As southwestern Pennsylvania faces a significant nursing shortage, the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing at Pitt-Greensburg is poised to meet this challenge head-on, celebrating the graduation of 41 students with Bachelor of Science degrees in nursing (BSN) this spring. This milestone marks the largest graduating class and the fifth group of graduates since the program's inception. In the past seven years, more than 100 nurses have graduated from Pitt-Greensburg with the prestigious Pitt School of Nursing’s BSN degree who are now contributing to the local healthcare workforce.
Currently, 143 students are enrolled in Pitt-Greensburg’s undergraduate BSN program, part of the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing that achieved a No. 4 (tie) ranking in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
This year’s graduating nurses will participate in the campus’s second annual pinning ceremony, set for 5 p.m. on Friday, May 2, and the Commencement ceremony at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. Both events will be held in Chambers Hall Gymnasium.
With a projected shortfall of nurses in Pennsylvania growing, the need for well-trained, compassionate nurses is more urgent than ever. According to recent statistics, the state is expected to face a shortage of over 20,000 nurses by 2026, driven by an aging population and increased healthcare demands.
“Graduates of the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing at Pitt-Greensburg move into jobs at our area hospitals, clinics, and care facilities in overwhelming numbers,” said Robert Gregerson, PhD, president of Pitt-Greensburg. “Our Bachelor of Science nursing graduates have received a world-class education in the discipline and are ready on day one to provide excellent patient care. We created this outstanding nursing program here in Greensburg in response to one of the region's most pressing needs, and we are proud to help meet the medical workforce needs of our neighboring communities.”
The Pinning Ceremony is a tradition that signifies the entry of new nurses into the profession. “A pinning ceremony is a symbolic welcoming of newly graduated or soon-to-be graduated nurses into the nursing profession,” explained Amy Shearer, PhD, RN, CEN, CHSE, assistant professor and director of Nursing. “Many schools of nursing have done away with the pinning ceremony, but we believe it is an important tradition to uphold to welcome our new graduates into the profession of nursing. We encourage our graduates to wear their pin with pride, knowing it represents all they have accomplished and reminds them of what it means to be a Pitt nurse.”
Pitt-Greensburg's nursing program not only equips students with the skills needed for today’s healthcare environment but also instills a deep commitment to addressing regional healthcare challenges. The program's emphasis on evidence-based practice, advocacy for patients, and a dedication to excellence ensures that graduates are well-prepared to make a meaningful impact in the community.
With family and friends in attendance, the pinning ceremony will also feature the tradition of the Passing of the Light, which symbolizes the transfer of nursing values such as compassion, advocacy, and a commitment to continuous learning from one generation of nurses to the next. The School Nursing's Passing of the Light began with the school's first graduating class in 1943. Since then, the light of nursing has been passed to each class during their graduation ceremony.
Each light of the candles represents the values and practices that impact professional nurses:
- Excellence in practice,
- Caring for others,
- Respect for Humanity,
- Intellectual curiosity,
- Compassion for others,
- Advocacy for patients and families,
- Science and research, and
- Evidence-based practice.
About Pitt-Greensburg:
Founded in 1963, the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg is a publicly assisted, four-year, liberal arts college in southwestern Pennsylvania. Pitt-Greensburg offers 31 baccalaureate degree programs, including new majors in data analytics, nursing, and healthcare management, as well as 31 minors and five certificate programs. With nearly 1,400 students, more than 10,000 alumni, and faculty and staff numbering 260, Pitt-Greensburg provides a vibrant, diverse community that is a dynamic model of a 21st-century liberal arts education. As part of the University of Pittsburgh system, Pitt-Greensburg offers the resources of a world-renowned university combined with the individualized and immersive experiences of a small liberal arts college. Creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit permeate the campus and extend into its many collaborative projects with the Westmoreland County community. Nestled in Pennsylvania’s beautiful Laurel Highlands, the campus is surrounded by the region’s outdoor recreation venues and rich history. It is a five-minute drive from uptown Greensburg and less than an hour’s drive from Pittsburgh.