RN Staff Nurse - Acute Care ICU

RN Staff Nurse

Acute Care ICU

9 full time, 7a-7p / 7p-7a (36 hours / week)

Union position : SEIU

Posted : 03 / 28 /

UPMC Altoona is hiring a Registered Nurse or Future Graduate Nurse to help support our Acute Care (Medical) ICU!

UPMC is committed to investing in nurses like you financially, personally, and professionally starting on day one of your career.

From tackling student loans to advancing your career later in life, UPMC is the partner you need to succeed and thrive in your nursing career.

Here’s how we support our nurses :

• Newly competitive wages :
• $29.50 (BSN)
• $28.00 (non-BSN)
• Shift differential : $2.00
• Title and salary will be determined based upon education and nursing experience.
• Generous Sign-On Bonus of experienced nurses :
• $15, sign-on bonus available for nurses with 1 or more years of experience.
• Candidates hired into a sign-on bonus eligible role will be asked to make a two-year work commitment.
• UPMC’s Monthly Loan Repayment program for Graduate Nurses (or nurses with less than 1 year of experience) : May be eligible to receive a $15, student loan repayment bonus, which is paid out across 3 years.
• An incomparable benefit package (found to be 15% higher in value than other healthcare employers in our market!)
• Up to five and a half weeks of Paid Time Off annually, plus seven paid holidays each year
• Dedicated Professional Development Program, allowing you to achieve your highest potential while rewarding you for your experience and advanced education.
• Tuition reimbursement of up to $6, 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!)

About the Acute Care ICU :

The Acute Care ICU (Medical ICU) at UPMC Altoona is a 14-bed critical care unit that serves adult patients from Blair County and the surrounding communities.

The MICU team cares for a wide variety of patients requiring advanced care and close monitoring. Our nurses are specially trained to care for critically ill patients, and require certifications in BLS, ACLS, and Stroke assessment through the National Institute of Health.

Advanced skills include hemodynamic monitoring, IV insertion, and assisting with bedside procedures or interventions including insertion of endotracheal tubes, chest tubes, central lines, proning therapy, and induced hypothermia.

This ICU is the unit of choice for multiple invasive interventions including Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumps (IABP), Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT), Catheter Assisted Thrombosis (EKOS), and post cardiac arrest Targeted Temperature Management (TTM).

Nurses collaborate with other members of the healthcare team, patients, and families to provide competent evidence-based care to patients throughout the continuum of care.

Critical care nurses have a passion for learning, the ability to critically think, independent judgement, fluent communication, an empathetic ear, and a candid partnership to achieve desired patient outcomes.

As a member of this team, you will provide direct and indirect care to patients utilizing the nursing process, provide leadership for the nursing team, and contribute to the education of a variety of members of the staff and students.

Responsibilities :

• Adheres to universal precautions.
• Completes annual competency validation activities.
• Complies with established occupational exposure policies.
• Demonstrates professionalism in providing patient care.
• Engages the medical staff and other professionals in discussion of patient care problems resulting in mutually developed plans of care.
• Identifies potential problems and initiates appropriate measures.
• Identifies environmental factors which deter effective patient care, initiates action, and contributes ideas towards resolution.
• Maintains proficiency and competency in point of care testing as defined in the evaluation criteria established by the laboratory.
• Serves as a consultant to other members of the healthcare team.
• Utilizes Bed Management System, Alpha, CPOE, and all other computer systems appropriately.
• Assessment : Assesses patient and family needs and documents this information appropriately in the computer or on appropriate form.

Reassesses patient every eight hours, and, as necessary.

Evaluation : Revises plan of care as necessary based on daily evaluation of patient.Evaluates patient's outcome based on previously defined goals.

Evaluates and documents the patient's response to care, teaching, and treatment.

Implementation : Utilizes nursing care protocols and standards.Carries out and documents procedures according to Hospital Policy.

Performs technical skills safely and accurately and demonstrates a working knowledge of equipment.Transcribes and implements physicians' orders appropriately.

Demonstrates knowledge of the physiological basis for the nursing care delivery.Demonstrates knowledge of medication and IV therapy administration according to policy.

Initiates and coordinates health teaching for patients and families / significant other based on individual needs.

Planning : Includes the patient and family / significant other in the formulation of the plan of care.Prioritizes patient's needs appropriately.

Plans, conducts, and documents patient care conferences.Maintains a current plan of care for each assigned patient.Utilizes appropriate community agencies and other health care professionals in planning care.

Experience Required :

None

Education and Formal Training Required :

• Must hold a current license to practice nursing in the State of Pennsylvania
• 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.

• Must satisfactorily complete the Nursing Department's orientation program and probationary period.
• Must complete NIHSS education prior to end of orientation period, if required.
• ACLS preferred, BLS required. PALS for specific units.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances :

• CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• National Institute of Health Stroke Scale Certification
• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Act 34

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran