Karen Bell, MSN, RN, NE-BC, Chief Nursing Officer, Vice President of Patient Care ServicesAt UPMC St. Margaret, we are deeply committed to advancing nursing practice through shared governance, evidence-based care, and innovation. As the first UPMC hospital to achieve American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet® designation, we take pride in a culture where nursing excellence is recognized, supported, and sustained. Nurses at UPMC St. Margaret are valued as nursing experts, decision-makers, and leaders who play a vital role in shaping patient care and organizational outcomes. Through active participation in councils, quality initiatives, and research, nurses are empowered to influence practice standards and drive meaningful change.
Our nurses exemplify UPMC St. Margaret’s values and are highly skilled professionals who collaborate closely with physicians and interdisciplinary teams to deliver safe, high-quality, patient-centered care within a strong culture of safety. UPMC St. Margaret is committed to supporting and retaining nurses through ongoing education, mentorship, and professional development opportunities, as well as a work environment that prioritizes respect, collaboration, well-being, and lifelong learning—ensuring nurses feel valued, empowered, and celebrated at every stage of their careers.
Choose UPMC St. Margaret and be part of a team where excellence, growth, and patient-centered care come together to create a truly fulfilling career.
UPMC St. Margaret has achieved and maintained Magnet® status since 2009.
Magnet® recognition reflects excellence in nursing professionalism, teamwork, and outcomes in patient care. The ANCC’s Magnet® Recognition Program distinguishes organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence.
Approximately 8% of U.S. hospitals have obtained initial Magnet® designation, while only 2% of hospitals have obtained Magnet® designation five times. We now “Strive for 5” as UPMC St. Margaret goes for our 5th Magnet® designation!
UPMC St. Margaret was designated as a Magnet organization in 2009, 2014, 2019, and 2024 by the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®. This prestigious designation recognizes excellence in nursing services.
View the 2025 Nursing Annual Report
At UPMC St. Margaret, our professional practice model is founded on relationship-based care. This framework focuses on servant and compassionate leadership, commitment to self, and cultivating meaningful relationships with peers, patients, and families. Our professional practice model is represented by the sunflower.
The nurse is the constant for those that we serve; however, the nurse alone cannot drive excellence. It is the unifying mission to care for self and others and to focus on the patient and family as the center of what and how we do it as a team of healthcare professionals. The delivery of care is interprofessional using our values of Caring and Listening, Quality and Safety, Responsibility and Integrity, Dignity and Respect, and Excellence and Innovation.
Our professional practice model aligns with the UPMC vision of “putting our patients, health plan members, employees, and the community at the center of everything we do and creating a model that ensures the patient gets the right care, in the right way, at the right time, every time.”
UPMC My Nurse Residency is a 9-month program that is based on the Vizient AACN Graduate Nurse Residency Program. My Nursing Residency is designed to support the new graduate nurse. An experienced team of clinical nurse educators, staff nurses, and nurse leaders provides ongoing support and mentoring for each nurse resident.
UPMC St. Margaret supports a structure of autonomy, excellence, and innovation. Our shared governance structure looks at our destination in professional nursing and how we can contribute to the culture of nursing excellence. Shared governance empowers nurses at every level to participate in decision-making and make hospital-wide changes using the best evidence.
The Evidence-Based Practice, Quality and Research Council advances patient safety and clinical excellence through evidence-based practice, research, and quality improvement. Supports projects, education, coaching, and abstract submissions while fostering inquiry and collaboration. Showcases innovation through the Clinical Research Forum, Patient Safety Fair, and Project Showcases, and promotes engagement with Hand Hygiene Awards and Hospital Week—driving improved outcomes, satisfaction, and staff engagement
The mission of the Professional Practice and Wellness Council is to promote health, balance, and professional nursing excellence through shared governance and development opportunities. We empower nurses to engage in decision-making, recognize achievements, and foster well-being by hosting initiatives like DAISY, Cameo of Caring, BEE Awards, and wellness programs. Together, we create a supportive, energized community that celebrates growth and connection.
Magnet® status for nursing excellence is only the beginning of the recognition for UPMC St. Margaret. UPMC St. Margaret is consistently recognized for meeting the highest standards of patient care, safety, and outcomes. Below is a list of recent awards and recognition.
At UPMC St. Margaret, we are dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of those we serve. Nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and other UPMC St. Margaret staff spend time each month serving our immediate community through the Roots of Faith program. Roots of Faith was founded by Faith United Methodist Church in Fox Chapel and has since operated as a separate 501(c)(3) organization. For the past nine years, Roots of Faith has partnered with UPMC St. Margaret to address health disparities in Sharpsburg.
What began as a simple idea during the Neighborhood Table has evolved into a monthly health outreach, offering free blood pressure screenings, flu shots, cholesterol and glucose screenings, health education, and access to medical professionals. Thanks to the St. Margaret Foundation, funds are provided for the free flu shots, cholesterol and glucose screenings, and fresh produce during the monthly visits. Additionally, the St. Margaret Foundation provides free blood pressure devices for home use, so if an attendee has an elevated reading during the screenings, they receive a cuff to monitor their blood pressure at home. UPMC supports staff participation in events that strengthen the relationship between the community and the hospital.
View the Community Health Needs Assessment.
Founded in 1910, St. Margaret School of Nursing has been preparing nurses to serve in northeastern Allegheny County for over a century.
As a community-based teaching hospital, we:
UPMC St. Margaret offers innovative employment programs to fit nursing career needs.
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