The mission of UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at UPMC Harrisburg is to foster the development of an entry-level graduate nurse who is prepared to transition to practice as a member of the inter-professional healthcare team. The school is part of UPMC Harrisburg which is part of the UPMC health system. The focus of our program is mastery of high level competencies reflecting the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for the delivery of safe, quality nursing care.
The vision of UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at UPMC Harrisburg is to advance the heart and science of nursing through the provision of excellence in nursing education by integrating the use of best evidence through innovative teaching strategies, remaining a leader in nursing education at the local and national level, and maintaining successful outcomes.
The values of the School of Nursing are synonymous with the UPMC Core Values of Quality and Safety, Dignity and Respect, Caring and Listening, Responsibility and Integrity, and Excellence and Innovation.
The faculty believes that the patient is the center of all healthcare experiences. Every patient has the right to autonomy, respect, dignity, and healthcare education. We assist each patient to a level of optimal health while respecting their unique needs and diversity.
The faculty has adopted the definition of professional nursing as defined by the American Nurses Association (ANA): "is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations." The faculty at UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at UPMC Harrisburg believe the discipline of nursing is scientific and evidence-based that requires continuous inquiry to advance the knowledge and practice of the profession. The professional nurse utilizes clinical judgment as a basis for decision-making to ensure safe nursing practice and adhere to professional nursing standards. The nurse, as a patient advocate, utilizes all available resources to ensure collaboration and quality care for all patients across the lifespan.
The faculty at UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at UPMC Harrisburg embrace and incorporate a diverse theoretical foundation encompassing nursing and adult learning principles.
Malcolm Knowles’ Theory of Adult Learning guides our use of andragogy and self-direction and goal-orientation based on the learner’s self-concepts, experience, readiness, and motivation.
Through the adoption of Christine Tanner’s Model of Clinical Judgment, we design experiences to prepare graduates to respond to rapidly changing patient situations and help learners identify strengths as well as areas for improvement utilizing Tanner's concepts of noticing, interpreting, responding, and reflecting.
The faculty at UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at UPMC Harrisburg base our curriculum on quality and safety principles.
The curriculum is designed to prepare the graduate nurse for practicing professional nursing at an entry-level based on the foundations of quality and safety in nursing education. The UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at UPMC Harrisburg has integrated the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) competencies into the framework of its curriculum. These principles are intended to equip the graduate nurse with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA's) necessary to provide optimal patient care.
The faculty at UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at UPMC Harrisburg is dedicated to fostering life-long learning.
Learning is a dynamic relationship between students and faculty. Students share responsibility for their acquisition and development of clinical reasoning through learner-centered strategies that actively engage the student.
The faculty at UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at UPMC Harrisburg is dedicated to best-practice in nursing education.
The faculty recognizes the ever-changing health care environment and the needs of the student population while striving to meet those needs through ongoing professional development.
The faculty at UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at UPMC Harrisburg is dedicated to a positive learning environment.
The faculty displays mutual respect and dignity for all students through honest communication and feedback serving as professional role models.
