Graduate Nurse

About the Role

UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital is hiring Graduate Nurses as full-time Psychiatric Staff Nurses. This role offers the opportunity to secure a position up to a year prior to graduation.

What to Expect as a Psychiatric Staff Nurse

• Provide highly competent patient care and treatment with empathy and a passion for learning.
• Demonstrate independent judgment, fluent communication, and candid partnership.
• Establish relationships with physicians, other care providers, patients, and their families to achieve desired patient outcomes.
• Set standards for the level and quality of nursing care, with authority and accountability for its provision.
• Exemplify a commitment to the community and the nursing profession.

Key Responsibilities

• 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.
• Assess data on patients’ statuses to identify each patient’s specific care needs.
• Establish and maintain positive, caring relationships with patients, 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, think critically, and problem-solve to deliver quality patient care.
• Understand, apply, and champion nursing best practices.
• Provide direct total physical care to unpredictable, potentially violent, mentally ill patients as necessary, including lifting, supporting, running, pushing, and pulling equipment.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Variable shifts of 8 and 12-hours for 24/7 coverage.
• Graduate Nurses must be eligible for State Board Licensure and successfully pass the examination before beginning this role, OR have the ability to start with TPP and obtain licensure within 6 months of the start date or within 1 year of graduation, whichever comes first.
• CPR required based on AHA standards (didactic and skills demonstration) within 30 days of hire.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Comprehensive Crisis Management (CCMC)
• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal
• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 34 with renewal
• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

Qualifications

• Graduation from an approved School of Nursing required.
• BSN preferred.
• Six months of experience in Clinical Psychiatry preferred.
• Successful completion of the central and unit specific orientation programs including the medication proficiency examination.
• Completion of UPMC Student Nurse Internship Program or student clinical transitions course at UPMC preferred.
• The GN level candidate starting rate is $35.75 (BSN $37.25).
• UPMC’s Monthly Loan Repayment program available to 2026 & 2027 nursing graduates, offering $20,000 in loan repayment over three years.
• Up to five and a half weeks of Paid Time Off annually, plus seven paid holidays each year.
• Dedicated career ladders.
• Tuition reimbursement of up to $6,000 per academic year.