Citizens School of Nursing is dedicated to graduating individuals prepared for registered nurse (RN) licensure and ready for entry-level practice in a wide variety of health care settings.
Citizens School of Nursing was opened under the original name of Citizens General Hospital School of Nursing in late 1913 by Citizens General Hospital. Citizens General Hospital, originally established as Trinity Hospital, was chartered in December 1912. The school opened with two students under the direction of two “nurse executives” who were responsible for the hospital and the school. The first formal graduation of six students was held in May 1917. Since then, over 2,400 students have graduated.
The early curriculum of the school was implemented with three formal nursing instructors, physicians, and hospital departmental supervisors. In the mid-1950s, the nursing faculty positions were expanded so that nursing instructors taught classroom theory and supervised clinical experience. The first male student was admitted in 1957, making this one of the early co-educational programs in Pennsylvania.
In November 2000, Citizens General Hospital closed and the ownership of Citizens School of Nursing was transferred to Allegheny Valley Hospital.
Allegheny Valley Hospital, which is part of Allegheny Health Network, fully supports the School of Nursing. It provides hands-on clinical experiences in medical-surgical, critical care, oncology, mental health, and emergency nursing. The School of Nursing, as part of Allegheny Valley Hospital, will strive to provide highly competent entry-level nurses to serve the Alle-Kiski Valley and greater Pittsburgh area for many years to come.
The Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Schools of Nursing ,West Penn Hospital School fo Nursing and Citizens School of Nursing, commit to excellence in nursing education by preparing competent, compassionate nurses who provide safe, high-quality healthcare to diverse patients, families, and communities.
The vision of the AHN Schools of Nursing is to develop competent, safe, and compassionate graduate nurses utilizing effective and current educational strategies. We will contribute to the nursing profession through our commitment to quality improvement, communication, collaboration, and evidence-based practice to meet the unique needs of our students and the changing landscape of healthcare.
We, the faculty believe that nursing is a dynamic caring profession that facilitates health promotion, disease prevention, advocacy, and healing for patients, families, and communities. We believe in individualized, compassionate care for patients across the lifespan. The focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and social determinants of health allows the nurse to optimize the well-being of populations.
Utilizing Knowles Adult Learning Theory and constructivism as a foundation, faculty enhance learning environments to foster student success in their journey to becoming a professional nurse. We believe that student success is achieved through self-motivation, an individual’s lived experience, and ongoing support.
Faculty integrate Tanner’s Clinical Judgment Model across the curriculum to guide a student’s ability to “think like a nurse.” Clinical reasoning and judgment, utilizing a variety of teaching strategies, are introduced early and progress from simple to complex. Faculty believe that it is important to minimize the gap between academia and clinical practice. The development of clinical reasoning in a student allows for seamless transition from graduate to professional nurse.
We believe in building a strong educational foundation that improves the quality and safety of healthcare for a diverse patient population. Utilizing the competencies of Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN), faculty incorporate contemporary and evidence-based nursing practice into learning environments.
At the end of the program, the graduate will be able to:
