Best Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania

Best Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania – Overview

The healthcare industry in Pennsylvania is in great need of trained and licensed nursing professionals, as the state had only about 18,000 registered nurses in 2017. The high turnover rate is one of the main reasons for staff shortages at hospitals and clinics.

According to experts, this shortage is likely to increase in the coming years, which means there is plenty of employment opportunities for graduates from accredited nursing schools in Pennsylvania.

If you are an aspiring nurse and want to study and practice in the Keystone State, then this article will help you to find the best nursing schools in Pennsylvania for 2023. After checking and evaluating numerous nursing institutes in the state, here is our list of the best nursing schools in PA:

List of the best nursing schools in Pennsylvania

1 – University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh)

The University of Pittsburgh’s School of Nursing is among the best nursing schools in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and others. Founded in 1939, the nursing school graduated medical staff that served across Europe and Asia during the War.

Now, the school is a designated National Institute of Nursing Research and a top recipient of NIH funding nursing research.

The U Pitt School of Nursing has state-of-the-art classrooms, anatomy labs, computer labs and simulation centers where students can practice basic nursing skills using adult, geriatric and pediatric manikins. Aspiring nurses get the opportunity for supervised learning situations at some of the most prestigious hospitals in Pittsburgh, including Level 1 trauma centers, community hospitals, cancer centers, outpatient clinics, rehab facilities, and long-term care facilities.

To learn more details, such as admission criteria, enrollment process, etc., you can visit the University of Pittsburgh’s official website at https://www.nursing.pitt.edu/.

2 – Duquesne University (Pittsburgh)

The School of Nursing at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh is another top nursing school in the state. It has been honored as a Center of Excellent by the National League for Nursing. It is one of the oldest nursing education institutes in the state and has constantly ranked among the top US nursing schools in the U.S. News and World Report rankings. It is also described as one of the most military-friendly nursing schools in the country.

Duquesne University’s School of Nursing has a state-of-the-art Learning and Simulation Center, which is designed to help students learn experientially. It has computerized manikins that teach you all you need to learn about human physiology and anatomy. Upon completing the basic nursing education, students are allowed clinical placements at behavioral healthcare facilities, acute care hospitals and community clinics all over Pittsburgh.

To learn more details about the coursework, admission criteria and enrollment process at Duquesne University’s School of Nursing, you can visit their official website at https://www.duq.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/nursing/index.php.

3 – Villanova University (Villanova)

The M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing at Villanova University is another excellent choice for nursing school in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Center of Excellent in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing in Pennsylvania. It is associated with several community health initiatives, including the MacDonald Center for Obesity Prevention and Education and the Center for Global & Public Health.

The Villanova College of Nursing is located in Driscoll Hall on the main campus and has immense classrooms, seminar rooms, and reading rooms, as well as well-equipped computer labs and sophisticated simulation centers. The Driscoll Hall is also where the Office for Nursing Research and Evaluation is located.

After getting competent in fundamental nursing skills, students get clinical rotations at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Veterans Administration Medical Center, the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania and other esteemed healthcare facilities across the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

To learn more about nursing courses at the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing at Villanova University, you can visit its official website here https://www1.villanova.edu/university/nursing.html.

4 – Drexel University (Philadelphia)

The Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions focuses on using experiential teaching methods, so students have sufficient opportunities to put theory into practice. The school offers the Bayada Award, an annual event that honors technological breakthroughs in nursing education and practice.

The College of Nursing is located in the main college building in downtown Philadelphia, with 10 advanced simulation centers. Here, students learn basic bedside skills with medical students.

After completing the basic education, students are allowed to practice their skills through clinical rotations at hospitals, intensive care units, emergency clinics, community health centers and other healthcare facilities across Philadelphia.

To find more details about getting enrolled in the Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions, you can simply visit its official website here https://drexel.edu/cnhp/.

5 – University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)

The University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing is one of the best nursing schools not just in the state but also all over the country. The school has received a top ranking at Elsevier’s QS World University ratings for nursing. The nursing school is renowned not only for the best nursing education but also for initiatives in nursing research too. It has five prestigious nursing research centers located on campus.

The school also was the first to open a virtual learning environment specifically designed for nurses in the United States. Upon completing basic nursing training, students are allowed clinical rotations at renowned healthcare facilities, such as Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, etc.

To find more details about admission criteria and the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing enrollment process, you can check out their official website here: https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/.

6 – University of Scranton

The University of Scranton’s Department of Nursing also ranks among the best nursing schools in Pennsylvania. Besides learning basic nursing skills, students here are trained to perform mandatory 40 hours of social services as part of their graduation.

The nursing coursework sets new standards in nursing education and training with integrated classroom theory and hands-on experience. Students can also participate in faculty research and hone their investigative skills.

The incredibly sophisticated nursing simulation lab exposes students to challenging scenarios in simulated hospital and outpatient environments. The campus also houses three of the finest hospitals in Scranton, where students are sent for clinical rotations in different specialty settings.

To find more details of coursework, admission criteria and enrollment process at the University of Scranton’s Department of Nursing, you can check out the official website here https://www.scranton.edu/academics/pcps/nursing/index.shtml.

Conclusion

These are the best nursing schools in Pennsylvania in 2023. The above-listed nursing schools were selected based on the variety of coursework, opportunities for in-depth learning as well as ease of access to education through financial aid and grants. Feel free to contact the specific college of your choice and find the specific criteria for admission and other details before applying.

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