At UPMC Shadyside, we offer nurses many ways to advance their careers and make an impact on patients.
Our nurses are passionate and skilled caregivers. They're always looking for chances to grow professionally and improve the care of their patients.
Pairing their education achievements and valued experiences, our nurses hold a deep commitment to helping the community and others reach their full potential.
As a Magnet® hospital, the driving forces behind UPMC Shadyside are:
- Nurse professionalism
- Quality of care
- Evidence-based practice
A Message from Melanie Smith-Fortney, MSN, RN, NEA-BC

Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services at UPMC Shadyside
"It is an honor and privilege to begin 2021 as the chief nursing officer and vice president of patient care services at UPMC Shadyside. In this role, I am committed to the advancement of both the profession of nursing and of the care and experience of our patients.
I have spent 27 years in various nursing roles at UPMC Presbyterian including unit director of the Neurovascular ICU, clinical director for the Neurotrauma division, and most recently as the director of nursing. I am extremely proud of our progress with UPMC Presbyterian’s patient experience work where we are currently ranked at the 76th percentile for the Hospital Consumer Assessment Healthcare Provider Survey (HCAHPS) overall “Rate the Hospital” metric. We have made great progress in this area, and I know that we will never stop working to improve the experience for our patients and their families.
Read the full letter from Melanie Smith-Fortney, MSN, RN, NEA-BC
Our Mission, Vision, Values and Key Behaviors
Mission:
UPMC Shadyside nursing will provide the highest quality of individualized care to serve our community, patients & families, and each other through autonomy, evidence-based practice, advocacy, and compassion.
Vision:
UPMC Shadyside will advance nursing through innovation, technology, research, and professional collaboration and this will positively impact the patient experience and outcomes.
Values:
UPMC Shadyside will put patients and families first, and will support each other through Quality and Safety, Dignity and Respect, Caring and Listening, and Responsibility and Integrity.
Shared Leadership Councils at UPMC Shadyside
Nursing leaders are always seeking ways to improve the work setting in their organizations. Using a shared leadership model supports a journey to promote a culture of nursing excellence.
Our shared leadership structure is a way to strengthen nursing practices representing our professional practice model. The main goal of shared leadership is to support nursing's desire to have more control over their practice setting.
UPMC Shadyside strongly depends on our shared leadership structure to accomplish our organizational goals. Our councils are strong change agents who advocate by identifying areas of opportunity, research evidence-based literature, implement practice changes, and conduct audits to ensure compliance. Our nursing administration seeks the shared leadership councils’ input when making decisions related to nursing practice at UPMC Shadyside.
Learn more about UPMC Shadyside's Professional Practice Model (PDF).
UPMC Shadyside Nursing by the Numbers
- UPMC Shadyside is actively engaged in the Magnet Journey to Excellence. UPMC Shadyside has obtained their 3rd redesignation for Magnet in 2020.
- More than 65% of UPMC Shadyside nurses have their BSN or greater.
- More than 34% of UPMC Shadyside nurses who are eligible have certifications in their specialty.
- Our Nursing Education and Research staff has a combined total of 446 years of experience to support nursing practice and professional development.
Additional Resources
Nursing Careers at UPMC
Whether you're an experienced nurse, new, or in nursing school, we have jobs for you.
Visit UPMC Careers to learn more about nursing jobs and apply.