Professional Staff Nurse – 8 South Neurology

UPMC Hamot, a Magnet designated facility located in Erie, PA, is currently hiring a Regular Full-Time Professional Staff Nurse to support 8 South Neurology (Med Surg). Our RNs work a rotating schedule to ensure 24/7 coverage on the floor.

Sign-On Bonus Details (Full Time or Flex Full Time status)
•    Up to $20,000 sign-on bonus available for experienced nurses.

•    Up to $15,000 sign-on bonus available for graduate nurses.

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 to the nursing profession.

8 South Neurology is a 20-bed unit who cares for adult and geriatric neurological or neurosurgical patients. Within the 20 beds are 9 beds capable of accommodating intermediate care patients and 2 beds capable of accommodating epilepsy monitoring patients (EMU). The unit provides service to patients with neurological conditions that include cerebral vascular accidents (CVAs), seizures, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), multiple sclerosis (MS), and other neurological disorders.  The unit also provides for patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures, which include craniotomies, back surgeries, spinal cord stimulators, deep brain stimulators, cranial nerve decompressions, and aneurysm coilings/clippings.  

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. Applicants with less than 2 years of experience will be considered for this position. 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 $31.10.

Responsibilities:

• 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 member 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.
• 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 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, and is able to articulate and translate the patient’s condition to other care providers and to 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 knowledge of adult learning principles (and/or teaching children if applicable) and applies in teaching of 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.
• 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.
• 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 healthy lifestyle.
• Communicates with peers and management any safety hazards identified in the workplace.
• Performs in accordance with system-wide competencies/behaviors.
• Performs other duties as assigned.