Tracy O'Brien | School of Nursing | University of Pittsburgh

DNP, MSN, RN

Assistant Professor

Acute & Tertiary Care

Profile

Dr. Tracy O’Brien received her initial licensure for nursing and graduated from Community College of Allegheny County in 2002. She went on for her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2008 and her Master of Science in Nursing Education in 2010- both from Waynesburg University. Her Doctor of Nursing Practice was completed in December 2023 from Carlow University. She has been an adjunct faculty member simultaneously with all nursing programs levels at ADN, BSN, and MSN programs. Her background is in medical-surgical nursing at the bedside and in the operating room, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and geriatrics with dementia care.

Clinical Emphasis

Medical-Surgical Nursing

Scholarly Emphasis

Dr. O’Brien is interested in Fundamentals and Skills for traditional and accelerated students. She is trying to focus on ways to prepare this student population more efficiently through hands-on and/or gaming environment.

Teaching

Since Dr. O’Brien joined the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh, she has instructed clinical for traditional and accelerated students at the sophomore, junior, and the senior level. She has also co-taught Senior Seminar and will be the Primary Teacher Fall 2025. She has also facilitated Transitions students as they finish the program before graduation.

Service

When not instructing students, Dr. O’Brien is passionate about dementia awareness. She is a community educator for The Alzheimer’s Association.

She is also an LLC owner and a practicing legal nurse consultant since 2015.

Internally, she is a co-advisor for The Pitt Nursing Student Association. This is a professional organization that informs nursing students of current issues affecting the profession, coordinates attendance at state and national conventions, and provides opportunities for professional development, community service, health promotion, social events, leadership, and more.