Sr. Professional Staff Nurse - Post Surgical Unit (Harrisburg Hospital)

AG7 is a 42-bed post-surgical care unit dedicated to delivering high-quality, compassionate care to a diverse adult and geriatric patient population. Many admissions are planned elective surgeries, with a smaller percentage originating from the Emergency Department or direct physician referrals.

AG7 specializes in orthopedic (bone, joint, and spine), general surgery, kidney transplant, and urology patients. Orthopedics, general surgery, and urology represent the unit’s primary areas of expertise. As part of UPMC, which has more than 40 years of transplant experience and national leadership in organ transplantation, AG7 supports comprehensive, patient-centered kidney transplant care grounded in clinical excellence and research advancement.

The unit aligns closely with UPMC’s Bone, Joint, and Spine programs, including Joint Commission–certified hip and knee replacement and spine surgery programs at UPMC Harrisburg. Patients benefit from state-of-the-art facilities, advanced diagnostics, minimally invasive techniques, and evidence-based surgical and nonsurgical treatments.

The unit fosters a culture of teamwork, shared decision-making, professional growth, and mutual support, while maintaining a strong commitment to employee well-being and work-life balance. Through clinical expertise, collaboration, and compassionate service, AG7 plays a vital role in delivering exceptional surgical care across the organization.

Purpose:
The Senior Professional Staff Nurse is a Registered Nurse and a member of the care delivery team. The Senior Professional Staff Nurse is responsible to set the standards for the level and quality of care. The Senior Professional Staff Nurse has responsibility, authority and accountability for the provision of nursing care. The Senior Professional Staff Nurse 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 encompasses leadership, partnership, collaboration and supervision. The Senior Professional Staff 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 demonstrates a commitment to the community and to the nursing profession.

Responsibilities:

• Identifies opportunities for clinical quality as well as workplace improvement. Applies evidence based practice as a regular aspect of professional practice. Serves on or leads teams that launch innovations in patient care or support a healthy workforce.
• Serves as a role model of professional nursing practice by serving as a recognized unit leader in one or more of the following areas: clinical expertise, teacher, specialized resource nurse, and/or evidence based practice. Consistently gives appropriate feedback to all members of the health care team and participates in the nursing peer review process. Promotes change that enhances the quality of patient care and the unit environment. Serves on teams and leads successful teams as a part of daily practice. Demonstrates highly developed clinical assessment and analytical skills within the context of Relationship Based Care. Actively participates in shared governance at unit level and serves on hospital-wide councils.
• Demonstrates a passion for developing others, enthusiastically and expertly precepts students, graduate nurses and new hires. Analyzes clinical and behavioral situations, identifying learning opportunities to improve patient care practices. Regularly seeks feedback on performance and applies continuous professional improvement. Supports continuous learning in the clinical area by sharing research, materials from professional organizations, presenting on the unit, supporting journal clubs, etc.
• Applies the nursing process within the framework of Relationship Based Care to create a healing environment. Formulates daily goals and a plan of care for patients that involves the patient as partner and considers the individual needs of the patient in a holistic manner. Practices solid communication skills, and is able to articulate and translate the patient's condition to other care providers and to negotiate and make recommendations for changes in patient care and unit practices. Patient documentation is comprehensive and promotes communication between caregivers. Demonstrates critical thinking in the identification of clinical, social, safety, psychological and spiritual issues for the patient care within an episode of care. Incorporates national professional organization as well as business unit and health system's goals to improve patient safety, quality and satisfaction of the patient experience in daily work. Creates a caring and compassionate patient focused experience by building healing relationships with patients, families and colleagues.
• Builds and mends relationships among colleagues within the framework of a healthy workplace. Role models keen cultural awareness including preventing and addressing horizontal violence and impairment. Maintains a conscious balance between work and personal life through prioritization and delegation of responsibilities.