Description

Are you a highly motivated, experienced Registered Nurse who is interested in advancing your career and gaining leadership experience? UPMC Altoona, a Level II Trauma Center, is hiring a Clinician to help support our 7E Stepdown Unit!  This is a full-time position and includes our robust and competitive Total Rewards benefits package!  

This position is eligible for a generous sign-on bonus! External candidates are eligible for $15,000 in exchange for a 2-year work commitment!

About the Unit:

• The Neuro Stepdown Unit (7E) is a 24-bed progressive care unit that specializes in the care of stroke and neuro patients.  This unit also cares for patients with pneumonia, CHF, heart disease, and any other issue that needs a monitored step-down bed.  Our staff is trained to care for all types of progressive care patients and is the only unit outside of the ICU specially trained to care for post-interventional/diagnostic neurology patients. Our team works closely with our Stroke Neurologist and Stroke Quality team to ensure all patients receive exceptional care. The teamwork on this unit is phenomenal and gives our nurses the education, discipline, and experience to work in any other type of unit!

What is a Clinician/Clinician Fellow?

• A highly developed role model of professional nursing practice with focused expertise and accountabilities in one or more of the following: expert clinical practice, teaching/development, and/or evidence-based practice. This role partners with management in the achievement of a culture of excellence in professional nursing practice and patient care. 
• Under the direction of the Unit Director or Department Manager, assists in the completion of employee evaluations, selection and hiring of staff, and performance management. This role has the authority, responsibility, and shift accountability for the delivery of nursing care through the use of the nursing process. 
• Applies superior clinical knowledge and skills to achieve quality patient care outcomes.
• Responsible for providing service-based education and clinical expertise for staff including orientation and training, consultation on practice issues, and general coordination of clinical activities on a shift basis. 
• Must demonstrate the knowledge and skills to provide care that is relevant to patients under their care, as well as apply principles of growth and development over the life span. 
• Must possess the ability to assess and interpret patient data needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his or her age-specific needs. 

*The qualified candidate will be placed into the appropriate job title (Clinician or Clinician Fellow) and salary grade based on years of experience and education*

Responsibilities:

• Develops and maintains productive working relationships internally and externally by building teams and relationships through mentoring and modeling uplifting and positive communication. Coaches colleagues on cultural diversity and addresses workplace horizontal violence and impairment. Demonstrates accountability to self and others for safe work hours, time management and healthy lifestyles.
• Demonstrates knowledge of performance improvement tools and techniques. Continuously improves the quality of care and the work environment of outcomes and the integration of research and best practices into daily work. Shares learning from improvements with other units and/or spreads across the business unit or system.
• Demonstrates interest in the development of others and positively impacts the lives of patients/families, peers, and members of the healthcare team through mentoring, education, and knowledge sharing. Actively participates in the role of preceptor for student nurses, nurse interns, graduate and experienced nurses and assists with the development of new preceptors in their role. Mentors and role models quest for continuous learning through formal education and the development of others. Seeks opportunities to share expertise with other members of the healthcare team within and beyond the clinical unit/department.
• Incorporates national professional organization as well as business unit and health system's goals to improve patient safety, quality, and satisfaction of the patient experience in daily work. Creates a caring and compassionate patient focused experience by building healing relationships with patients, families, and colleagues. Disseminates new knowledge and innovations through presentations, posters, and publications.
• Applies nursing knowledge and skills within the framework of Relationship Based Care, using the nursing process to meet the clinical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs of the patient and family. Demonstrates critical thinking in the analysis of clinical, social, safety, psychological and spiritual issues for the patient care within an episode of care. Practices solid verbal and written communication skills and can 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. Ensures patient documentation is comprehensive and promotes communication between caregivers.
• Serves as a leader in clinical nursing practice, identifying patient and staff focused opportunities for improvement and leading the change process. Identifies, educates, and supports the psychological and learning needs of staff during change and transition. Practices participatory leadership and is an active member of shared leadership at the unit, facility, or system level. Assumes formal leadership responsibilities for one or more of the following: quality improvement, evidence-based practice, GN or new hire on-boarding. Completes and/or assists with staff performance evaluations for direct reports as applicable.

Qualifications

Clinician Fellow Requirements:

• Minimum 2 years experience. 
• If BSN is not at the time of hire, must be enrolled in a program within one year of hire/transfer date and completed within three years of enrollment (i.e. public health, informational technology, administration, etc.).

Clinician Requirements:

• Minimum 3 years of nursing experience
• A master's degree is preferred. BS/BSN required.
• If a BS degree is not in nursing, a Master's or higher degree in Nursing is required.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

• Current licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse in practicing state. National Certification preferred.
• CPR is required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire
• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Act 34 with renewal

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran

Total Rewards

More than just competitive pay and benefits, UPMC’s Total Rewards package cares for you in all areas of life — because we believe that you’re at your best when receiving the support you need: professional, personal, financial, and more.

Our Values

At UPMC, we’re driven by shared values that guide our work and keep us accountable to one another. Our Values of Quality & Safety, Dignity & Respect, Caring & Listening, Responsibility & Integrity, Excellence & Innovation play a vital role in creating a cohesive, positive experience for our employees, patients, health plan members, and community. Ready to join us? Apply today.