Education
Why Nursing at West Penn
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The Western Pennsylvania Hospital in Pittsburgh is the first hospital in Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania to be awarded Magnet Recognition® status by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. West Penn Hospital became the first in the region to be redesignated Magnet on Sept. 14, 2012. Part of West Penn Allegheny Health System, West Penn Hospital is a leader in patient care, education, and research, and serves as a clinical campus for Temple University School of Medicine. |
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Academic Resources
The School's classrooms and administrative and faculty offices are located in the School of Nursing, adjacent to West Penn Hospital.
Also located in the School of Nursing is the Clarion University of Pa. - Pittsburgh Site. All academic classes for West Penn Hospital's student nurses are taught by on-site Clarion faculty, and eligible School of Nursing students may receive an Associate of Science in Allied Health degree from Clarion concurrent with their West Penn Hospital School of Nursing RN Diploma.
West Penn Hospital's School of Nursing also houses the Simulation, Teaching and Academic Research (STAR) Center at West Penn Allegheny Health System. The STAR Center is used extensively by nursing students and other WPAHS healthcare students and professionals for teaching, learning, and practicing clinical skills and scenarios. It includes the region's first Ambulance simulator and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, in addition to a Birthing suite and medical-surgical and intensive care units with full-size adult, newborn, and child mannequins as well as numerous task and partial-body trainers.
The latest on-line information is available through the Richard M. Johnston Health Sciences Library at West Penn Hospital.
Student Services
School of Nursing faculty are committed to helping students achieve their personal potentials for success. Each student's faculty advisor works with the student on an individual basis. Several
faculty members have additional expertise in helping students who experience particular challenges in achieving their goal of becoming a nurse.
University Affiliation
Required college courses for students enrolled in West Penn Hospital's School of Nursing are taught by Clarion University faculty in classrooms located in the School of Nursing.
School of Nursing students may be eligible to receive an Associate of Science in Allied Health degree from Clarion concurrent with their Diploma in Nursing from the West Penn Hospital School of Nursing.
The Clarion University Pittsburgh Site at West Penn also offers classes for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree for students who wish to continue their education at West Penn.
Admission Criteria
The admission criteria for the School of Nursing include:
- Graduation from an approved high school, with these courses:
- English - 4 units
- Science - 2 units (one course must be chemistry with a grade of "C" or better; both must include a laboratory)
- Social studies - 3 units
- Mathematics - 2 units (one course must be algebra with a grade of "C" or better)
- Electives - 5 units - A General Equivalency Diploma (GED) may be substituted but the chemistry and algebra requirements still apply
- Class rank in the top two-fifths
- GPA of 2.5 or above
- Acceptable standardized test scores
- A minimum of 2 letters of reference
- Pre-admission physical examination
- Child abuse and criminal background checks
Program Overview
The first year of the School of Nursing's 22-month program consists of 4 (10-week) terms:
- three sequential foundational nursing courses (Foundations I, II, and III) followed by
- an adult medical-surgical nursing course
and related liberal arts and science courses each of the 4 terms.
The second year of the program consists of 4 (10-week) terms:
- one adult medical-surgical nursing course,
- one family nursing course,
- a community nursing course, and
- a nursing management course
and related liberal arts courses each of the 4 terms.
View the full Curriculum.
Curriculum Objectives
At the completion of the program, the graduate of the West Penn Hospital School of Nursing will be able to do the following:
- Integrate the clinical judgment process in the provision of health care to clients.
- Display personal and professional accountability as a practitioner of nursing.
- Incorporate principles of communication into professional interactions as a healthcare provider.
- Act as a health facilitator to enable clients to make healthcare decisions.
- Integrate the concept of holism in meeting clients' healthcare needs.
- Manage the care of clients within various healthcare systems.
Clinical Settings
The Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing curriculum provides for extensive and varied clinical experiences.
Primary clinical sites include West Penn Hospital, Allegheny General Hospital, and Forbes Regional Hospital.
Experience in mental health nursing is gained at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Highland Drive Division, and Forbes Regional Hospital.
Pediatric clinical experience is provided at Children's Hosptial of Pittsburgh and The Children's Home.
Other affiliate agencies are utilized for specialized experiences and activities in community, geriatric and home health nursing.
