The University of Pittsburg Medical Center (UPMC) is one of the top 10health care providers of choice in America. The UPCM boasts a total of 22 hospitals and over 400 clinics that provide medical and surgical services the over a million patients it receives annually. UPCM employs over 60,000 employees in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and its neighboring states. Among these are about 3,500 physicians and over 11,000 registered nurses.
UPMC’s mission is “to serve our community through outstanding patient care and to shape tomorrow’s health system through clinical and technological innovation, research, and education” Keeping this in mind the firm aims at leading the pack in transformation of health care(UPCM, 2014). Among UPCM’s core values is that of promoting excellence and innovation. UPCM has exerted a global presence through its medical practices, research and pioneering technologies. UPCM’s impact can be witnessed in countries such as Italy, China, Canada, Japan, and Singapore among others, and is yet to spread it wings further.
One of the leading hospitals under the UPCM banner is the St. Margaret hospital in Aspinwall, Pennsylvania that serves as an acute care and teaching hospital. The UPCM St. Margaret hospital is famous for its orthopedic care that is number 11 in America and the leading one in Pennsylvania (U.S. News., 2013).
With over 20-years’ experience in the medical sector, and its link to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; UPMC offers the perfect opportunity for Family Nurse Practitioners to gain from this pool of knowledge. The flexible shifts, competitive payment packages, and career advancement opportunities available go a long way in ensuring the employees receive the best working environment.
Among the many reasons of being part of a professional nursing organization is that it gives one the opportunity to: one, stay relevant in the industry by engaging in continuing education; two, network with the various members of that association and any institutions might be affiliated to; and lastly, obtain career assistance such as advice on best medical practices and job opportunities (McQuilkin, 2005).
The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PA Nurses), which has been in existence since1903, strives to “preserve and advance the identity, integrity and continuity of the profession of nursing, and to serve as the official voice” for its members (PSNA). The PA Nurses Association thus aids the states’ leaders to institute policies guaranteed positively to impact its members and medical practice in general. By defining best work practices, the PA Nurses Association aims to promote excellence throughout the state.
Nurse Practice Act
The role of Family Nurse Practitioners includes providing urgent care, prescribing medicine and implementing medical plans, carrying out minor surgeries and diagnostic and corrective procedures among others. The law gives certified registered practitioners leeway to carry-out the above roles if they have either completed not less than forty-five hours of the relevant pharmacology coursework and is collaborating with a physician after entering a written agreement (Nursing Act., art.8. sec 3).
All nurse practitioners of any clinical specialty can only qualify for certification after successful completing a master’s or post-master's nurse practitioner program approved by the board or holding certification from another nationally recognized board (Nursing Act., art. 8. sec 1).
Nurse practitioners after the completion of relevant educational programs have to be accredited by the either the American Nurses Association or American Nurses Credentialing Center certification; after a successful application and paying the prerequisite fees (Nursing Act., art. 8. sec 4).
References
McQuilkin, G., Doris RN, BSN, MA. (2005). Why join a professional nursing organization? Nursing 2014. Vol. 35 p 19
Nurses Practice Act. (2002).
PSNA. (2013) Pennsylvania State Nurses Association. Retrieved from http://www.psna.org/who/
U.S. News. (2013). Best Hospitals U.S. News & World Reports. Retrieved from http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/pa/upmc-university-of-pittsburgh-medical-center-6230029/rankings
UPMC. (2014). The University of Pittsburg Medical Center. Retrieved from. http://www.upcm.com/about/
