Professional Staff Nurse - PACU

Full-Time Professional Staff Nurse – PACU | UPMC Hamot

Schedule: Four 10-hour shifts per week, Monday through Friday, with rotating on-call responsibilities. This role is primarily a weekday position, with only two holiday on-call requirements per year. Our department maintains 24/7 staffing coverage, which has significantly reduced the amount of call required on weekends and weekdays.

About the Unit

Join UPMC Hamot's Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) team and play an essential role in guiding patients through their surgical journey. This position provides care for patients during the pre-operative, recovery, and discharge phases, ensuring safety, comfort, and exceptional clinical outcomes throughout the perioperative experience.

Our department consists of a 15-bed Pre-Op unit and a 22-bed PACU, serving a diverse range of surgical specialties. Nurses work collaboratively with surgeons, anesthesia providers, and interdisciplinary care teams to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care.

Preferred Experience:

• One year of previous nursing experience in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or Intermediate Unit (IU)

Position Summary

The Professional Staff Nurse is a Registered Nurse and a member of the care delivery team. The Professional Staff Nurse is responsible for setting the standards for the level and quality of care provided to patients. This role assumes responsibility, authority, and accountability for nursing care delivery and manages patient care activities for assigned patients and their families through independent judgment, communication, and collaboration with the interdisciplinary healthcare team.

The Professional Staff Nurse demonstrates leadership, partnership, collaboration, and supervision while establishing and maintaining positive relationships with physicians, other healthcare providers, patients, and families to achieve desired patient outcomes throughout the continuum of care.

Title and salary will be determined based upon education and nursing experience.

Responsibilities

Professional Practice & Leadership

• Demonstrate accountability for professional development that enhances nursing practice and patient care quality.
• Actively participate in shared governance, unit goal setting, and initiatives that support positive change and operational improvement.
• Serve as an engaged and collaborative member of the care team, providing support and assistance to colleagues as needed.
• Participate in activities that improve patient outcomes and the professional practice environment.
• Adapt effectively to change and support departmental and organizational initiatives.

Clinical Care & Patient Management

• Apply the nursing process within the framework of Relationship-Based Care to create a healing environment.
• Develop individualized plans of care that address the clinical, social, psychological, safety, and spiritual needs of patients.
• Utilize critical thinking and sound clinical judgment to assess, monitor, and respond to patient needs.
• Communicate effectively with patients, families, physicians, and interdisciplinary team members to ensure coordinated care.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and comprehensive documentation that promotes continuity of care.
• Support patient safety, quality, and service excellence initiatives.

Patient & Family Education

• Provide comprehensive education to patients and families throughout all phases of care.
• Prepare patients and caregivers for discharge and transitions to other levels of care.
• Utilize adult learning principles to support patient understanding and engagement.
• Assist with the orientation, development, and mentorship of students, new staff, and colleagues.

Quality Improvement & Evidence-Based Practice

• Participate in unit and department quality improvement initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to enhance patient care processes and outcomes.
• Incorporate evidence-based practice and current research into clinical decision-making.
• Support patient satisfaction efforts through excellent service and compassionate care.

Teamwork & Professional Relationships

• Foster productive working relationships with colleagues across all disciplines.
• Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, and respect for cultural differences.
• Promote a positive work environment built on collaboration and mutual support.
• Communicate safety concerns and contribute to maintaining a safe workplace.

Additional Responsibilities

• Perform duties in accordance with organizational competencies, policies, and standards.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

• Zero to two years of nursing experience required.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to provide age-appropriate care and effectively interact with patients across the lifespan.
• Knowledge of growth and development principles and the ability to assess and interpret patient data to identify age-specific needs and provide appropriate care.
• Strong clinical judgment, critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead others in the application of the nursing process and evidence-based practice.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive, collaborative relationships with physicians, advanced practice providers, leaders, colleagues, support staff, patients, and families.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, complex healthcare environment while managing multiple priorities.
• Experience using specialized clinical equipment and technology as required.
• Physical stamina and mobility necessary for frequent standing, walking, lifting, transferring, and positioning of patients.
• Visual and manual dexterity required to perform patient care activities safely and effectively.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances

• Current licensure* as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the state where the facility is located, or a state covered by a Nurse Licensure Compact agreement with the facility's state.
• CPR certification required within 30 days of hire, based on American Heart Association (AHA) standards that include both didactic and hands-on skills demonstration components.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• UPMC-approved national certification preferred.
• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 34 with renewal
• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

Graduate Nurse Eligibility

• Must complete the NCLEX licensure examination within six months of hire or within one year of graduation, whichever occurs first.
• Although temporary permits may be valid for up to one year from the date of graduation, UPMC requires Graduate Nurses to take the licensure examination within six months of their start date.
• Failure to meet this requirement may result in termination or demotion from the Graduate Nurse position at the discretion of the business unit.

Flexible Nursing Opportunities

UPMC offers a variety of flexible scheduling options in addition to traditional and rotating shifts. Special programs are available for nurses interested in primarily night shift or weekend schedules and include premium pay differentials. Nurses hired into or transitioning to these programs must have at least six months of nursing experience and may be required to complete orientation during regular business hours. Candidates interested in these opportunities should notify their recruiter during the interview process.