Enhance Your LPN Career with UPMC

Licensed practical nurses, or LPNs, are most commonly seen working in nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, residential care sites, and outpatient clinics. But about 15% of LPNs in the U.S. work in hospitals as part of inpatient care teams — and that number only continues to grow as the nation’s health care needs increase.

That trend holds true at UPMC — we’re bringing more clinical expertise from LPNs to our inpatient care teams as we embrace a team-based model of care that ensures a safe and quality experience, not just for our patients, but for our employees too.

More LPNs are choosing inpatient careers with UPMC than ever before. Curious to understand and maybe see if it would be a good fit for you? Here are 5 reasons why our employees say they chose an inpatient LPN career with UPMC:


1. Elevated Earnings

With premium hourly compensation designed to reward LPNs for the heightened demand of inpatient care, along with newly increased sign-on bonuses up to $12,500, you can choose UPMC with confidence. Plus, an exclusive inpatient LPN career ladder offers growth opportunities that reward you for your continued experience, education, and expertise.

2. Team-based model of care

Do what you do best with confidence, knowing that your other care team members are doing the same. As an LPN in UPMC’s team-based model of inpatient care, you can utilize your expertise and sharpen your skills while working hand-in-hand with patient care technicians, nursing assistants, registered nurses, and more.

“It was very gratifying to be a part of and assist in a patient’s recovery- from admission to discharge.”

– Katie L., Sr. Licensed Practical Nurse, UPMC Passavant

3. More acute care experience

Looking to hone in on your favorite nursing specialty? Craving a career that offers variety in your day-to-day work? As an inpatient LPN, you’ll get hands-on acute care experience across a variety of units. You’ll have an opportunity to sharpen your practical nursing skills in a role where no two days look the same.

“The variety of patients and experiences I have had during my career at UPMC has broadened my nursing skills and shaped me into the nurse I am today.”

– Katie L., Sr. Licensed Practical Nurse, UPMC Passavant

4. Careers that work with your lifestyle

Get to know a diverse patient population in one of our urban, suburban, or rural hospitals. Whether you prefer the hustle-and-bustle of an urban facility, or you’d like to make a big impact in a small community, you can work your way with night and weekend programs, flexible schedules, and shift differentials. No matter what setting or shift you prefer, you’ll be able to do what matters most to you with up to 5½ weeks of paid time off each year.

“I have three kids, and my youngest has special needs. I have to make sure that they’re taken care of first. They’re 16, 10, and five – they’re all in different life stages. The flexibility in my role has helped out tremendously.”

– Katie L., Sr. Licensed Practical Nurse, UPMC Passavant

5. Support for your academic and career goals

As a UPMC employee, you’ll have access to tuition discounts at partnering institutions, including low-cost LPN-to-RN programs. Plus, you can receive $6,000 per academic year in tuition assistance and take on continued education without worrying about the cost, thanks to student loan repayment and refinancing options available through UPMC’s partnerships with Savi and SoFi.

Katie L., Sr. Licensed Practical Nurse, UPMC Passavant


This list includes just a handful of reasons why more LPNs are choosing inpatient careers with UPMC, but there are a lot more… like the medical, dental, and vision benefits plan options that cover you and your family; the retirement planning and the employer-matched contributions; the many nursing councils dedicated to advancing the field; the opportunity to build the career you want, and more.