West Virginia Nursing Schools

West Virginia University School of Nursing Plans New Nursing Doctoral Program

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University School of Nursing is developing a plan to offer a new graduate degree, the Doctor of Nursing Practice. The DNP degree will be offered to nurses who want the highest level of preparation for advanced practice nursing.

"The master's degree was the standard for advanced-practice nurses in the 20th century," said E. Jane Martin, Ph.D., dean of the School of Nursing. "But national accrediting bodies and the marketplace have been pushing for a doctoral-level program for nurses who provide patient care in an advanced role."

Advanced-practice nurses, including many graduates of the WVU master's program, serve as family nurse practitioners, pediatric nurse practitioners, and neonatal nurse practitioners in hospitals, clinics, and public health programs. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has recommended that future graduates continue their education to the doctoral level, in recognition of the practice demands associated with the increasing complexity of medical care and the health care system.

Nan S. Leslie, Ph.D., of the School of Nursing will direct the development of the DNP program. The WVU program will require approval of both University-level and state-level governing bodies before the degree can be offered. But Dr. Martin said she hopes to have a final proposal ready in time to admit current master's degree holders to a "bridge" program early in 2007, and open to new students (those already holding a bachelor's degree in nursing) in 2008.

Accelerated Nursing Program at Fairmont State University School of Nursing Meets Student Goals

Theresa Witt had been a licensed practical nurse for 15 years when she decided she wanted to continue her education by enrolling in the Fairmont State University School of Nursing and Allied Health Administration Associate Degree in Nursing program. Read more about the Fairmont State University School of Nursing.

Nursing Schools in West Virginia

Are you thinking that a career as a healthcare professional might be the right path for you? You may dream about becoming a nurse but you need help with how to make this dream come true. On this site you will find helpful information regarding nursing programs, diverse employment opportunities, and career options in the growing arena of healthcare. Maybe you are prepared to contemplate moving from your current job to a more successful career and you could use help on how to get started or maybe you are being faced with selecting a top nursing school to suit your needs. It is natural to be thinking of what to expect in nursing school or need details regarding the NCLEX-PN test and how to get ready for this essential licensing test.

Here you will find out about the educational programs and training necessary to be a RN, LPN or a nurse aide in West Virginia including existing nursing degree programs, employment requirements for CNA, LPN, and RN, as well as possible nursing career benefits and opportunities. To help you decide whether nursing is right in your case we have also supplied information on topics such as employment settings, job prospects and nurse wages. In case you don't feel prepared to become a licensed practical nurse or a RN you might want to consider working as a nursing aide to get a feeling of what’s involved in a nursing career.

You should select a nursing school wisely because this is an essential step in getting the superior education required to become a competent licensed practical or registered nurse. West Virginia Nursing Schools can be used as a guide to learn about many ways to become a licensed practical or registered nurse and the location of nursing schools in West Virginia.

The comprehensive list of nursing schools in West Virginia is broken down by category of nursing programs and it presents the following groups: practical nurse programs, associate degree programs, four-year programs, and graduate nursing programs. If your dream is to be a nurse, then your primary step is to select the type of nursing program you wish to pursue. West Virginia Nursing Schools discusses the different ways to obtain a practical nurse or registered nurse degree, taking into consideration the duration and prerequisite courses mandatory for every type of nursing program. Once you have decided on a nursing program, you should search for nursing schools in your area offering the nursing degree you are interested in.

An additional step is to ask for admission details, such as criteria for selection of nursing students, application deadlines for the registered or licensed practical nurse program you chose, as well as cost and scholarship offers at that nursing school.

Universities and nursing schools in West Virginia have one or more of these nursing program types: LPN program - 1 year of classroom plus clinical experience, this type of program requires the least amount of time to be a nurse; ADN program - a large number of nursing schools in West Virginia provide this kind of program, which takes two years to complete but every nursing school requires the student to have completed specific educational prerequisites before being accepted in the associate degree nursing program; BSN programs - most nursing schools in West Virginia offer a traditional nursing program which takes four years to graduate from and a couple of universities are offering a non-traditional, fast-paced second-degree nursing program to obtain a bachelor's in nursing degree for those with a bachelor degree in another field.

Fast-track bachelor degree nursing programs are the preferred choice for many adult students because such a program takes between 1 to two years to complete. MSN programs prepare students for advanced nursing practice. Universities and nursing schools in West Virginia may require 1 or two years of work experience as a registered nurse before graduate enrolment.

Becoming a nurse can be a great career path for people who are committed to helping others. As a student nurse you need to study specific courses and use the skills and knowledge learned in nursing school in order to provide outstanding client care. There are a large number of nursing schools throughout the state of West Virginia, and every one of them is offering the knowledge and training to prepare you for the nursing field.

As an experienced nurse you have many ways to further your knowledge by seeking advanced nursing degrees or certification programs. West Virginia Nursing Schools lists registered and licensed practical nurse programs, associate degree nursing programs, BSN programs, and master's degree nursing programs in the state of West Virginia.

All four advanced practice nursing specialties require at least a master's degree. Most programs last about 2 years and require a BSN degree and some programs require at least one to two years of clinical experience as a registered nurse for admission. Upon completion of a program, most advanced practice nurses become nationally certified in their area of specialty. In some States, certification in a specialty is required in order to practice that specialty.

All West Virginia nursing education programs include classroom instruction and supervised clinical experience in hospitals and other health care facilities. Students take courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology and other behavioral sciences, and nursing. Coursework also includes the liberal arts for ADN and BSN students. Supervised clinical experience is provided in hospital departments such as pediatrics, psychiatry, maternity, and surgery. A growing number of programs include clinical experience in nursing care facilities, public health departments, home health agencies, and ambulatory clinics.

Nurses should be caring, sympathetic, responsible, and detail oriented. They must be able to direct or supervise others, correctly assess patients' conditions, and determine when consultation is required. They need emotional stability to cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stresses. Nursing is a dynamic and expanding profession - it is an art but also a science with a focus on helping people achieve an optimal state of health. Nurses assist people in the promotion of health, the ability to cope with health problems and maintain life and the capacity to adapt or recover from the effects of disease or injury.

Some West Virginia registered nurses start their careers as licensed practical nurses or nursing aides, and then go back to school to receive their RN degree. Most registered nurses begin as staff nurses, and with experience and good performance often are promoted to more responsible positions. In management, nurses can advance to assistant head nurse or head nurse and, from there, to assistant director, director, and vice president. Increasingly, management-level nursing positions require a graduate or an advanced degree in nursing or health services administration. They also require leadership, negotiation skills, and good judgment.

Some West Virginia registered nurses move into the business side of health care. Their nursing expertise and experience on a health care team equip them to manage ambulatory, acute, home-based, and chronic care. Employers - including hospitals, insurance companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and managed care organizations, among others - need registered nurses for health planning and development, marketing, consulting, policy development, and quality assurance. Other nurses work as college and university faculty or conduct research.

Nursing Resources

For information about accredited clinical nurse specialist programs, visit the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. For information on nurse practitioners, including a list of accredited programs, visit the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Information about employment opportunities may be obtained from local hospitals, nursing care facilities, home health care agencies, psychiatric facilities, the West Virginia State Board of Nursing, and local offices of the State employment service.

For information about accredited programs in other states visit one of the following websites: Massachusetts Nursing Schools, Delaware Nursing Schools, Maine Nursing Schools and Nursing Programs in Illinois.