Registered Nurse Thoracic Surgery Stepdown

UPMC

Posted 3 months ago

Full Time

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

In Person

Smart Summary

Responsibilities

Provide high-acuity post-operative care for thoracic and cardiac surgery patients within a surgical stepdown unit. Foster positive relationships with patients and colleagues while implementing evidence-based practices and patient education.

Qualifications

You are a Registered Nurse with zero to two years of experience, preferably with a BSN degree. You possess the skills to provide care and interact with patients of all ages, understanding principles of growth and development. You can establish positive relationships, think critically to problem-solve, and utilize sound clinical judgment to deliver quality patient care.

Must Have Skills for ATS

Registered Nurse

Advanced Cardiac Life Support

Basic Life Support

ACLS

BLS

CPR

Act 34

Job Description

Join UPMC Shadyside's Surgical Team!

  • Sign-On Bonus: $15,000 for new graduate nurses with less than one year of experience/$20,000 for registered nurses with at least one year of experience
  • Graduate Nurse: Full-Time position available
  • Unit: 3 Main Surgical Cardiothoracic Stepdown
  • About UPMC Shadyside: A Magnet-designated teaching hospital with ongoing research and education

3 Main Surgical Unit:

  • 38-Bed Post-Op Care: We specialize in thoracic surgery recovery and act as Shadyside’s surgical stepdown unit.
  • High-Acuity Patients: From minimally invasive esophagectomy to lobe resections, we provide top-notch care.
  • Cardiac Expertise: We handle interventional cardiac cases from cath and electrophysiology labs.
  • Dynamic Learning Environment: Our nurses gain hands-on experience with various procedures.
  • Fast-Paced Teamwork: Our Registered Nurses work rotation shifts including weekends and holidays to ensure 24/7 coverage on the floor. 

Here's how we support our nurses: 

  • Generous Sign-On Bonus of up to $20,000 (*Amount and eligibility based on type of nursing role and candidate experience).
  • UPMC’s Monthly Loan Repayment Program, exclusively for 2025 and 2026 nursing graduates, 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 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!).

UPMC’s Nursing Career Ladder:

  • Growth Opportunities: From Professional Staff Nurse to Expert Nurse and beyond.
  • Tailored Compensation: Based on qualifications and individual preferences. The final job title and rate of pay will be based upon both individual qualifications and candidate choice.
  • Total Rewards Package: Discuss choices during the offer process.
  • Starting Pay: Non-BSN Professional Staff Nurse begins at $37.00.

Responsibilities:

Builds Relationships:

  • Foster positive relationships with colleagues and patients.
  • Understand cultural differences and promote healthy interactions.
  • Maintain work-life balance and prioritize safety.

Effective Teaching:

  • Apply adult learning principles to educate patients, families, and staff.
  • Guide patients through care transitions and provide detailed teaching.
  • Support colleagues’ development and create an open learning environment.

Holistic Patient Care:

  • Use the nursing process within Relationship Based Care.
  • Set daily goals and consider individual patient needs.
  • Communicate effectively with care providers and document comprehensively.

Professional Growth:

  • Actively engage in shared governance and quality improvement.
  • Adapt to change and contribute to improving patient care
  • Enhance patient satisfaction through evidence-based practices.


  • Zero to two years of experience required
  • BSN preferred.
  • Demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed to provide care and interact with all ages of patients.
  • Understand the principles of growth and development over the lifespan.
  • Establish and maintain positive, caring relationships with patients and their families, executives, managers, physicians, non-physician providers, ancillary and support staff, and other departments.
  • Work productively and effectively in an environment with changing priorities that require specialized skills.
  • Think critically to analyze and problem-solve to deliver the best patient care.
  • Use sound clinical judgment and problem-solve to deliver quality patient care when it matters most.
  • Understand, apply, and champion nursing best practices.
  • Ability to work productively and effectively within complex environment, handle multiple/changing priorities and specialized equipment.
  • Physical stamina for frequent walking, standing, lifting, and positioning of patients. 

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
    • ACLS within 12 months of hire
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
    • CPR required based on AHA standards that include both didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire. 
  • Registered Nurse (RN) or TPP (Temporary Practice Permit)
    • 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.
    • Graduate nurses must complete licensure examination within SIX MONTHS of hire 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 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. 
  • UPMC approved national certification preferred
  • Act 34

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran

UPMC

UPMC is a world-renowned, nonprofit health care provider and insurer committed to delivering exceptional, people-centered care and community services. Headquartered in Pittsburgh and affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences, UPMC is shaping the future of health through clinical and technological innovation, research, and education. Dedicated to advancing the well-being of our diverse communities, we provide nearly $2 billion annually in community benefits, more than any other health system in Pennsylvania. Our 100,000 employees — including more than 5,000 physicians — care for patients across more than 40 hospitals and 800 outpatient sites in Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland, as well as overseas. UPMC Insurance Services covers more than 4 million members, providing the highest-quality care at the most affordable price. To learn more, visit UPMC.com.
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