Graduate Nurse Fast Track to ICU & CVU Transitional Program – UPMC Western Maryland

　　UPMC Western Maryland is currently hiring Registered Nurses of all levels who are thinking long-term and preparing for a career as Critical Care Nurse! As a part of the Fast Track to ICU & CVU Transitional Program , candidates will spend one to two years gaining solid nursing skills on med-surg units before transitioning to a critical care unit. From this program you will improve on critical thinking, and the skills necessary to provide top-tier care to our critical patients. At the end of the program, candidates will transition into full-time roles with UPMC Western Maryland’s ICU or CVU! This position is ideal for Graduate Nurses or those that have less than 2 years of experience in a non-critical area.

　　These positions also qualify for a generous Med/Surg-specific sign-on bonus! Graduate nurses are eligible for a $15,000 sign-on bonus with a two-year commitment, and nurses with more than one year of experience are eligible for $20,000 with a two-year commitment!

　　About the Units:

　　7 North – This is where you start! This unitis a 36-bed medical-surgery unit with an average daily census of 25 and provides high-acuity patient care. Although this unit cares for patients with a variety of diagnoses, its main focus is urological, gynecological, and GI surgeries. Wound care and cellulitis patients are also placed on this unit. New hire orientation ranges from six to eight weeks and can vary depending on the needs of the newly hired employees.

　　The Intensive Care Unit is an 18-bed unit serving the health system’s most critical patients. The Intensive Care arena provides critical care services to a diverse population of patients suffering from a magnitude of complex illnesses and injuries from multi-system trauma, severe sepsis, and cerebrovascular events to post-cardiac arrest care inclusive of therapeutic hypothermia. The ICU provides intense treatment, care, and monitoring to critically ill and medically unstable patients. The ICU has an on-site intensivist and an advanced practice provider to support patient care at the bedside seven days a week, from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.

　　The Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit is a ten-bed critical care unit focusing on open heart surgery recovery, thoracic and vascular surgeries, and critically ill cardiac patients. New hire orientation length depends on the nurse’s prior experience and individualized needs. The Cardiovascular unit also takes overflow from the ICU, which can bring a variety of critical care patients such as CRRT and IABP. The typical orientation length is 12-16 weeks. Nurses will work on the unit for approximately six months to one year, and then will complete a four to six-week training program to become “heart-trained”. Heart-trained nurses can receive and manage immediate post-operative open-heart surgery patients.

　　At UPMC, we’re passionate about continuing to support your growth throughout your nursing journey. We offer a robust career ladder for bedside nursing that starts with Professional Staff Nurse and leads to Expert Nurse and beyond. Applicants with less than one year of experience will be considered for this position. The final job title and rate of pay will be based upon both individual qualifications and candidate choice. Any required certifications and contributions based on job title will be afforded a timeframe to obtain. Our competitive career ladder, as well as our Total Rewards package, will be discussed at time of offer to ensure you can make the choices that are right for you. The minimum rate of pay for a non-BSN Professional Staff Nurse is $31.10 .

　　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 (*Amount and eligibility based on type of nursing role and candidate experience)

　　UPMC’s brand new Monthly Loan Repayment program, exclusively for 2023/2024 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, 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!)

　　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.

　　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 is required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire.

　　Graduate nurses must complete the licensure examination within FOUR MONTHS of hire or 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 4 months of their start date or they will be terminated or demoted from the GN position, at the discretion of the BU.