Nursing Patient Care Areas

Acute Care Specialty Unit – Fourth floor

Patient population: Patients are offered a variety of highly specialized services including:

1. Orthopedics (hip and knee joint reconstruction, hip preservation, fracture care, metabolic bone disease, gait abnormalities and arthritis)
2. Ear, Nose, Throat (radical neck surgery, laryngectomy, thyroidectomy, tracheostomy, flaps and facial trauma)
3. Plastics (skin grafting, flaps, leech therapy, burns, re-attachment of digits/extremities)
4. Urology (urinary tract infections, kidney stones, ureteral strictures, cystitis, benign prostatic hypertrophy).

Beds: This unit consists of 48 telemetry-capable beds.

Candidates: Certification is encouraged and financially rewarded. Orthopedics, neurology and urology experience is preferred.

Acute Care Medicine

Patient population: Nurses care for patients with complex, multi-system health problems. Our nurses practice under a collaborative, multidisciplinary model while caring for a wide variety of patients undergoing treatment in: gastroenterology, pulmonary, infectious disease, palliative care and general medicine. Nurses develop a breadth of knowledge combined with focused expertise unique to each subspecialty including patients with chronic renal disease, adult cystic fibrosis and other complex medical conditions. Specific training is provided in cardiac rhythm interpretation. Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) is offered within one year of hire. Staff development is ongoing through educational programs designed to meet specific unit needs. Classes are available to prepare individuals for certification in medical/surgical nursing.

Beds: This is a 44-bed, telemetry-equipped unit.

Candidates: Certification is encouraged and financially rewarded. Medical/surgical experience.

3 Acute Care

Patient population: The challenge of medical/surgical nursing is best experienced on this unit where nurses care for patients with complex, multi-system health problems. This unit is the primary location for trauma and emergency general surgery acute care patients as well as bariatric patients from all service lines that require specialty beds as part of their care. Additional bed allocation is used as an overflow of all medical and surgical specialties, creating a rich diversity in the patient population. This broad spectrum of patients creates opportunities for the nursing staff to collaborate with a variety of interdisciplinary health care teams.

Beds: This unit has 28-34 beds.

Candidates: Two years of acute care/medical-surgical nursing experience. Telemetry. ACLS. Trauma and bariatrics nursing experience.

Patient population: Nurses care for patients with hematologic and oncologic malignancies and those receiving bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell transplants. Our nurses are specially trained in chemotherapy administration and the care of complex intermediate care oncology patients, including those receiving leukemic induction chemotherapy, peripheral blood stem cell transplant and high-dose biotherapy. Educational opportunities include Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) chemotherapy/biotherapy course, cardiac rhythm interpretation, seminar on peripheral stem cell transplant, oncology topics and intermediate care topics. An annual Oncology Core Curriculum Review is offered for staff seeking certification in oncology nursing. Certification is encouraged and financially rewarded.

Beds: This is a 39-bed inpatient unit.

Candidates: Candidates with hematology/oncology/stem cell transplant background, or those with strong medical/surgical experience and a desire to care for cancer patients.

Medical Intensive Care

Patient population: This unit offers an excellent nurse-to-patient ratio of 2:1 or 1:1, so you can truly make an impact on individuals. This unit boasts Gold Level Beacon status through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). There is a strong shared governance with multiple staff members participating in hospital-wide initiatives. There is a variety of experience and knowledge in the staff which can grow new nurses and encourage experienced nurses to lead. There is opportunity for advancement within the unit through a variety of roles and experiences. Our team uses advanced technologies such as continuous veno-venous hemofiltration/dialysis (CVVH/D), Flolan therapy and nitric oxide to treat:

• Multi-system organ failure
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome
• Sepsis
• Hematology/oncology
• Gastrointestinal bleeds
• Acute renal/liver failure
• Acid-base and electrolyte imbalances
• Diabetes mellitus 8) Alcohol/drug overdose
• Post cardiac arrest hypothermia.

Orientation is six to eight weeks with a consistent preceptor and ACLS is required within three months of hire. Critical care registered nurse (CCRN) certification is encouraged and financially rewarded. Additional critical care didactic is available for those without direct ICU experience.

Beds: This is a 16-bed multidisciplinary unit.

Candidates: Intermediate and/or critical care experience. CCRN certification preferred.

Medical Intermediate Care

Patient population: This unit offers a nurse-to-patient ratio of 3:1.Our team uses advanced technologies to treat:

• Multi-system organ failure
• Respiratory distress syndrome
• Sepsis
• Hematology/oncology
• GI bleeds
• Renal/liver failure
•  Acid-base and electrolyte imbalances
• Diabetes mellitus.

Beds: This is a 20-bed multidisciplinary unit.

Candidates: At least one year acute care experience. ACLS and telemetry experience.

Surgical Anesthesia Intensive Care

Patient population: The challenge of critical care nursing is best experienced in this intensive care unit (ICU) where nurses care for patients with complex, multi-system health issues. Patients on general surgery, trauma, transplant and surgical services specialties such as orthopedics, urology, and obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) services will be admitted to this unit. Nurses will practice under a collaborative, interdisciplinary model.

Beds: This is a 30-bed ICU.

Candidates: At least one year acute care experience. Telemetry and ACLS experience.

Surgical Intermediate Care

Patient population: The challenge of critical care nursing is best experienced in this intermediate care unit (IMCU) where nurses care for patients with complex, multi-system health issues. Patients on general surgery, trauma, transplant and surgical services specialties such as orthopedics, urology and OB/GYN services will be admitted to this unit. Nurses will practice under a collaborative, interdisciplinary model.

Beds: This is a16 bed IMCU.

Candidates: At least one year acute care experience. ACLS and telemetry experience.

Patient population: High energy, quick thinking and excellent assessment skills are what we look for in the nurses who join our Level I Regional Resource Trauma Center. This dynamic division treats more than 70,000 patients annually. In addition to an intensive clinical orientation, all nurses must complete training in ACLS, neonatal resuscitation provider, trauma nursing and several other programs that are unique to the emergency nursing environment. Certification is encouraged and financially rewarded.

Beds: This is a 60-bed unit.

Candidates: Emergency department and acute care experience

Heart and Vascular Critical Care

Patient population: The Heart and Vascular Institute Critical Care Unit (HVICCU) is an acuity-adaptable intensive care unit specializing in advanced cardiac critical care diagnoses. The all-RN staff cares for complex, multi-system health issues of a cardiac and/or cardio-respiratory origin. Nurses have the opportunity to receive training via the Graduate Nurse Program or HVICCU RN fellowship. RNs with a minimum of six months experience will orient in the fellowship program, which consists of 12 weeks of clinical orientation, followed by an additional nine months of didactic lecture and process for gradually increasing difficulty of assignments. Nurses will care for patients with a wide variety of mechanical circulatory support devices, including (but not limited to): extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), left ventricular assist device (LVAD), biventricular assist device (Bi-VAD), right ventricular assist device (RVAD), total artificial heart, and intra-aortic balloon pump. This unit demonstrates a strong commitment to Shared Governance and is well known for its strong team effort. Nurses practice in a collaborative and inter-professional setting with an intensivist team and supporting specialty services (cardio-thoracic surgery, cardiology, thoracic surgery and vascular surgery). 

Beds: This is a 30-bed unit.

Candidates: ICU experience, ACLS, two years Medical/Surgical or one year stepdown; previous experience with mechanical circulatory support devices and/or ECMO.

Heart and Vascular Progressive Care

Patient population: This unit is a mixed acuity unit. Must be willing to care for four floor-level patients, three IMC-level patients or a combination of both. Nurses here care for both IMC and floor level heart and vascular populations including coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve replacements, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) procedures, vascular bypass grafting, amputations, heart failure, myocardial infarction (MI), LVAD and heart transplant patients.

Beds: This unit has 24 beds.

Candidates: At least one year acute care experience. ACLS and telemetry experience.

Heart and Vascular Outpatient Care

Patient population: Our registered nurse (clinical nurse) is responsible for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care to a designated group of adult patients recovering from invasive procedures. The Heart and Vascular Outpatient Care Unit (HVOC) is the pre/post procedural unit for our Interventional/Neuro-Interventional Radiology labs.

Beds: This is a 10-bed unit.

Candidates: Three or more years IMC-level experience required, which must be within the last two years. Candidate must possess knowledge of cardiac care, to include advanced cardiac life support and basic cardiopulmonary life support certification. BSN preferred. This position cares for adult patients. It requires on-call hours on rotating Saturday mornings.

Heart and Vascular Outpatient Unit

Patient population: Our registered nurse (clinical nurse) is responsible for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care for a designated group of adult patients recovering from invasive procedures. The Heart and Vascular Outpatient Unit (HVOU) is the pre/post procedural unit for our Adult Cardiac Catheterization and Electrophysiology (EP) Labs.

Beds: This is a 15-bed unit.

Candidates: Three or more years critical care experience is required, which must be within the last two years. Candidate must possess knowledge of cardiac critical care, to include advanced cardiac life support and basic cardiopulmonary life support certification. BSN preferred. This position cares for adult patients. It requires on-call hours on rotating Saturday mornings.

Patient population: We combine high-tech integrated care with a special level of care and compassion. The staff of the Neuroscience Critical Care Unit (NCCU) has a unique opportunity to provide specialized care to primarily intensive and intermediate care patients. Our integrated unit facilitates the ability of patients to possibly remain in the same room during their hospital stay and receive specialized neuroscience nursing care. This integrated model promotes a continuity of care and familiarity between patients, families and nurses. Our neuroscience team — physicians, nurses, patient and family — formulate an individual plan upon admission. This plan is continually updated as the patient’s condition changes; we are always planning for discharge.

Beds: This is a 31-bed unit.

Candidates: Experience in a neuroscience intensive care unit is preferred, but general intensive care unit/critical care experience is acceptable, or two years of medical/surgical/telemetry experience in an acute care setting.

Neonatal Intensive Care

Patient population: Come join us in caring for the tiniest of patients in our state-of-the-art high-risk nursery. Bring your big heart to our youngest patients. Our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is the highest level neonatal intensive care unit in the region. This Level IV unit admits premature infants from a wide area in Pennsylvania. Opportunities for committee involvement are available and staff members participate in unit self-scheduling. Our unit care capabilities include regular ventilation support or high-frequency ventilation, nitric oxide therapy, ECMO, cardiac, surgical, renal and neurological. Certification is encouraged and financially rewarded.

Beds: This is a 42-bed unit.

Candidates: Neonatal, pediatric or critical care experience.

Pediatrics Acute Care

Patient population: Our unit provides warm, exceptional care for children from infancy through 18 years of age. There are 16 medical/surgical specialty services that admit to our pediatric unit. Our services include, but are not limited to, general pediatrics, hematology/oncology, bone marrow transplant, cardiology, endocrinology, infectious disease, gastroenterology, rheumatology, pulmonary, neurology, pediatric surgery/trauma, orthopedics, otolaryngology surgery, plastics/reconstructive surgery and urology. Certification is encouraged and financially rewarded.

Beds: This is an 18-bed unit.

Candidates: Applicants must have a strong desire to care for children and their families. Experience in pediatric nursing is desired, but not required.

Pediatrics Hematology and Oncology

Patient population: This unit provides nursing care to patients being cared for by pediatric hematologists and oncologists for pediatric cancer and other blood disorders. Nurses are responsible for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care. Acuity varies to allow for safe, high-quality care of patients receiving chemotherapy/biotherapy and undergoing stem cell transplant. Other services commonly triaged to this unit include pediatric neurosurgery, pediatric nephrology and solid organ transplant. Nurse-to-patient ratios are 2:3.

Beds: This is an 18-bed unit.

Candidates: Applicants must have a strong desire to care for children and their families. Experience in pediatric or oncology nursing is desired, but not required.

Pediatric Intensive Care

Patient population: Our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) has received the highest rating for care, placing us among the best in the world! Patients needing your attention in our PICU range from newborns to 18 years of age. Our wide variety of patient types and advanced therapies include trauma, pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, ECMO, oscillator, nitric oxide therapy and research. Certification is encouraged and financially rewarded.

Beds: This is an 18-bed unit.

Candidates: Candidates with pediatric or intensive care background.

Pediatric Intermediate Care

Patient population: The patients in pediatric intermediate care (PIMCU) range from infants to adolescents and require treatment for varied critical illnesses and injuries. Our wide variety of patient types and advanced therapies include pediatric trauma, pediatric cardiology, pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, neurology, neurosurgery, kidney transplant, pediatric pulmonology and research. Certification is encouraged and financially rewarded. This nursing position will be responsible for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care to a designated group of patients.

Beds: This is an 18-bed unit.

Candidates: Candidates with pediatric or intensive care background. 

Patient population: The registered nurse is responsible for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating the plan for the perioperative patient. The nurse also serves as a patient advocated during times of vulnerability by utilizing required critical thinking skills and a knowledge regarding the care of the patient in the operating room (OR). The position has an average response time to call which is 30 minutes. Our progressive and innovative surgical team fosters an environment that is challenging, dynamic and state-of-the-art. Our operating room suites consist of 34 operating rooms and four procedure rooms. You will have the opportunity to work in a variety of cases. The operating room completes over 20,000 procedures annually. Because we are part of an academic medical center, as well as a Level I Trauma Center, you'll be exposed to a wide variety of patients and experiences. Some of the OR services we provide on a daily basis include general, vascular, neurosurgery, cardiothoracic, orthopaedic, ENT, transplantation, gynecology, urology, plastic and reconstructive, and pediatric surgery.

Beds: Our operating room suites consist of 34 operating rooms and four procedure rooms. 

Candidates: Operating Room experience. BSN and certification preferred.

Same Day Perianesthesia

Patient population: The Same Day Perianesthesia provides the preoperative assessment and preparation for patients admitted the day of surgery. Our services include dental/oral surgery, general surgery, gynecology, neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgery, otolaryngology - ear, nose and throat, plastic and reconstructive surgery, urology.

Beds: This is a 42-bed unit.

Candidates: RN with one to two years experience.

Post Anesthesia Care

Patient population: The post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) provides acute care for patients recovering from the effects of general or regional anesthesia.

Beds: This is a 24-bed unit.

Candidates: RN with one to two years experience. Critical care, trauma experience preferred.

Children’s Hospital Perianesthesia

Patient population: Our Children's Perianesthesia Unit cares for patients prior to and following surgery. We provide pre- and post-surgical care for a wide variety of service lines such as ear nose throat, ophthalmology, orthopedics, pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, pediatric gastroenterology, pediatric pulmonary, pediatric surgery and urology. Our team rotates through the pre-operative, PACU and post-op areas. The nursing position will be responsible for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care to this designated group of patients.

Beds: This is a 28-bed unit.

Candidates: Applicants must have a strong desire to care for pediatric patients and their families. Pediatric and/or perioperative experience. Telemetry and critical care experience. BSN preferred.

Our nursing services extend beyond the hospital walls to include patient care in our Penn State Hershey Medical Group clinics in the central Pennsylvania region.

A team known for its excellence and quality, the Medical Group is committed to family and community medicine. Included in its vision is the goal to offer a comprehensive, integrated system of primary care services that will serve as a model for community health care throughout the region.

Depending on your position, services you provide may include:

• Assessing patient and family needs
• Directly treating patients or assisting a primary provider
• Coordinating patient flow
• Obtaining specimens via phlebotomy, finger stick, throat screens, wet preps, etc.
• Conducting lab studies of specimens and documenting results
• Taking measurements of vital signs, height and weight
• Developing plans of nursing care and collaborating with other professionals

Responsibilities: Our per diem registered nurse (clinical nurse) is responsible for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care to a designated group of patients with and without telemetry.

Float areas: Our registered nurses will float to the following areas as a medical/surgical nurse.

• Inpatient Areas: 3 South Addition, 4 Acute Care, 5 Acute Care, 6 Acute Care, PSCI and any integrated unit that has floor patients with telemetry.
• Procedural areas: Perianesthesia and Emergency Room (to care for admitted patients), as a maternal-child nurse.
• Inpatient Areas: Pediatric Acute Care, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Pediatric Intensive Care, Pediatric Intermediate Care, Neonatal Intensive Care and Women’s Health/Newborn Nursery.
• Procedural Areas: Children’s Hospital Perianesthesia and Children’s Hospital Emergency Room and as a critical care nurse.
• Inpatient areas: Heart and Vascular Intensive Care, Heart and Vascular Progressive Care Unit, Surgical Anesthesia Intensive Care Unit, Surgical Intermediate Care Unit, Neuro Critical Care, Medical Intensive Care Unit, Medical Intermediate Care Unit.
• Procedural Areas: Emergency Room, Perianesthesia.

Candidates: Three years RN experience required in the field of either medical/surgical nursing, maternal-child nursing and/or critical care nursing. BSN and certification preferred. Current: BLS, ACLS, PALS and or NRP (dependent on which areas is your field of practice).

Patient population: Our unit serves as an educational, research and health care facility to specifically address the issues facing women today. Among the comprehensive facilities are five labor delivery recovery (LDR) rooms, two Caesarean section rooms, four triage beds, a newborn nursery and a transitional nursery. Types of patients include gynecology, gynecology/oncology, labor and delivery, antepartum, mother/baby couplets and transitional newborns. Nurses on this unit have the chance to participate in ongoing learning programs related to electronic fetal monitoring, neonatal resuscitation, labor support, circulating during a Caesarean section and cardiac rhythm interpretation. Certification is encouraged and financially rewarded.

Beds: This is a 30-bed unit.

Candidates: Women's Health experience preferred. NRP certification preferred. Applicable certification preferred. BSN preferred.