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The Pittsburgh nursing profession is supported by numerous higher education opportunities, topped off by U.S. News & World Report’s “best colleges” ranking of the University of Pittsburgh (No. 19 for public universities, No. 58 for all U.S. universities). Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees are offered via three tracks at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. The tracks include traditional (four-year, for high school graduates), accelerated second degree (three semesters, for those with a bachelor’s degree in another field) and RN completion (for RN’s with associate degrees or certificates); four masters degree program in nursing are also available. Similarly, Robert Morris University School of Nursing & Allied Health offers three types of BSN programs as well as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). BSN, RN to BSN and 18-month RN to BSN programs are available at the three campuses of Carlow University - The School of Nursing with graduate programs including MSN in Home Health Advanced Practice/Family Nurse Practitioner, M.S.N in Nursing Leadership and School Nurse Post Baccalaureate Certification.
Nursing associates, bachelors and graduate degrees as well as certificate programs are also offered in Pittsburgh at the Duquesne University School of Nursing; the La Roche College Nursing Program; Mercy Hospital School of Nursing; St. Margaret Memorial Hospital School of Nursing; UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing; and the West Penn Allegheny Health System School of Nursing. By 2010 the state-wide shortage of RNs will likely be as large as 16,000, with shortages of LPNs as large as 4,100, according to a supply/demand report by the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers in Harrisburg, which was created in 2004 by the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board. The center is initiating programs including increasing the capacity of the state’s nursing education system. Pittsburgh positions for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses are expected to gain 3 percent from 6,370 in 2002 to 6,560 jobs 2012, according to the Center for Workforce Information and Analysis – Pennsylvania Work Stats. Meanwhile, 12 of the top 50 Allegheny County employers are part of the medical community, including: UPMC Presbyterian (No. 3), Allegheny General Hospital (No. 10), University Of Pittsburgh Physicians (No. 18), The Mercy Hospital (No. 20), Children's Hospital Of Pittsburgh (No. 22), Western Pennsylvania Hospital (No. 23), Magee-Women's Hospital Of UPMC (No. 27), St. Clair Memorial Hospital (No. 28), Jefferson Regional Medical Center (No. 30), UPMC Passavant Hospital (No. 33), UPMC St. Margaret (No. 37) and Mercy Life Center Corp. (No. 45), according to the Center for Workforce Information and Analysis – Pennsylvania Work Stats. |
