our ICU is a 28-bed unit, equipped with state-of-the-art technology and a team of experienced healthcare professionals. We offer a range of treatments, including ECMO, IMPELLA, IABP, CRRT, TTM, and more. Our team is committed to providing exceptional care and support to our patients and their families.

Benefits:

As a nurse at UPMC Williamsport, you will enjoy a range of benefits, including:

• Generous Sign-On Bonus of up to $20,000 for experienced nurses

• UPMC's brand new Monthly Loan Repayment program, exclusively for 2024-2025 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, including a brand-new nursing career ladder added just this year, 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)

This position is eligible for a generous sign-on bonus. Whether you're a recent Graduate Nurse looking to launch your nursing career or a seasoned RN seeking a change, now is your moment to find your place at UPMC.

Sign-On Bonus Details (Full Time or Flex Full Time status)

• $15,000 sign-on bonus available for Graduate Nurses and nurses with less than one year of experience

**Final candidates will be placed at the appropriate level of the career ladder based on education and years of experience. *

The Professional Staff Nurse is a Registered Nurse and a member of the care delivery team. The Professional Staff Nurse is responsible to set the standards for the level and quality of care. The Professional Staff Nurse has responsibility, authority, and accountability for the provision of nursing care. The Professional Staff Nurse manages and provides patient care activities for a group of patients and their families through the application of independent judgment, communication, and collaboration with all team members. The role of the Professional Staff Nurse encompasses leadership, partnership, collaboration, and supervision. The Professional Staff Nurse establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with physicians, other health care providers, patients, and their families, to achieve desired patient outcomes throughout the continuum of care. The Professional Staff Nurse demonstrates a commitment to the community and the nursing profession.

Responsibilities:

• Develops and maintains productive working relationships internally and externally by demonstrating accountability for actions, enthusiasm, motivation, and commitment to patients and colleagues. Demonstrates an understanding of cultural differences and holds peers accountable for healthy relationships. Maintains a conscious balance between work and personal life. Models safe work hours, time management, and a healthy lifestyle. Communicates with peers and management any safety hazards identified in the workplace.
• Demonstrates knowledge of adult learning principles (and/or teaching children if applicable) and applies in teaching patients, families, students, and new staff. Provides detailed and appropriate teaching to patients and families to effectively guide them through the episode of care as well as transition to another level of care and/or home. Supports the development of students, new staff, and colleagues, may serve as a preceptor. Creates an environment of open dialogue, inquiry, and continuous development by asking for feedback and improving practice.
• Applies the nursing process within the framework of Relationship Based Care to create a healing environment. Formulates daily goals and a plan of care for patients that involves the patient as a partner and considers the individual needs of the patient in a holistic manner. Demonstrates critical thinking in the identification of clinical, social, safety, psychological and spiritual issues for the patient care within an episode of care. Practices solid communication skills, can articulate and translate the patient's condition to other care providers and negotiate and make recommendations for changes in patient care and unit practices. Patient documentation is comprehensive and promotes communication between caregivers. Incorporates national professional organization as well as business unit and health system's goals to improve patient safety, quality, and satisfaction. Creates a caring and compassionate patient-focused experience by building healing relationships with patients, families and colleagues.
• Demonstrates accountability for professional development that improves the quality of professional practice and the quality of patient care. Actively participates in unit-based shared governance, goal setting and supports the change and transition process to improve quality of care and the practice environment. Serves as a highly engaged and full partner on the care team and responds willingly to care team members needs for assistance and partnership. Participates in work that improves patient care and the professional practice environment. Adapts to change and demonstrates flexibility with the change process.
• Actively participates in department or unit-specific quality improvement efforts. Identifies opportunity for quality improvement to colleagues and management. Takes personal responsibility in improving patient satisfaction with the quality of care and service. Utilizes research and evidence-based practice to support improvement in clinical care: identifies research issues or articles related to clinical specialty or areas of interest, discusses opportunities for quality improvement at multidisciplinary rounds, and influences patients' plans of care.
  • 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 patients status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patients requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs and to provide the care needs as described in the department policy and procedures.
  • Minimum six months experience. BSN preferred.
  • Ability to establish and maintain positive, caring relationships with executives, managers, physicians, non-physician providers, ancillary and support staff, other departments, and patients/families.
  • Ability to work productively and effectively within a complex environment, handle multiple/changing priorities and specialized equipment.
  • Good clinical judgment with critical thinking, analytical and problem solving abilities required as related to various aspects of patient care.
  • Critical thinking skills necessary to exercise and to lead others in application of the nursing process.
  • Mobility and visual manual dexterity. Physical stamina for frequent walking, standing, lifting and positioning of patients.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

UPMC approved national certification preferred. 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

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 34 with renewal
• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran