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Nursing at UPMC Presbyterian

At UPMC Presbyterian, we offer nurses many ways to advance their careers and make an impact on patients.

Our nurses are compassionate and highly skilled healthcare professionals. 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 potential.

As a Magnet® hospital, the driving forces behind UPMC Presbyterian are:

  • Nurse professionalism
  • Quality of care
  • Evidence-based practice
UPMC Presbyterian Nursing Emblem

A Message from Melanie Smith-Fortney, DNP, RN, NEA-BC

Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services at UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside

It is an honor and privilege to serve as the Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services at UPMC Presbyterian. In this role, I am committed to the advancement of both the profession of nursing and of the care and experience of our patients within our facilities.

I have spent 28 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 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, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
 


Our Mission, Vision, Values and Key Behaviors

Mission:

UPMC Presbyterian nursing commits to providing the highest quality of individualized care to serve our community, patients & families, and each other through autonomy, evidence based practice, advocacy, and compassion.

Vision:

Inspiring the advancement of nursing through innovation, technology, research, and professional collaboration to positively impact the patient experience and outcomes.

Values:

Putting patients and families first and supporting each other through Quality and Safety, Dignity and Respect, Caring and Listening, and Responsibility and Integrity.

Key Behaviors:

Own your zone, 10/5 rule, escort don’t direct and start with a WIN!


UPMC Presbyterian Nurses Give Back

  • Kids of Steel Project (PDF)
  • How One Serves Our Amish Community – Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Screening (PDF)

Shared Leadership Councils at UPMC Presbyterian

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 (PPM). The main goal of shared leadership is to support nursing's desire to be in control over their practice setting.

UPMC Presbyterian 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 Presbyterian.


UPMC Presbyterian Nursing by the Numbers

  • UPMC Presbyterian is a Magnet® designated Center of Excellence.
  • More than 73% of UPMC Presbyterian nurses have their BSN or greater.
  • More than 26% of UPMC Presbyterian 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.

Contributions of Professional Nursing at UPMC Presbyterian

  • Patient Care Services 2023 Annual Report (PDF)
  • UPMC Presbyterian Nursing Strategic Plan (PDF)
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