Licensed Practical Nurse

Operating Room

1.0 full-time, 6:45am-3:15pm with on-call & rotation (40 hours/week)

Union position:  AFSCME

Posted:  2/6/2025

UPMC Altoona is hiring a full-time LPN to help support the Operating Room!

The LPN functions as a member of the nursing team in providing direct patient care and other related activities in accordance with level of education and is responsible to the registered nurse for the environmental and physical management of patients to which assigned and for factual observation and the reporting and recording of same.

This position is currently eligible for a generous sign-on bonus!

Sign-On Bonus Details:

• $7,500 sign-on bonus available for nurses with 1 or more years of experience
• $5,000 sign-on bonus available for nurses with less than one year of experience (includes GPNs)
• Candidates hired into a sign-on bonus eligible role will be asked to make a two-year work commitment.

Responsibilities:

Patient Care:

• Prepares and assists with meals, including tube feedings.
• Provides fresh water and between-meal nourishment.
• Assists with toileting, specimen collection, and patient mobility.
• Understands and addresses the needs of patients with co-occurring disorders.
• Observes, reports, and documents symptoms, condition changes, and care.
• Provides recreational activities as directed.
• Assists in direct patient care and responds to emergencies.
• Adheres to universal precautions and occupational exposure policies.
• Utilizes restraints and protective mechanisms as necessary.

Medication Administration (when assigned):

• Handles, stores, and administers medications under supervision and as ordered.
• Cleans and maintains medication cart and supplies.
• Keeps team leader informed of medication-related issues.
• Demonstrates knowledge of medications and IV therapy.
• Counts narcotic drugs at shift end with a nurse.
• Administers PRN medications following assessment.
• Accurately records all medication administration data.
• Follows Pyxis System standards.

Support Tasks:

• Answers nurse call system promptly.
• Escorts patients to and from departments.
• Maintains patient rooms and equipment; performs terminal cleaning if needed.
• Assists with patient admissions, orientations, transfers, and discharges.
• Provides treatments such as catheter care, suctioning, enemas, and dressing changes as assigned.

• Must have a temporary permit or a valid license as a practical nurse in the State of Pennsylvania*
• Must successfully pass the Altoona Hospital pharmacology challenge exam.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

• CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire
• Must complete licensure examination within FOUR 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 GPNs take the licensure examination within 4 months of their start date or they will be terminated or demoted from the GPN position, at the discretion of the BU.
• LPNs who have graduated outside the state of PA on any date, or graduated in PA prior to August 25, 2012, and did not complete a PA state approved LPN IV course, the LPN will need to complete a 5-hour online module which is followed by a test and a 3-hour in person course which will be provided by the UPMC Altoona Education Department within 4-months of hire or transfer.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) OR Temporary Practice Permit (TPP)
• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 34 with renewal
• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

*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