Medical/Surgical Services

Ranked as one of the top 5 most active centers in the area, our Med/Surg department is broken down into distinct specialty units. The Urology/Gynecology Unit provides diagnosis and treatment of renal failure, diabetes and uro-gynecological conditions.

Within Oncology, our patients present a broad spectrum of diagnoses including gynecologic, head and neck, hematological, HIV-related malignancies, and immunosuppressant disorders. Working in collaboration with the Joan Karnell Cancer Center, we improve care across the continuum with innovative therapies, including bloodless stem-cell transplants and pet therapy programs

Our Cardiology/Vascular Unit specializes in cardiac disease, vascular surgery, and telemetry monitoring utilizing invasive and non-invasive diagnostic procedures and supports our expanding Cardiac Cath Lab.

Rated in the top 10 in AARP, Pennsylvania Hospital's Orthopaedics service is known nationally for its ground-breaking procedures and cutting edge technology.The surgeons within this Unit are nationally-recognized, and multiple learning opportunities exist. Our Neurology service treats patients diagnosed with ALS, CVA/TIA, neurological disorders, as well as those recovering from a variety of neurosurgical procedures.

Our Acute Rehabilitation Unit (ARU) treats patients in the initial phase of post-hospitalization recovery. And the Skilled Care Unit provides a transitional phase to home care or long-term care.

Critical Care Services

With state-of-the-art equipment and procedures, you will have the opportunity to provide exceptional care to the patients within our Critical Care Services department. Our nursing staff was involved in every aspect of the planning and design or our units, through our shared governance practice model, resulting in units that maximize the ability of the nurse to care for patients with optimal safety and efficiency.

Our Critical Care Units include our combined medical/surgical ICU, Neuro ICU and CCU (for medical cardiac and open-heart patients). Practicing autonomously, your assessments and interventions truly affect patient outcomes. While involvement in patient care is intense, you'll feel good about the work you are doing, and the people you are helping.

The Intermediate Critical Care Unit offers a wide-range of clinical experiences including caring for patients immediately post Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasy. This area also includes our center of excellence for Bariatric Surgery. Outcomes are exceptional and professional camaraderie is unsurpassed.

Opportunities also exist to enhance your clinical expertise working within our Emergency Department, which treats a wide and varied patient population, 24/7. Nurses in this area pride themselves on their exceptional teamwork. The result is excellent patient care coupled with extremely low staff turnover.

Gateway to Critical Care Program
This unique program provides an excellent opportunity for RNs to develop the skills needed to become safe and competent critical care nurses. Working in collaboration with experienced ICU Nurse preceptors, Gateway participants will follow a structured educational plan that outlines and defines competency expectation, patient assignment and preceptor/learner responsibilities.

How the Program Works
This is a 16-week program consisting of 100 hours of classroom instruction, lab skills and structured clinical experiences at staged levels. Through lectures, discussions, videotapes, self-learning modules and clinical experience, you'll gain the basic knowledge and skills necessary to care for critically ill patients. Some of the core competencies include:

• Airway and ventilator management
• Cardiac monitoring
• Critical care pharmacology
• Hemodynamic monitoring
• Physical assessment
• Arterial Blood Gases Analysis/Acid-Based Balance
• Pain/Sedation/Neuromuscular Blockade
• End of life care

The Department of Nursing Education will partner with your clinical nurse manager and preceptor to support and assist you through the completion of the program.

The Gateway to Critical Care Program provides an exceptional opportunity to learn and grow in challenging and dynamic areas alongside some of the finest healthcare professionals in the world.

Perioperative Services

Known as a “Center of Excellence” for many of our surgical procedures, Pennsylvania Hospital offers nurses the opportunity to work as part of an interdisciplinary team with some of the finest surgeons in the region. A full range of surgical procedures are performed in our state-of-the-art Operating Room Suites including open heart procedures, minimally invasive and laser surgery, three-dimensional stereotactic neurosurgery, total joint replacement, and a progressive bloodless surgery program.

The Postanesthesia Care Unit (PACU) cares for patients in the immediate postoperative period. Nurses in this unit treat patients recovering from a wide range of surgical procedures. This provides remarkable professional development opportunities.

Our Day Stay Unit cares for patients prior to surgery and acts as a secondary recovery area for postoperative and post-procedure patients. Nurses in this area also provide care for out-patients requiring chemotherapy, IV antibiotics, or blood transfusions.

Our Pain Management Team serves as an expert resource throughout the hospital to ensure optimal patient comfort post-operatively.

Within Interventional Radiology, our RNs provide pre/intra/post procedure monitoring for patients that receive sedation/analgesia.

Maternal/Infant Health

Welcoming over 4,800 babies each year, our program is the largest in the Philadelphia region. As the first specialty area at Pennsylvania Hospital, we continue to be recognized nationally for excellence in obstetrics.

Working with both low and high risk patients in our Labor and Delivery area, you will see patients through the birthing process. From our Perinatal Evaluation and Treatment Unit for emergency patients to our Antepartum Unit, you will be exposed to a broad spectrum of patient care experiences.

In our Postpartum/Newborn Nursery, you will focus on the family, providing quality care for the mothers, families, and the newest additions to their families – the babies. Teaching is a major component of the RN's day here.

The level III Intensive Care Nursery (ICN) cares for newborns with a variety of diagnoses including prematurity, sepsis, and cardiac problems. Our high tech environment is also high touch. Combining the pace of critical care and the special needs of our fragile patients, you will feel fulfilled as you see your patients go home for the first time.

Behavioral Health

Working along side world-renowned clinicians, you will participate in pharmacotherapy and psychodynamic treatment modalities. Our Psychiatric Inpatient Unit sees both voluntary and involuntary patients. From nurses, physicians, and social workers to occupational and recreation therapists, you will be a member of a highly-regarded, multi-disciplinary team that works to improve the mental health of our patients.

The Crisis Response Center at Pennsylvania Hospital is one of 5 centers in Philadelphia that offers 24-hour, emergency evaluation and treatment for psychiatric patients. Each month, an estimated 500-600 patients are treated by our clinical staff.