Graduate Nurse

About the Role

UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital is NOW HIRING Graduate Nurses as full-time Psychiatric Staff Nurses. This is an opportunity to secure a role up to a year prior to graduation.

What to Expect as a Psychiatric Staff Nurse

The Psychiatric Staff Nurse provides highly competent patient care and treatment while demonstrating empathy and a passion for learning. This role requires independent judgment, fluent communication, and candid partnership. The Psychiatric Staff Nurse establishes relationships with physicians, other care providers, patients, and patients’ families to achieve desired patient outcomes throughout the continuum of care. As a member of the care delivery team, you will set the standards for the level and quality of nursing care and possess authority and accountability for its provision. You will exemplify a commitment to the community and to the nursing profession.

The GN level candidate starting rate is $35.75 (BSN $37.25).

Key Responsibilities

• Provide highly competent patient care and treatment.
• Demonstrate empathy and a passion for learning.
• Exercise independent judgment, fluent communication, and candid partnership.
• Establish relationships with physicians, other care providers, patients, and patients’ families to achieve desired patient outcomes throughout the continuum of care.
• Set standards for the level and quality of nursing care and possess authority and accountability for its provision.
• Exemplify a commitment to the community and to the nursing profession.
• Successfully complete the central and unit specific orientation programs including the medication proficiency examination.
• Provide direct total physical care to unpredictable, potentially violent, mentally ill patients as necessary including lifting, supporting, running towards or away from areas where problems are occurring, and pushing and pulling equipment, such as, wheelchairs, stretchers, and beds.
• 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 and their 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 when it matters most.
• Understand, apply, and champion nursing best practices.

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 must have the ability to start with TPP and must obtain licensure within 6 months of time of beginning position or within 1 year of graduation whichever comes first.

Qualifications

• Current student nurse graduating in Spring 2027.
• Graduation from an approved School of Nursing.
• BSN preferred.
• Six months of experience in Clinical Psychiatry preferred.
• Completion of UPMC Student Nurse Internship Program or student clinical transitions course at UPMC preferred.
• CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component 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.