Professional Staff Nurse - 7E Spinal Cord Injury Rehab

UPMC Mercy is currently hiring a full-time Professional Staff Nurse to support its 7E Spinal Cord Injury Rehab unit!

At UPMC Mercy’s 20-bed spinal cord injury unit, our coordinated team works exclusively with spinal cord injury patients and their families to create customized, comprehensive treatment plans that meet the patient’s individual priorities and needs. Our program is one of only 14 in the United States designated as a spinal cord injury model system by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research; because we are a nationally designated center of excellence in spinal cord care, we are often involved in research studies and a test site for the latest treatments. Our spinal cord injury RNs are integral to the multidisciplinary team and coordinate various aspects of the patient’s care. As one of the leading rehabilitation programs in the United States, spinal cord injury patients at the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute have access to state-of-the-art technology and comprehensive services to assist with recovery.

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 :

Generous Sign-On Bonus of up to $20,000.

$20,000 sign-on bonus available for nurses with 1 or more years of experience.

$15,000 sign-on bonus available for graduate nurses with a 2025 / 2026 graduation date

Candidates hired into a sign-on bonus eligible role will be asked to make a two-year work commitment

UPMC’s brand new Monthly Loan Repayment program, exclusively for graduate nurses, offering $20,000

• in loan repayment paid over three years (
• Eligible flex full-time RN roles to receive prorated amount)

Up to five and a half weeks of Paid Time Off annually, plus seven paid holidays each year

Dedicated career ladders, including a brand-new nursing career ladder added just this year, allowing you to achieve your highest potential while rewarding you for your experience and advanced education

Tuition reimbursement of up to $6,000 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!)

The Professional Staff Nurse provides highly competent patient care and treatment while demonstrating empathy and a passion for learning. A role that requires independent judgment, fluent communication, and candid partnership, the Professional Staff Nurse establishes relationships with physicians, other care providers, patients, and patients’ families to achieve desired patient outcomes throughout the continuum of care.

A Professional Staff Nurse and a member of the care delivery team, you will set the standards for the level and quality of nursing care and possess authority and accountability for its provision. At all times, you will exemplify a commitment to the community and to the nursing profession.

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

Responsibilities :

Develops and maintains productive working relationships internally and externally by demonstrating accountability for actions, enthusiasm, motivation and commitment to patients and colleagues.

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.

Demonstrates UPMC Values

Provides detailed and appropriate teaching to patients and families to effectively guide them through the episode of care.

Displays daily goals and a plan for care for patients that involves the patient as a partner and considers the individual needs of the patient in a holistic manner.

Communicates with peers and management any safety hazards identified in the workplace.

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.

Illustrates solid communication skills and can articulate and translate the patient condition to other care providers.

Incorporates national professional organization as well as business unit and health system's goals to improve patient safety, quality, and satisfaction.

Holds accountability for professional development that improves the quality of professional practice and the quality of patient care.

Adapts to change and displays flexibility with the change process.

Serves as a highly engaged and full partner on the care team and responds willingly to care team member needs for assistance and partnership.

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.

Zero to two years of experience.

BSN preferred.

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 patients status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patients requirements relative to his / her age-specific needs and to provide the care needs as described in the department policy and procedures.

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.

Good 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 :

UPMC approved national certification preferred.

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.

CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire. Graduate nurses must complete licensure examination within SIX MONTHS of hire or within one year of graduation, whichever comes first. Though temporary permits are valid for one year from the date of graduation, not one year from issue of permit (or until the results of the examination are known at which time it becomes null and void), UPMC requires that GNs take the licensure examination within 6 months of their start date or they will be terminated or demoted from the GN position, at the discretion of the BU.

Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Registered Nurse (RN) OR Temporary Practice Permit (TPP)

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