My Nursing Career

This is an entry-level position for new graduates during their first year of practice at the bedside. It is intended to be a novice level of practice in which new graduates learn their roles and develop skills and abilities, often through the mentoring of a more experienced nurse. In order to progress to a Professional Staff Nurse, a nurse must successfully complete licensure requirements, have six months to one year of experience, and receive a satisfactory good/solid/strong appraisal on their most recent performance evaluation.

This position is designed to recognize and reward UPMC’s skilled and knowledgeable registered nurses. Staff nurses can progress to this level in a minimum of six months and nurses may choose to remain at this level throughout their careers. Experienced nurses joining UPMC most often enter at this level. Incremental salary increases are based on performance and experience. As their experience grows, professional staff nurses are increasingly relied upon to serve as patient care leaders and to serve as preceptors for new nurses.

A bachelor’s of science degree in nursing is preferred but not required.

This position is designed for nurses who want to continue to advance their careers. As their experience and expertise grows, senior professional staff nurses are increasingly relied upon to serve as unit leaders. They serve as role models for professional nursing practice by serving as recognized leaders in one or more of the following areas: clinical expert, staff or patient educator/teacher, specialized resource nurse, and/or through evidenced based practice. Incremental salary increases are based on performance and experience.

Promotion to this level requires:

• A minimum of two years of experience.
• A good/solid/strong appraisal on their most recent Professional Staff Nurse performance evaluation.
• An annual performance appraisal of good/solid/strong or above to maintain the position.
• A current UPMC-approved Nursing certification. UPMC’s tuition assistance program supports certification. Nurses with a master’s or doctorate degree in Nursing are not required to achieve certification.
• On an annual basis, nurses in this position must identify and successfully complete a pre-approved professional contribution that supports UPMC’s nursing goals. Examples of professional contributions include a patient satisfaction improvement initiative, a work redesign project, recruitment or retention initiative, or a staff development initiative.
• A bachelor’s of science degree in nursing is preferred at this level but not required.

The Senior Professional Staff Nurse II is a Registered Nurse, a member of the care delivery team, and responsible for seeking opportunities to assist in changing practice through process improvement. The Senior Professional Staff Nurse II is responsible to set the standards for the level and quality of care. The Senior Professional Staff Nurse II has responsibility, authority and accountability for the provision of nursing care. The Senior Professional Staff Nurse II manages and provides patient care activities for a group of patients and their families through the application of independent judgment, communication and collaboration with all team members. The role of the Senior Professional Staff Nurse II encompasses leadership, partnership, collaboration and supervision. The Senior Professional Staff Nurse II establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with physicians, other health care providers, patients and their families, to achieve desired patient outcomes throughout the continuum of care. The Senior Professional Staff Nurse II demonstrates a commitment to the community and to the nursing profession.

The Senior Professional Staff Nurse (Masters/DNP) is a Registered Nurse and a member of the care delivery team. Through completion of a designated project as assigned by the Chief Nursing Officer, the Senior Professional Staff Nurse (Masters/DNP) is responsible for continued mentorship of others through the identification and development of EBP, QI and/or research. The Senior Professional Staff Nurse (Masters/DNP) is responsible to set the standards for the level and quality of care. The Senior Professional Staff Nurse (Masters/DNP) has responsibility, authority and accountability for the provision of nursing care. The Senior Professional Staff Nurse (Masters/DNP) manages and provides patient care activities for a group of patients and their families through the application of independent judgment, communication and collaboration with all team members. The role of the Senior Professional Staff Nurse (Masters/DNP) encompasses leadership, partnership, collaboration and supervision. The Senior Professional Staff (Masters/DNP) Nurse establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with physicians, other health care providers, patients and their families, to achieve desired patient outcomes throughout the continuum of care. The Senior Professional Staff Nurse (Masters/DNP) demonstrates a commitment to the community and to the nursing profession.

There are a limited number of these roles per unit at this level to which nurses apply as positions become available. Clinicians are primarily responsible for serving as leaders in clinical nursing practice, identifying patient and staff focused opportunities for improvement and leading the change process.

These professional promotions require:

• A minimum of 3 years of experience.
• A bachelor’s of science degree in nursing is required. A master’s degree (MSN or CNL) is preferred.
• Demonstrated performance in leadership and patient care with potential for growth.

There are a limited number of roles at this level to which nurses can apply when available. Unit Directors are responsible for Unit operational leadership.

These professional promotions require:

• A minimum of 4 years of progressive leadership experience required with relevant clinical experience preferred.
• A master's degree in Nursing or related health care field required, either at time of hire/transfer, or must be enrolled in a program within one year of hire/transfer date and completed within three years of enrollment.
• Demonstrated performance in operational leadership or patient and staff education.