RN Registered Nurse, Rapid Transfer Unit (Nights) - West Penn Hospital

Highmark Health; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Magnet recognition

Private patient rooms

Free employee parking

Generous benefits package

Job summary

Allegheny Health Network's Rapid Transfer Unit is seeking a Registered Nurse to rapidly evaluate and triage patients with acute medical conditions. You will be part of a multidisciplinary team delivering expedited assessment and treatment decisions on a high‑acuity unit.

ACLS and NIHSS certifications are required before completing orientation, and the nurse will be cross‑trained to support Med/Obs/Tele. Prior RN experience and a PA/ECLN license are essential for this role.

Qualifications

• Current PA RN license or valid multi-state license via the eNLC.
• ACLS and NIHSS certifications required before finishing orientation.
• Minimum of 1 year of general RN experience.
• Ability to work on Med/Obs/Tele in a fast-paced setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional nursing care and unit leadership on a fast-paced RTU.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team to evaluate and triage patients.
• Assess conditions, plan and adjust care per physician orders.
• Ensure safety, patient comfort, and accurate documentation.
• Participate in quality improvement and patient satisfaction initiatives.
• Supervise staff and mentor junior nurses as needed.

Skills

ACLS

NIHSS

Education

PA RN license or eNLC

Job description

Allegheny Health Network

Rapid Transfer Unit

The Rapid Transfer Unit (RTU) is a specialized area of variable acuity designed to quickly evaluate and triage patients with acute medical conditions. The primary goal of the RTU is to expedite patient assessment, diagnosis, and treatment decisions, leading to more efficient patient flow and improved outcomes.

Nurses will be required to have ACLS and NIHSS certifications before coming off of orientation. Nurses will be cross‑trained to work on Med/Obs/Tele.

RTU employs a multidisciplinary team to provide comprehensive, yet expedited, assessments of patients presenting with acute or sub‑acute conditions. The unit utilizes standardized protocols and point‑of‑care testing to facilitate rapid diagnosis and triage, ensuring patients receive the appropriate level of care in a timely manner.

RTU is a vital component of the healthcare system, focusing on the rapid evaluation of patients to improve outcomes. By quickly assessing patients and initiating timely treatment, the team aims to reduce complications, shorten hospital stays, and enhance overall patient well‑being.

RTU provides a streamlined process for evaluating patients with a wide spectrum of medical conditions. The unit's focus is on prompt assessment and efficient decision‑making to determine the appropriate course of treatment and level of care required.

RTU is a dedicated healthcare space designed to quickly evaluate patients presenting with a variety of medical concerns. The goal is to expedite assessment, diagnosis, and treatment decisions, reducing wait times and improving patient flow throughout the facility.

West Penn Hospital

West Penn Hospital has Magnet recognition, private patient rooms, free employee parking and a generous benefit package (for full‑time and part‑time status employees).

Allegheny Health Network

At AHN, employees trust working together and place patients at the center of all they do. This 9 Hospital system, a part of Highmark Health, is transforming the future of healthcare by providing highly effective services to customers, patients, and communities. AHN has commitment and dedication to being inclusive, valuing fresh perspectives, and offering the best growth and educational opportunities to employees.

General Overview

The Registered Nurse assesses human responses and plans, implements and evaluates nursing care for individuals or families for whom the nurse is responsible. The Registered Nurse is fully responsible for all actions as a licensed nurse and is accountable to patients for the quality of care delivered.

Essential Responsibilities

• The registered nurse provides leadership in a professional practice setting.
• Team player who contributes to building the team by helping others succeed through role modeling and mentoring.
• Assigns or delegates tasks based on the needs of the patient and skill level of the RN, LPN or support staff.
• Assigns duties and lunches for staff when performing charge role.
• Considers maintenance of a safe environment, patient condition, complexity of the intervention and predictability of the outcome.
• Provides peers with both verbal and written feedback regarding clinical practice and role performance.
• Shares knowledge and skills with peers and colleagues.
• Willingly accepts mistakes of self and others, creating a culture in which risk taking is not only safe but expected.
• Participates on interdisciplinary team to evaluate clinical care or health services.
• Promotes patient safety initiatives (ex: National Patient Safety Goals).
• Participates in department specific quality initiatives ( ex: EBP population specific).
• Assures appropriate order sets are used.
• Supervises delegates and evaluates assigned LPN scope of practice as appropriate.
• Utilizes the nursing process to assess, plan, evaluate and implement a patient plan of care according to the individual needs of the patient as prescribed by physician, nurse and hospital policy including patient and family.
• Derives culturally and age appropriate expected outcomes involving the patient, family and other health care providers.
• Analyzes the health status of the individuals and families comparing the data with the norm, when possible, to determine patient care needs.
• Assesses patient reports/records change of condition and notifies physician and/or supervisor and intervenes appropriately and documents accordingly.
• Accepts assignments in areas other than primary unit, and performs duties within individualized competency.
• Demonstrates a commitment to continuous lifelong learning for self and others.
• Promotes advancement of the profession through participation in professional organizations.
• Seeks both formal and independent learning activities using current research findings and other evidence to maintain and develop clinical and professional skills and knowledge.
• Participates in systematic peer review and obtains informal feedback regarding one’s own practice from patients, peers, professional colleagues and others.
• Identifies areas of strength, as well as, areas in which professional development would be beneficial.
• Meets time and attendance guidelines per hospital policy.
• Continuously evaluates and assesses patient and family satisfaction.
• Participates I department specific patient satisfaction initiatives.
• Promotes compassionate communication that is patient and family centered.
• Assesses for and attempts to resolve patient/family concerns.
• Utilizes effective time management skills to complete assigned duties and responsibilities within established work shift.

Qualifications

• Minimum Current State of PA RN licensure OR Current multi-state licensure through the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC).
• One year of general RN experience
• Preferred Certification in area of specialty

Additional Employment Requirements

• Act 34 Criminal Background Clearance Certificate
• Act 33 Child Abuse Clearance Certificate
• Act 73 FBI Fingerprinting Criminal Background Clearance Certificate
• CPR certification

Disclaimer

The job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this job title. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to do this job.

Compliance Requirement

This job adheres to the ethical and legal standards and behavioral expectations as set forth in the code of business conduct and company policies. As a component of job responsibilities, employees may have access to covered information, cardholder data, or other confidential customer information that must be protected at all times. In connection with this, all employees must comply with both the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) as described in the Notice of Privacy Practices and Privacy Policies and Procedures as well as all data security guidelines established within the Company’s Handbook of Privacy Policies and Practices and Information Security Policy. Furthermore, it is every employee’s responsibility to comply with the company’s Code of Business Conduct. This includes but is not limited to adherence to applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations as well as company policies and training requirements. Highmark Health and its affiliates prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on any category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. California Consumer Privacy Act Employees, Contractors, and Applicants Notice Highmark Health is a national, blended health organization that includes one of America’s largest Blue Cross Blue Shield insurers and a growing regional hospital and physician network. Based in Pittsburgh, Pa., Highmark Health’s 35,000 employees serve millions of customers nationwide through the nonprofit organization’s affiliated businesses, which include Highmark Inc., Allegheny Health Network, HM Insurance Group, United Concordia Dental, HM Health Solutions and HM Home & Community Services. Highmark Health’s businesses proudly serve a broad spectrum of health‑related needs including health insurance, health care delivery, population health management, dental solutions, reinsurance solutions, and innovative, technology solutions.