Sr. Professional Staff Nurse - 8 South

About the role

8 South is a 20-bed unit caring for adult and geriatric neurological or neurosurgical patients. Within the 20 beds are 9 intermediate-care beds and 2 epilepsy monitoring beds (EMU). The unit serves patients with neurological conditions including cerebral vascular accidents (CVAs), seizures, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), multiple sclerosis (MS), and other neurological disorders, as well as patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures such as craniotomies, back surgeries, spinal cord stimulators, deep brain stimulators, cranial nerve decompressions, and aneurysm coilings/clippings.

The Senior Professional Staff Nurse is a Registered Nurse and a member of the care delivery team. The Senior Professional Staff Nurse sets the standards for the level and quality of care, manages and provides patient care activities for a group of patients and their families through independent judgment, communication and collaboration with all team members. The role encompasses leadership, partnership, collaboration and supervision, and 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.

Responsibilities

• Relationship Building: Develop and maintain productive working relationships internally and externally, demonstrating accountability, enthusiasm, and commitment to patients and colleagues. Recognize cultural differences and promote healthy relationships while maintaining a balance between work and personal life. Communicate safety hazards identified in the workplace to peers and management.
• Patient Education: Demonstrate knowledge of adult learning principles to effectively teach patients, families, students, and new staff. Provide comprehensive education to guide patients and families through their care episodes and transitions to other levels of care or home. Support the development of students and new staff, serving as a preceptor and fostering an environment of open dialogue and continuous improvement through feedback.
• Nursing Process Application: Utilize the nursing process within the framework of Relationship-Based Care to create a healing environment. Formulate daily goals and care plans that involve the patient as a partner, considering their holistic needs. Employ critical thinking to identify and address clinical, social, safety, psychological, and spiritual issues. Communicate effectively with other care providers, articulating the patient’s condition and recommending changes in care as needed. Ensure comprehensive documentation that promotes effective communication among caregivers.
• Professional Development: Take accountability for personal and professional development, actively participating in unit-based shared governance and goal-setting initiatives. Support quality improvement efforts to enhance patient care and the practice environment. Collaborate as a full partner on the care team, responding to team members’ needs for assistance.
• Quality Improvement: Engage in department or unit-specific quality improvement initiatives. Identify opportunities for improvement and take personal responsibility for enhancing patient satisfaction with care and service. Utilize research and evidence-based practices to support clinical care improvements, discussing findings during multidisciplinary rounds and influencing patients’ care plans.

Requirements

• Minimum 2 years’ experience.
• BSN preferred.
• Must obtain a Solid/Strong/Good or higher on a Professional Staff Nurse Performance Evaluation to be promoted to this level.
• Must maintain a Solid/Strong/Good or higher on annual performance evaluation to maintain status.
• 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.
• Exemplary 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

• 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.
• UPMC approved nursing certification preferred.
• Annual completion of a professional contributions selected from department, hospital or system goals, and approved by Unit Director OR UPMC approved nursing certification required within 1 year of hire/transfer and must be maintained. If a BSN is held, a Master's degree in a related field may be substituted in lieu of Certification.
• CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire.
• NIH within 6 months of hire or transfer into department.
• ACLS within 1 year of hire or transfer into department.

Benefits

• Sign-On Bonus amount and eligibility based on type of nursing role and candidate experience.
• 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!).