Nursing is a career full of rewarding relationships, impactful patient interactions, and meaningful moments — but it’s also much more than that. A career in nursing means a career with endless opportunities, robust growth and earning potential, and ongoing development of skills and expertise. At UPMC, we are passionate about empowering our nurses to embrace and enjoy all that their careers have to offer.
In order for nurses to achieve their goals and reach their full potential, we know they need tools and resources to be supported every step of the way — professionally, financially, personally, and beyond. With tuition reimbursement, low- to no-cost educational programs, dedicated career ladders, and more, UPMC is committed to being the partner that our nurses need, removing barriers and enabling thriving careers for the next generation of nurses.
Hear from just a few of our nurses whose stories exemplify the experience that we aim to provide: a pathway to grow, excel, and thrive in nursing at UPMC.
Chelsey C.
Professional Staff Nurse – UPMC Memorial
Chelsey C. started her career journey with UPMC in 2019 as a nursing assistant. With the help of her leaders and management, Chelsey decided to enhance her skills and enroll in the UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at Harrisburg while still working as a nursing assistant at UPMC Memorial.
“I was in nursing school for quite a long time. My experience started during COVID and I decided to take a step back because the online program was overwhelming,” Chelsey shared. “When I decided to go back and enroll through UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing in Harrisburg, I ended up getting tuition assistance through UPMC as a student and an employee of the organization, so everything worked out great.
With the help of tuition assistance, Chelsey was able to work toward her nursing degree and graduate while still supporting her family and her patients.
“I really feel as though UPMC stepped in to help support me get through nursing school when I wasn’t fully able to and I am appreciative that they were always there to help throughout the process whenever I needed it.”
Sara H.
Clinician – UPMC Passavant
Sara H. graduated from a unique program where she earned her associate degree, took her licensing exam, and worked while she finished her senior year to gain more experience before stepping into the world of health care. After graduation, Sara worked as a nurse in the emergency department at UPMC Passavant. She worked as a staff nurse for three years before transitioning to her current role as a clinician.
“It’s nice having the hospital fund certifications and other programs, so I have been able to encourage a lot of my nurses to continue up the career ladder with that assistance,” Sara explained.
While Sara encourages the nurses she works with to grow their careers and participate in programs that build their skills, she has also taken advantage of the opportunity to invest in her education with help from UPMC.
“Once I showed that I was able to teach people and I was interested in taking on that role as a mentor to new nurses, I became one of the primary preceptors and then a charge nurse on my unit. Through that experience, I realized that teaching is something that I really enjoyed doing and I am currently utilizing tuition reimbursement to further my education and earn my master’s degree in nursing education.”
Annamarie S.
Unit Director – UPMC Memorial
Currently, Annamarie S. is a unit director in the emergency department at UPMC Memorial and has been working at the hospital for 15 years. She started her career in dietary and then transitioned into an LPN role within the emergency department while also going to nursing school to become an RN. Over the years, Annamarie has gained hands-on experience as a nurse, and she has been working in nursing leadership for the past five years.
“I feel like this hospital and the staff raised me to be the nurse and leader that I am today. I couldn’t imagine what my life would be like without the support of the hospital and all the people that make it a great place to work, learn, and grow,” Annamarie shared. “For me personally, UPMC has supported me while earning my degrees. I am using tuition reimbursement for my master’s program at the moment, which is a wonderful and awesome benefit of working for such a large organization. It is a huge relief for a lot of people, too, to know that it isn’t just nursing reimbursement but many jobs throughout the hospital.”
Shelley H.
Expert Professional Staff Nurse – UPMC West Shore
Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Shelley H. has over 40 years of nursing. Shelley has worked as a nurse and nursing leader all over the United States and Canada. She started her nursing career as a critical care nurse in Toronto. She then moved to Texas and transitioned into a nursing leadership role where she stayed for 13 years. After, she decided to settle in Central Pennsylvania to be closer to home, where she continued to work in nursing leadership before returning to the bedside.
“After everything that I have done in my career, I realized that it was time to shift my priority to help give back and make a difference in the lives of future nurses,” Shelley shared. “I have now been back at the beside nursing for four years, and I also teach senior nursing students. . . doing both allows me to give back to my community, which is very important to me as a nursing leader and an educator.”
Shelley continues to be a vital part of her community by encouraging nurses to accelerate their careers and take advantage of UPMC’s tuition assistance offerings for students and employees at UPMC West Shore and in her community.
Explore Nursing at UPMC
UPMC is proud to celebrate the growth and development of all our nurses, and we’re committed to investing in our people, both now and in the future. To learn more about nursing careers at UPMC, explore the benefits and resources available to UPMC nurses, and search for the perfect nursing role for you, visit careers.upmc.com/nursing.
