A nursing career in Pennsylvania is an in-demand occupation. The state is experiencing nursing workforce shortages, some of the most severe in the nation, while moving forward with strategic initiatives to strengthen and grow the profession. This blog aims to help aspiring nurses in the Pittsburgh area consider the advantages of completing an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program from Holy Family University.
About the Nursing Shortage in Pittsburgh
Survey data from the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania revealed ways that Pennsylvania hospitals are working to recruit and develop nursing personnel to improve the workforce:
- 99% are partnering with community colleges and four-year colleges/universities
- 97% are increasing base pay for nurses
- 89% are offering professional development and/or tuition reimbursement
- 39% are providing childcare services
As one of the largest metropolitan areas of PA, Pittsburgh mirrors these statewide statistics. These efforts, among others, reduced the turnover of direct-care personnel by approximately 28% from 2022 to 2023. Still, a workforce shortage of over 20,000 nurses is projected to affect Pennsylvania by 2026.
Online nursing programs available in Pittsburgh are helping to fill the gap. Completing a quality nursing education program is the first step toward achieving your career goals if you want to become a nurse in Pennsylvania.
Educational Options for Pennsylvania Nurses
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a registered nurse (RN) in Pennsylvania was approximately $87,530 annually ($42.08 hourly) in May 2023. Careers for BSN-prepared nurses are plentiful, and aspiring nurses can choose from among the best online nursing schools for students in Pittsburgh. These are just a few reasons why Pittsburgh is a great city to become an excellent nurse.
For those with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, an online accelerated program with fewer prerequisite courses can mean less time to graduation and more chances to help others. Holy Family University (HFU) offers an online program tailored for second career nurses looking to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree on an efficient timeline.
The heart of the nursing profession is a passion for caring for others and improving lives through meaningful work, and Holy Family Online is a great choice for Pittsburgh residents who want to help realize that dream. Read on to learn more about the reasons to choose Holy Family Online from among nursing programs in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area.
Reason #1 - Speed
The anticipated time commitment is an important consideration when completing an education program because it affects how quickly you can proceed into your chosen occupation and begin the meaningful work you are preparing to do. Holy Family University offers one of the fastest online ABSN programs in Pennsylvania. You can earn your BSN in 14 months and start your career sooner.
Prerequisite courses are required for nursing programs, with only five prerequisite courses required for admission to the HFU’s ABSN program vs. eight or nine required for other local options. These include:
- Anatomy and Physiology I (with lab)
- Anatomy and Physiology II (with lab)
- Microbiology (with lab)
- Nutrition
- Elementary statistics
The sooner you begin learning, the sooner you can realize your dream of working as an RN. Holy Family University offers one of the fastest ABSN programs in the state with three starts each year to accelerate your entry and progress toward graduation.
Reason #2 - Online Learning
One of the most beneficial advantages of the fast-paced and immersive learning you will experience as an HFU nursing student is the flexibility to complete coursework online. The ABSN program is designed with online learning plus a one week-long campus residency in Philadelphia, where you will receive focused attention and the chance to grow your confidence in nursing assessment and other essential clinical skills.
Benefits of online program delivery include:
- Cost-effective with greater accessibility to education
- Diverse methods for learning
- Opportunities to revisit and review online course material
- Exposure to digital resources that enhance technology skills
- Ability to remain in the Pittsburgh area while completing the course work
Remote, hands-on learning is a program feature of HFU that allows you to connect with a diverse group of faculty and students from across Pennsylvania. You will have the chance to grow your network of nursing colleagues and share experiences through the online learning platform while engaging in synchronous and asynchronous class offerings in the virtual learning environment.
Reason #3 - Quality
Holy Family University is a quality institution where you can earn a respected education from a reputable school with 50+ years of experience teaching and training nurses. The ABSN program from HFU also holds the highest hybrid nursing program ranking in the area by the U.S. News and World Report. Students learn from the Philadelphia campus, located among some of the state's top-ranked hospitals and medical centers.
Pass rates on the nursing licensure examination are another metric to gauge quality education, and graduates of the HFU ABSN program have high NCLEX-RN pass rates (91% in 2024). Diversity and inclusion are hallmarks of the HFU culture with a mission-driven focus rooted in Judeo-Christian tradition and values.
Reason #4 - Support
Student support services make an incredible difference when completing an online educational program because the support received helps each person feel connected to the education and learning community. A student success advisor gives personalized attention to each HFU student from application to graduation.
Student success advisors advocate for students to succeed by:
- Providing helpful information to guide enrollment and scheduling decisions
- Assisting with financial questions related to tuition and fees
- Serving as a central point of contact for educational support
- Connecting students with available resources when personal challenges arise
In an online learning environment, the ability to meet with supportive faculty and staff who want you to succeed is essential to a quality nursing program experience.
Reason #5 - Clinical Placements
Clinical placements are field experiences where nursing students gain hands-on clinical time working with actual patients and learning under the guidance of a qualified preceptor or clinical instructor. During a nursing program, students will engage in clinical placements in various nursing specialty areas, including:
- Pediatric nursing care
- Medical-surgical nursing
- Maternal-child nursing
- Community health nursing
The clinical placement process requires schools to be affiliated with clinical sites and comply with many policies and procedures specific to each clinical agency. Holy Family University provides students with complementary support to find clinical placements in the Pittsburgh community.
Placement support is an invaluable service offered in quality nursing programs to help keep you focused on your studies and on track with your education timeline. The seasoned clinicians who dedicate their time and attention to helping students learn in the clinical setting are vetted for their experience and alignment with HFU program objectives to ensure every student receives a quality clinical education while completing their coursework online.
Start Your Meaningful Nursing Career Now
Selecting the right nursing school is an exciting moment in your journey to becoming an RN in Pittsburgh. Holy Family University is ready to help you make an informed decision and find your purpose in the nursing profession.
Don't wait to start a meaningful career—start now. Contact us for more details on the online Second Degree Distance Hybrid BSN program through Holy Family University.
