Our Philosophy, Mission & Goals & Values

The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing prepares the highest quality nurses to care for and to develop the science underlying care for individuals, families, and communities, across populations. To achieve this, we work towards inclusion and equity for people of all ethnicities, races, religions, cultures, countries of origin, ages, disabilities, and exhibiting the full spectrum of gender expressions, gender identities, and sexual orientations. We support practice within the ANA Code of Ethics.

American Nurses Association Code of Ethics, Provision 1: 

The nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth and unique attributes of every person.

Philosophy

  • Advancing the science and practice of nursing improves the health of individuals, families, communities, and populations within the commonwealth, the nation, and the world;
  • Education is a lifelong process beginning with undergraduate studies, continuing through graduate studies, and encompassing continuing education for professional development;
  • A strong educational foundation enables nurses to conduct evidence-based practice, engage in scholarly activities, and translate knowledge in health sciences and health care to improve healthcare delivery to all human beings; and
  • By providing a diverse and global perspective and raising the professional and social conscience of our students, they will become health care leaders.

Mission

The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, founded in 1939, is one of the oldest programs in baccalaureate and doctoral education in nursing in the United States. As one of the nation’s distinguished schools of nursing, the resources of the school constitute an invaluable asset for the intellectual, scientific, and economic enrichment of health care in Pennsylvania, the nation, and throughout the world.

The School of Nursing's mission is to:

  • Provide high-quality undergraduate education in nursing;
  • Maintain and develop superior graduate programs in nursing that respond to the needs of health care in general and nursing in particular within Pennsylvania, the nation, and the world;
  • Engage in research and other scholarly activities that advance learning through the extension of the frontiers of knowledge in health care;
  • Cooperate with health care, governmental, and related institutions to transfer knowledge in health sciences and health care;
  • Offer continuing education programs adapted to the professional upgrading and career advancement interests and needs of nurses in Pennsylvania; and
  • Make available to local communities and public agencies the expertise of the School of Nursing in ways that are consistent with the primary teaching and research functions and contribute to the intellectual and economic development in health care within the commonwealth, the nation, and the world.

Goals

The School of Nursing’s Goals are to:

  • Prepare highly educated and competent nurses ready to enter the workforce;
  • Contribute to and disseminate the scholarly evidence-base in nursing and health care
  • Foster excellence in teaching
  • Provide service to the profession and other communities of interest