Nurse Specialist in Pulmonary Medicine and ICU

We are seeking a skilled and confident Registered Nurse to join our Pulmonary Medicine unit 10D/10G and our Medical Intensive Care Unit at UPMC Presbyterian, a Magnet designated hospital.

This transitional program is designed to equip you with the skills needed to become a successful ICU nurse. You will begin your nursing career on 10D/G, and then transition to our MICU. Our goal is to help build the foundation, knowledge, and skill sets required when caring for the diverse and high-acuity patient population.

About the Units:

10D/G is a 29-bed Advanced Lung Disease and Lung Transplant Step Down unit. Nurses care for pulmonary transplant patients as well as patients with advanced lung conditions including cystic fibrosis, COPD, asthma, scleroderma, sleep apnea, sarcoidosis, and pulmonary hypertension. The unit is involved in many research trials for pulmonary patients such as COPD Valve and Bone Marrow Transplant patients. Nurses commonly receive patients from the Medical ICU with high acuity, noninvasive ventilation, tracheostomies, and nocturnal trach vents. Our nurses value teamwork, professionalism, and excellent patient care.

The Medical ICU at UPMC Presbyterian, a 32-bed critical unit expanding over 4 wings, is the largest of Presbyterian's ICUs. Our patient population includes severe acute respiratory failure, pneumonia, pre and post lung transplants, sepsis, acute renal failure, toxicology, and bariatric patients. You will gain experience with ventilators, trachs, vasopressors, neuromuscular blockades, and CRRT machines. The MICU is an extremely rewarding environment for nurses who enjoy critical thinking and decision-making skills.

Transitioning to the ICU is contingent on upon the employee's performance during the first year of hire. They must obtain a Solid/Strong/Good performance rating, lack any disciplinary action, and meet all requirements/expectations of their hiring unit.

Why Work at UPMC?

UPMC is committed to investing in nurses like you – financially, personally, and professionally – starting on day one of your career. From tackling student loans to advancing your career later in life, UPMC is the partner you need to succeed and thrive in your nursing career.

Here's how we support our nurses:

· Generous Sign-On Bonus of up to $15,000 (*Amount and eligibility based on type of nursing role and candidate experience)

· UPMC's brand new Monthly Loan Repayment Program, exclusively for 2022, 2023 & 2024 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)

At UPMC, we're passionate about continuing to support your growth throughout your nursing journey. We offer a robust career ladder for bedside nursing that starts with Professional Staff Nurse and leads to Expert Nurse and beyond. The final job title and rate of pay will be based upon both individual qualifications and candidate choice. Any required certifications and contributions based on job title will be afforded a timeframe to obtain. Our competitive career ladder, as well as our Total Rewards package, will be discussed at time of offer to ensure you can make the choices that are right for you. The minimum rate of pay for a non-BSN Professional Staff Nurse is $29.77.

Responsibilities:

• Actively engages in clinical development and/or RN residency program for new hires.
• Requests opportunities to learn safe, accountable and autonomous practice from more experienced nurses.
• Seeks, accepts and utilizes performance feedback from peers, preceptors and unit/department Leaders as a learning opportunity and to improve practice.
• Demonstrates enthusiasm for continuous learning and identifies and creates a plan for the continuation of learning and development. Identifies patient and family needs for education and provides basic education to support the episode of care.
• Demonstrates critical thinking in the identification of clinical, social, safety, spiritual issues within the episode of care.
• Learns to incorporate national professional organization as well as business unit and health system's goals to improve patient safety, quality and satisfaction.
• Demonstrates initiative and seeks formal and informal opportunities to improve clinical practice.
• Creates a caring and compassionate patient-focused experience by building healing relationships with patient, families and colleagues. Identifies ethical situations within patient care or within the workplace and seeks assistance.
• Demonstrates a basic knowledge of research, how it affects practice and who/what resources are available to assist with evidence-based practice by asking questions, demonstrating interest, participating in unit-based journal clubs.
• Clinical practice demonstrates knowledge of how quality and innovation impacts patient satisfaction, safety, and clinical quality outcomes.
• Demonstrates accountability for professional development that improves the quality of professional practice and the quality of patient care.
• Shows the ability to set priorities and demonstrates an understanding of shared governance and begins participating at the unit level.
• Begins to demonstrate awareness of cultural diversity, horizontal violence and impairment in the health professions.
  • No RN experience required. BSN preferred
  • Completion of UPMC Student Nurse Internship Program or student clinical transitions course at UPMC 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 patients requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs and to provide the care needs as described in the department policy and procedures.
  • 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.
  • Critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving abilities required as related to various aspects of patient care.
  • Good clinical judgment.
  • Critical thinking skills necessary to exercise and to lead others in the application of the nursing process.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

• Current Pennsylvania licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse required prior to program start date
• CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire
• Act 34 Criminal Clearance
• Basic Life Support

UPMC is an equal opportunity employer. Minority/Females/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities