PA or CRNP (ACNP), Staff or Senior - UPP Surgery/Transplant Nephrology

Hours: 7 days on, 7 days off amounting to 80 hours every pay period (two weeks). Location: UPMC Montefiore, UPMC Presbyterian, and UPMC Presbyterian (Kamin Tower).

About the Role

Our APPs practice with exceptional support from both our Transplant Nephrology and Transplant Surgery teams, fostering a collaborative environment that emphasizes shared decision-making, ongoing education, and professional growth through the UPMC Career Ladder. This partnership allows APPs to practice at the top of their license while making a meaningful impact on the lives of transplant patients.

APPs are integral to the longitudinal management of transplant recipients, including the evaluation and treatment of post-transplant complications such as allograft rejection, opportunistic and routine infections, and chronic kidney disease. Working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary transplant team, they help ensure continuity of care while supporting optimal patient outcomes throughout the transplant journey.

Responsibilities

• Applies basic professional practice knowledge and skills appropriate for practice setting.
• Communicates effectively, both verbally and in documentation.
• Demonstrates critical thinking in all areas of professional practice.
• Learns to incorporate acceptable standards of professional practice as well as business unit and health system's goals to improve patient safety, quality, and satisfaction.
• Formulates a plan of care that considers individual patient needs.
• Demonstrates initiative and seeks formal and informal opportunities to improve clinical practice.
• Seeks guidance and asks questions to continuously improve professional practice.
• Builds relationships with patients, families, and colleagues.
• Identifies ethical situations within patient care or within the workplace and seeks assistance.
• Professionally accepts assignments that gradually increase patient load and complexity.
• Actively engages in clinical development of all members of the healthcare team.
• Requests opportunities to learn advanced professional practice techniques from senior healthcare team members.
• 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.
• Seeks professional development and involvement through membership in a professional organization and/or reading professional literature on a regular basis.
• 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 journal clubs.
• Clinical practice demonstrates knowledge of how quality and innovation impacts patient satisfaction, safety, and clinical quality outcomes.
• Identifies opportunities for improvement in the clinical area.
• Demonstrates the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with all members of the health care team.
• Begins to demonstrate awareness of cultural diversity, horizontal violence, and impairment in the health professions.
• Cares for patients and self by supporting safety in the workplace.
• Demonstrates accountability for professional development that improves the quality of professional practice and the quality of patient care.
• Makes recommendations for the improvement of clinical care and the health of the workplace and welcomes and participates in change initiatives.
• Leads by investing and building healthy relationships among colleagues and other disciplines.
• Shows the ability to set priorities.
• Begins to serve as an engaged member of a team supporting colleagues in service to patients and families and may participate in task forces or other initiatives.
• Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and/or interact appropriately with the patients served as specified below.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span.
• Possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age-specific needs.
• Provide the care needs as described in the department policy and procedures.

Requirements

Special Skills and Abilities

• 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 lead others in application of acceptable standards of practice.
• Mobility and visual manual dexterity.
• Physical stamina for frequent walking, standing, lifting, and positioning of patients.

Licensure, Education, Certifications, and Clearances

Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP)

• The successful completion of an approved nurse practitioner program is required.
• BSN, MSN is preferred.
• Professional nursing experience and/or nurse practitioner experience is preferred.
• Current state RN license and CRNP certification are required.
• National certification, eligible for licensure by Pennsylvania board of nursing, eligible for certification as a CRNP by Pennsylvania state board of nursing.
• Current CPR certification is required.
• Act 33 Clearance will be required.
• Act 73 Clearance will be required.
• Act 34 Clearance required.

Physician Assistant (PA)

• A graduate of a physician assistant program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the physician assistant (ARC-PA) is required.
• BS or MS candidate is preferred.
• Experience as a physician assistant and/or experience in a clinical setting is preferred.
• Current state PA license certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is required.
• Current CPR certification is required.
• Act 33 Clearance will be required.
• Act 73 Clearance will be required.
• Act 34 Clearance required.

Senior Level

• Minimum 3 years of experience or Completion of a post-graduate residency.
• The successful completion of an approved Nurse Practitioner or a graduate of a physician assistant program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the physician assistant (ARC-PA) program is required.
• BSN, MSN preferred for CRNP, BS or MS preferred for PA.
• Completion of National Certification.
• Must achieve a Solid/Strong/Good performance rating or higher on annual performance evaluation for consideration and to maintain status annually.
• Completion of an OAPP approved professional contribution within one year of hire or promotion into the position. Must have department chair approval for promotion.
• ACLS or ITLS or NALS or PALS or ACLS or other certifications listed must meet AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire.
• OAPP: If practicing in an outpatient or other non-inpatient setting, APPs can use one of the certifications above or use a business unit approved certification which is relevant, and value added to the practice setting.

Benefits

• A career path that provides you with the right experience to be successful in the position you want to obtain now and, in the future.
• Health and welfare benefits like medical, vision, dental, and life and disability, and an exceptional retirement program.
• Work life balance to help manage other important aspects of your life such as: PTO, wellness programs, paid parental leave.
• Competitive pay for the work that you do – base pay, merit, and premium pay.
• Sign-on Bonus available if applicable.