Florence Nightingale importance of her later work in professionalising nursing roles for women. In 1860, Nightingale laid the foundation of professional nursing with the establishment of her nursing school at St Thomas' Hospital in London. It was the first secular nursing school in the world, and is now part of King's College London. In recognition of her pioneering work in nursing, the Nightingale Pledge taken by new nurses, and the Florence Nightingale Medal, the highest international distinction a nurse can achieve, were named in her honour, and the annual International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on her birthday. Her social
UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing with Florence Nightingale three years prior. The school was the first nursing school in Western Pennsylvania. In 1942 the school was renamed to Shadyside School of Nursing, four years after the hospital changed its name to Shadyside Hospital. In December 2009, the UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing received an endowment of $900,000, the largest donation in the school's history, from 1939 alumnae Jane Pesci. The UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing offers a diploma in nursing. The school has a 18-month, full-time daylight program and 3-year, part-time evening/weekend program. The school is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission