KEYSER, W.Va. — To help introduce incoming ninth graders to the profession of nursing, the West Virginia University School of Nursing Keyser Campus will host Nursing Academy for Mineral County students.
Offered in collaboration with WVU Potomac State College and WVU Medicine Potomac Valley Hospital, the free academy will be held Aug. 1-3 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day at the School of Nursing Keyser Campus.
“Nursing has provided me so much joy and a sense of purpose,” shared nursing instructor Diana Niland. “After I started teaching, I saw the impact I could have on nursing students at the college level. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with younger students considering the nursing pathway and introduce them to the profession that has given me so much.”
The Academy will include fun, interactive activities, such as simulation, small group work, and a visit to Potomac Valley Hospital. Participants will be given a set of scrubs to wear, as well as lunch, snacks and beverages.
Space is limited; only 10 students will be selected to participate. Applications are due by June 30. To apply, students must:
- Be a Mineral County middle school student who has just completed 8th grade and will be entering 9th grade in August 2022
- Have at least a 3.0 current overall grade average
- Submit a completed application which included recommendation from a school counselor/teacher
- Submit a brief essay (one page limit) that explains their personal interest in the nursing profession and why attending the WVU Nursing Academy is important to them
The Nursing Academy is being funded by the West Virginia Center for Nursing and is free to participants. Niland and April Shapiro, Keyser Campus Chair, submitted the grant; Niland is serving as Principal Investigator and Shapiro is serving as Co-Investigator.
The West Virginia Center for Nursing aims to connect with students early to best prepare them for a nursing career path. Not only does this help students understand the path forward, but can also help establish a pipeline of well-trained nurses for the state.
“We are so thankful to Jordyn Reed and the West Virginia Center for Nursing for this grant award to offer a Nursing Academy to upcoming ninth graders,” Shapiro said. “We look forward to involving participants in simulation and other hands-on learning activities that will get them excited about the profession of nursing.”
For more information or to receive an application, email Diana Niland at diana.niland@hsc.wvu.edu.
-WVU-
CONTACT: Wendy Holdren
Director of Communications and Marketing
WVU School of Nursing
304-581-1772; wendy.holdren@hsc.wvu.edu