Professional Staff Nurse, Expert - Post Surgical Unit (Harrisburg Hospital)

AG7 is a 24-bed post-surgical care unit that is dedicated to providing high quality compassionate care to a diverse adult and geriatric patient population. Most patients that are admitted to AG7 are planned elective surgeries. We do get a small percentage of patients that come from the Emergency Department or directly from the Physician’s office as well. Our specialty is orthopedic, general surgery and urology. We are a high energy, fast-paced unit that works with multiple disciplines to coordinate our overall care for each patient individually. We specialize in the orientation of new graduates where you will gain invaluable experience as you begin your nursing career. We also invite experienced nurses to continue growth and development in a surgical service line. On AG7, you will find an environment that fosters teamwork and support, professional growth, shared decision making and a focus on a healthy work/life balance. We look forward to meeting you.

Purpose:

The Professional Staff Nurse, Expert is a Registered Nurse, a member of the care delivery team, and responsible for seeking opportunities to assist in changing practice through process improvement. The Professional Staff Nurse, Expert is responsible to set the standards for the level and quality of care. The Professional Staff Nurse, Expert has responsibility, authority, and accountability for the provision of nursing care. The Professional Staff Nurse, Expert 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, Expert encompasses leadership, partnership, collaboration, and supervision. The Professional Staff Nurse, Expert 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, Expert demonstrates a commitment to the community and to the nursing profession.

Responsibilities:

• Demonstrates a passion for developing others, enthusiastically and expertly precepts students, graduate nurses and new hires. Analyzes clinical and behavioral situations, identifying learning opportunities to improve patient care practices. Regularly seeks feedback on performance and applies continuous professional improvement. Supports continuous learning in the clinical area by sharing research, materials from professional organizations, presenting on the unit, supporting journal clubs, etc.
• 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. 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. Demonstrates critical thinking in the identification of clinical, social, safety, psychological and spiritual issues for the patient care within an episode of care. 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.
• Builds and mends relationships among colleagues within the framework of a healthy workplace. Role models keen cultural awareness including preventing and addressing horizontal violence and impairment. Maintains a conscious balance between work and personal life through prioritization and delegation of responsibilities.
• Identifies opportunities for clinical quality as well as workplace improvement. Applies evidence based practice as a regular aspect of professional practice. Serves on or leads teams that launch innovations in patient care or support a healthy workforce.
• Serves as a role model of professional nursing practice by serving as a recognized unit leader in one or more of the following areas: clinical expertise, teacher, specialized resource nurse, and/or evidence based practice. Consistently gives appropriate feedback to all members of the health care team and participates in the nursing peer review process. Promotes change that enhances the quality of patient care and the unit environment. Serves on teams and leads successful teams as a part of daily practice. Demonstrates highly developed clinical assessment and analytical skills within the context of Relationship Based Care. Actively participates in shared governance at unit level and serves on hospital-wide councils.
• *Performs in accordance with system-wide competencies/behaviors.
• *Performs other duties as assigned.
• Minimum 4 years experience.BSN preferred.
• Annual completion of a professional contribution selected from department, hospital or system gals, and approved by Unit Director AND either:UPMC approved nursing certification required within 1 year of hire/transfer and must be maintained. Certification not required if Master's in nursing or DNP is held. If a BSN is held, a Master's degree in a related field may be substituted in lieu of Certification.
• The individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and/or interact appropriately to the ages of the patients served by his/her assigned unit as specified below. They must also demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and 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 his/her age-specific needs and to provide the care needs as described in the department policy and procedures.
• 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:

Additional License RequirementsAnnual completion of a professional contribution selected from department, hospital or system gals, and approved by Unit Director AND either:UPMC approved nursing certification required within 1 year of hire/transfer and must be maintained.Certification not required if Master's in nursing or DNP is held.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.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.

• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Act 34
• Current licensure either in the state where the facility is located or, if the facility is in a state covered by the multistate Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) agreement, a multistate license issued by a participating NLC state. Hires and current employees working on an out-of-state NLC license who later change their residency to the state where the facility is also located will have 60 days upon changing their residency to apply for licensure within that state.
  
  

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran