Professional Staff Nurse- PACU

Position Purpose

The Professional Staff Nurse (RN) is a vital member of the care delivery team and a champion of high-quality, patient‑centered care. In this role, you set the standard for nursing excellence—bringing clinical expertise, compassion, and leadership to every patient interaction.

You will have the authority, responsibility, and accountability to deliver and coordinate nursing care for patients and their families across the continuum of care. Using independent judgment, strong communication, and close collaboration with physicians and interdisciplinary team members, you’ll advocate for optimal outcomes and meaningful patient experiences.

This role blends hands-on care with leadership, partnership, mentoring, and supervision. You’ll build trusted relationships with patients, families, physicians, and colleagues—while demonstrating a strong commitment to the nursing profession and the community we serve.

Work Schedule & Coverage

• This position offers a predominantly day-shift schedule, with limited evenings, weekends, and on‑call coverage as needed.
• Scheduling is designed to support work–life balance while ensuring high-quality, continuous patient care.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and sustain positive, respectful relationships with patients, families, colleagues, and external partners.
• Model accountability, motivation, enthusiasm, and professionalism in all interactions.
• Promote a culture of safety by identifying and communicating workplace hazards.
• Respect and support cultural differences while fostering healthy team dynamics.
• Maintain a healthy work‑life balance and model effective time management and safe work hours.

• Apply adult learning principles (and/or pediatric teaching approaches, as appropriate) to educate patients, families, students, and new team members.
• Prepare patients and families for each phase of care, including discharge and transitions.
• Support the growth of students, new staff, and peers; serve as a preceptor or mentor when needed.
• Encourage open dialogue, feedback, and continuous improvement in practice.

• Apply the nursing process within a Relationship-Based Care framework to create a healing, compassionate environment.
• Partner with patients to develop daily goals and individualized plans of care that address clinical, emotional, social, spiritual, and safety needs.
• Demonstrate critical thinking and sound clinical judgment across all aspects of care.
• Communicate clearly and confidently with the care team, advocating for patient needs and recommending practice improvements.
• Ensure thorough, accurate documentation that enhances continuity of care.
• Support organizational goals for patient safety, quality, and satisfaction.

• Take ownership of ongoing professional growth to enhance practice excellence and patient outcomes.
• Actively participate in shared governance, unit goal setting, and change initiatives.
• Serve as a fully engaged care team partner—offering collaboration, flexibility, and support.
• Adapt positively to change and contribute to a supportive, progressive practice environment.

• Participate in department- or unit-based quality improvement initiatives.
• Identify and speak up about opportunities to enhance patient care and service excellence.
• Use research and evidence-based practice to inform clinical decision-making.
• Contribute ideas and insights during multidisciplinary rounds to improve care delivery and patient outcomes.
• Take personal responsibility for improving patient satisfaction and the overall care experience.

• 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.
• Zero to two years of experience.
• BSN preferred.

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.***UPMC offers a variety of flexible options ? in addition to traditional rotating/flexible shifts, special programs exist to work primarily night shifts or weekend shifts with a premium pay differential. Employees hired as or who choose to transition into one of these programs at a later time must have at least 6 months of nursing experience to qualify and may be required to complete any necessary orientation during regular business hours. If you are interested in these programs, please alert your recruiter when you are contacted for an interview.***

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.

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• 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