Founded in 1910, the School of Nursing offers a 76-week diploma nursing program enabling a graduate to take the Pennsylvania licensure examination to become a registered nurse.

The school provides an educational program that assists its graduates to acquire the competencies needed for the practice of professional nursing. The goals of the program are to:

• educate graduates who can fulfill the role and responsibilities of beginning a professional nurse
• prepare graduates with the ability to assist in meeting the health care needs of the community
• foster the development of professional nursing practice, in collaboration with the health care system

The first level of the nursing program consists of three sequential basic nursing courses. Second-level courses involve more complex and interrelated nursing and/or health problems, which affect individuals of all ages. The second level concludes with a nursing issues and management course.

Eight college courses are required. These courses must be taken at an accredited college with a passing grade of a “C” or above:

• Anatomy and Physiology I with lab
• Anatomy and Physiology II with lab
• Introduction to Psychology
• Nutrition
• Microbiology with lab
• English Composition
• Human Growth and Development
• Introduction to Sociology

The courses Anatomy and Physiology I with lab, English Composition, and Introduction to Psychology must be taken prior to entering the nursing program. The other college courses may be taken prior to entry or sequentially during the nursing program. To get more information on the required college courses please request a catalog at 412-784-4980 or e-mail us at smhsonrninfo@upmc.edu.

Educational Facilities and Resources

UPMC St. Margaret campus:
Clinical practicum experiences take place at UPMC St. Margaret.

UPMC McKeesport campus:
Clinical practicum experiences take place at UPMC McKeesport.

Clinical facilities include UPMC Passavant and the UPMC Institute for Rehabilitation and Research. Students also receive clinical experience in the maternal-child and psychiatric-mental health fields at nationally known specialty hospitals in the area such as Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Magee-Womens Hospital, and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Students are also provided with a variety of experiences in various health and community agencies.

The school of nursing is a commuter school. Conference rooms and classrooms are at the school in Blawnox, 1.8 miles from UPMC St. Margaret. The school includes a demonstration-learning laboratory, faculty offices, and a computer center. The UPMC McKeesport branch campus is located in a newly renovated space on the fourth floor of the Kelly Building.

Accreditation
St. Margaret School of Nursing is fully approved by the State Board of Nursing of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission Inc.
61 Broadway, 33rd Floor
New York, NY 10006
800-669-16556