Minutes that Mattered Most
How Duquesne Nursing Alum, Kelly Llewellyn, stepped in and turned a typical Monday afternoon into a second chance at life.
A Career that Matters, A Life with Meaning
Taking a holistic approach to student learning and patient care has been one of the hallmarks of Duquesne School of Nursing since our founding in 1937. Duquesne was among the first schools of nursing in the country to offer the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which remains our most popular program. In 1997, Duquesne became a pioneer in offering a fully online Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) which has enabled us to offer several other online programs including the Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN), Post-Master’s Certificates (PMC) and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
Today, we offer extraordinary clinical experiences at sites located in the heart of Pittsburgh, which is on the cutting edge of health care opportunities and research. Our students enjoy outstanding first-time licensure pass rates for the BSN (96.43%) and 100% for each three of our MSN Nurse Practitioner programs.
Our nursing graduates and faculty are making a difference as practitioners and researchers, educators and scholars, leaders and innovators. Now, it’s your turn.
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What Students Say
As of right now, I am interested in working as an ICU nurse, but at the same time, I am still open to exploring other specialties as I continue my education and get hands-on experience in my clinical rotations!
If you're considering the Second Degree Program, I say to go for it. I waited a while before actually entering the program and I wish that I had started sooner. Any experience with being a PCT or shadowing is super helpful when starting the program.
Coming from a high-acuity ICU background, the FNP program helps broaden my perspective beyond critical care to include prevention and long-term management. The coursework and clinical experiences have strengthened my ability to care across the lifespan.
As a bedside nurse, I saw how significant leadership decisions are in shaping patient outcomes, staff morale, and the overall experience. It led me to want to have a larger influence on how care is delivered, not just at the individual patient level, but across the organization.
One of the most appealing aspects of Duquesne’s CRNA program is its clinical partnership with Allegheny Health Network, one of the most respected hospital systems in Western Pennsylvania.
Reading the about the research interests of the doctoral faculty at Duquesne sold me on the program. Their interest in transcultural nursing and vulnerable populations matched my professional experiences and interests.
Nursing Events
Second-Degree Admitted Student Day
Congratulations on your admission into the Second Degree BSN Program!
Second-Degree Nursing Virtual Info Session - April
Please join us for an information session and program overview of the Second Degree BSN Program!
Stages II Summer Camp
Join us on campus this summer for a grant-funded summer camp, specifically for youth with disabilities. During this summer camp, you will have fun developing skills to act, communicate and improve both self-esteem and confidence. You will also get to play the part of a health care provider and learn
The School of Nursing has earned two Top-5 spots in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs rankings, reinforcing Duquesne’s standing as a leader in accessible and career-advancing graduate nursing education. Two nursing school faculty have been recognized for their outstanding contributions and their role in advancing the profession. Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Professor Clinical Assistant Professor, Director, Family (Individual Across the Lifespan) Nurse Practitioner Program Instructor and Clinical Immersion Director Associate Professor Clinical Associate Professor, Director, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program, Director of Simulation of the Joanne Barkett Conway Simulation Center Professor, The Jacques Laval Chair for Justice for Vulnerable Populations Clinical Associate Professor Clinical Associate Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Dean and Professor, School of Nursing Associate Professor Clinical Associate Professor Professor and Associate Dean for Research Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Clinical Faculty & Affairs Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Clinical Assistant Professor and Director, Second Degree BSN Program Clinical Assistant Professor Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Professor, and Noble J. Dick Endowed Chair in Community Outreach Clinical Assistant Professor Professor Emerita Clinical Associate Professor Clinical Associate Professor, and Chair, Advanced Practice Programs Director of Academic Support and NCLEX RN Success Clinical Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Clinical Professor/ Director of Nurse Anesthesia Studies and Scholarly Projects Associate Professor Professor by Courtesy Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Professor Emerita Professor Professor, Noble J. Dick Endowed Chair in Academic Leadership Assistant Professor/Undergraduate Programs Chair Assistant Professor Clinical Assistant Professor, Nurse Anesthesia Program Clinical Assistant Professor Professor Associate Professor, Director of Ethics for the School of Nursing Clinical Assistant Professor, Assistant Director Nurse Anesthesia Program Clinical Associate Professor and Director, BME/BSN Program, Instructor Director of Graduate Clinical Faculty & Clinical Affairs; Assistant Clinical Professor Assistant Dean for Clinical Skills and Simulation Education, Instructor, Simulated Participant Coordinator Professor and Chair of Advanced Role and PhD Programs, Director of Nursing Education and Faculty Role Clinical Associate Professor/ Director of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program
Nursing Stories and News
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Nursing Lands Top-5 Spots in ‘U.S. News’ Online Rankings
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Cameos of Caring Honor Nursing Faculty
Faculty
Christopher Baker
Kim Baker
Alison Colbert
Laura Crimm
Christine D'Antonio
Jessica Devido
Deborah Dillon
Sr. Rosemary Donley
Manjulata Evatt
Ruth M. Foreman
Steven Ganchuk
Mary Ellen Smith Glasgow
Julie Hinkle
Ruth Irwin
Melissa Kalarchian
Angela Karakachian
Kimberly A. Kasper
Susan Kelly
Megan Kitts
Ralph Klotzbaugh
Amber Kolesar
Frank Kosnosky, Jr.
Rebecca Kronk
Jodi Licata
Joan Such Lockhart
Mary Kay Loughran
Denise Lucas
Sr. Mary Meyers
Cara Morrill-Stoklosa
Lauren Narbey
Michael Neft
Mai-Ly Nguyen Steers
Daniel B. Oerther
Nicole Pacella
Ergie Pepito Inocian
Lenore K. Resick
James Schreiber
L. Kathleen Sekula
Torrie Snyder
Theresa Stujenske
Garalynn Tomas
Mayra Toney
Melanie Turk
Eric Vogelstein
Rebecca Vrescak
Yvonne L. Weideman
Tasha Wheeler
Donna White
Susan Williams
Rick Zoucha
Marci L. Zsamboky
Duquesne - Pittsburgh Connection
The Second Degree BSN program at Duquesne University is an opportunity for those individuals who want to be a nurse to have an accelerated program to work as that field, and we need nurses. There are an abundant number of opportunities for these individuals to make an impact on our mission of providing excellent care to our patients and families. At UPMC Children’s we love partnering with our friends at Duquesne to provide a pediatric experience for the second degree students should they choose to want pediatrics. We see the success stories and welcome the students commitment to our goals.
Duquesne prepared me well, by offering some of the best clinical experiences in all of Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh has a lot of trauma and specialized hospitals, such as Allegheny General Hospital, UPMC Presbyterian and the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. My clinical experiences provided a well-rounded education and prepared me for my role as a Mayo Clinic’s Medical ICU nurse after graduation.
Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) is fortuante to have recruited many nurses from the Duquesne Second Degree BSN program. These nurses thrive in caring for the complex patients at AGH and are confident due to their thorough preparation at Duquesne. Nurses in the Second Degree program often bring life experience to their nursing career that benefit our patients and their families.
What drew me to Duquesne are the number of hospitals in the area. There are major hospital systems like UPMC and Allegheny Health Network along with dozens of hospitals within a 30-minute drive. It’s great to be able to experience these health care networks and use these different types of nursing software.
Pittsburgh has an international reputation for leadership in medicine and technology. As a member of both the Biomedical Engineering and Nursing communities at Duquesne, I have loved the endless opportunities that both programs have offered and I cannot wait to begin to narrow down the many career choices.
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Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and the post-graduate APRN certificate program at Duquesne University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Duquesne University's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Nurse Anesthesia program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). Our programs are fully approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.