Melissa D Harlan

DNP, RN, ACNS-BC, CHSE
Assistant Professor
Acute & Tertiary Care

Profile

Dr. Melissa Harlan received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from West Virginia University in 2008 and began her career as a trauma-surgical nurse at Allegheny General Hospital, a level I trauma center in Pittsburgh, PA, in the Spring of 2009. While there she gained experience in orthopedic, trauma and surgical nursing. Dr. Harlan also served as charge nurse and preceptor to undergraduate nursing students and graduate nurses. In 2014 she completed her Master of Science in Nursing as a Clinical Nurse Specialist from the University of Pittsburgh, and shortly after assumed the position of community health nurse educator for an international organization in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. She spent six months educating staff at a children’s home and private school on emergency preparedness, health promotion and disease prevention practices. Upon her return to the United States, she became a nursing instructor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. In 2018 Dr. Harlan received her DNP from the University of Pittsburgh and began her appointment as an assistant professor in the School of Nursing’s Acute and Tertiary Care Department. 

Clinical Emphasis

Orthopedic Trauma,Trauma-Surgical and Medical-Surgical Nursing

 

Teaching

Since Dr. Harlan joined the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh she has instructed clinical for traditional and accelerated students at the sophomore through senior level. She is a co-primary teacher for the first and second semester sophomore clinical cousres. She also guest lectures in the sophomore and senior medical-surgical courses and senior seminar course for nursing students.  

Service

When not instructing students Dr. Harlan is passionate about development and mentoring student nurses and graduate nursing students. She is on the board of directors for the Sigma Theta Tau International local Eta Chapter, where she serves as program coordinator for the Sigma Eta Chapter Mentorship Program.