Rachael A. Scamuffa, RN, BSN, CCRN-CMC
Pittsburgh,USA
Summary
CCRN-CMC certified critical care nurse with nearly 12 years of experience managing high-acuity, mechanically ventilated patients in a Level 1 trauma center MICU. Expertise in advanced hemodynamic monitoring, vasoactive infusion titration, and complex cardiopulmonary failure. Charge nurse and preceptor with a 4.0 GPA across the last 63 credits of upper-level nursing and science coursework, demonstrating strong academic readiness for nurse anesthesia education.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Expert Professional Registered Staff Nurse
UPMC Presbyterian Hospital
Pittsburgh, PA
04.2014 - Current
- Monitor vital signs, telemetry, hemodynamics of critically ill patients.
- Perform detailed physical assessments and participate in formulating a plan of care for two patient assignments.
- Lead multidisciplinary rounds with the critical care management team.
- Assist with and administer sedation medications for bedside procedures (planned and emergent) such as rapid sequence intubation, bronchoscopy, cardioversion.
- Perform medication administration and manage continuous high-risk IV medications (titratable and nontitratable).
- Manage ICU level clinical interventions.
- Provide physical care in the form of bathing, wound care, etc.
- Provide care, support, and education to patients and family members.
- Precept/mentor new nurses through an 8-week orientation.
- Bedside Role
Ethics Subcommittee Member
UPMC Presbyterian Hospital
Pittsburgh, PA
03.2025 - Current
- Discuss and brainstorm solutions for ethical issues impacting patients and nurses at the bedside.
- Report information back to home unit and provide teaching to other bedside nurses concerning ethical issues.
- Afford others the space to discuss the emotional burden of ethical issues and provide support and resources to cope with these issues.
Charge Nurse
Medical Intensive Care Unit, UPMC Presbyterian Hospital
Pittsburgh, PA
12.2019 - Current
- Manage bed flow of 32-bed medical intensive care unit at level 1 trauma center.
- Create nurse assignments based patient acuity and nurse skill level.
- Respond to codes on units with lower levels of care and assist the rapid response team in managing patients.
- Assist nurses, physicians, other members of the multidisciplinary team with medical/administrative problems, procedures, and emergencies.
On-Call Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
UPMC Presbyterian Hospital
04.2018 - 03.2021
- Staff on-call shifts and report on an as needed basis when a victim of sexual assault presents to the hospital.
- Perform focused physical assessment on victim to assess for traumatic injury and medical issues.
- Perform extensive sexual assault exam that includes assessing for injury, collecting evidence, and photographing bodily evidence.
- Work with bedside staff, physicians, and law enforcement to provide exemplary trauma-centered care and support to victim.
- Help to formulate plan for post assault care and safe discharge.
Advanced Patient Care Technician
UPMC St Margaret Hospital
Aspinwall, PA
01.2013 - 03.2014
- Resource Pool
Pharmacy Technician
UPMC Presbyterian & Montefiore Hospitals
Pittsburgh, PA
07.2011 - 04.2013
- Inpatient Pharmacy and Chemotherapy & OR Satellite Pharmacies
Medication Delivery Assistant
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
08.2010 - 05.2011
- Inpatient Pharmacy
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Seton Hill University
Greensburg, PA05.2025
Additional/Prerequisite Coursework
UC San Diego Extended Studies Program
La Jolla, CAAdditional/Prerequisite Coursework
Community College of Allegheny County
Pittsburgh, PANursing Diploma -
UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing
Pittsburgh, PA02.2014
Bachelor of Science - Microbiology
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA12.2010
Skills
- Advanced Hemodynamic/Cardiac Monitoring
- Titratable Vasoactive Medications
- Titratable Sedation Medications
- Invasive and Noninvasive Airway Management
- Mechanical Ventilation Management
- Moderate Sedation
- Arterial and Central Line Management
- Rapid Response Management
- Chemical Paralysis & Proning
- Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
- Ultrasound Guided IV Insertion
- Targeted Temperature Management
- Intraosseous Catheter Insertion
- Massive Transfusion Protocol
Certification
- Pennsylvania Nursing License Active, Expires April 2027
- Pennsylvania Child Abuse & Mandatory Reporting Education Active, Expires April 2027
- Basic Life Support (BLS) Active, Expires January 2027
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Active, Expires January 2027
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Active, Expires January 2027
- Critical Care Registered Nurse Certification (CCRN) Active, Expires November 2026
Timeline
Ethics Subcommittee Member
UPMC Presbyterian Hospital
03.2025 - Current
Charge Nurse
Medical Intensive Care Unit, UPMC Presbyterian Hospital
12.2019 - Current
On-Call Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
UPMC Presbyterian Hospital
04.2018 - 03.2021
Expert Professional Registered Staff Nurse
UPMC Presbyterian Hospital
04.2014 - Current
Advanced Patient Care Technician
UPMC St Margaret Hospital
01.2013 - 03.2014
Pharmacy Technician
UPMC Presbyterian & Montefiore Hospitals
07.2011 - 04.2013
Medication Delivery Assistant
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
08.2010 - 05.2011
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Seton Hill University
Additional/Prerequisite Coursework
UC San Diego Extended Studies Program
Additional/Prerequisite Coursework
Community College of Allegheny County
Nursing Diploma -
UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing
Bachelor of Science - Microbiology
University of Pittsburgh
Nominations, Awards, & Memberships
Daisy Award Nominations 2015, 2018, 2024, 2025, Team Daisy Award Recipient 2021, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing Alpha Gamma Beta Chapter Active, May 2025, American Association of Critical Care Nurses Active, November 2023