Overview of WV Nursing Education and Careers

For many people, a career isn’t just a job choice. It’s the chance to make a difference, to do something meaningful, and to change the community. Becoming a nurse is a way to do all of this and more. Nursing professionals are one of the most important parts of West Virginia’s health care industry, particularly in light of West Virginia’s very large rural population. Nurses allow clinics and hospitals to provide affordable and practical care to patients without overextending doctors.

Contact the schools below to learn about nursing programs in West Virginia.

Featured Programs:

Becoming a Nurse in West Virginia

While you prepare to start your education, you may want to look into different nursing programs in West Virginia. The shortest option is a LPN program, which leads to the job title of licensed practical nurse and requires approximately one year of study. The next step up is an Associate’s degree in nursing, which leads to a registered nursing license. A Bachelor’s degree, which is comprised of four years of study, also permits you to earn an RN license.

Once you’ve chosen a nursing program, you can begin applying for financial aid. The West Virginia Health Care Association awards scholarships worth $500 to $2,250. You may also apply for grants through the West Virginia Center for Nursing. West Virginia PROMISE is a state-funded merit-based scholarship program.

When you start your education, you may enroll in several different nursing courses. Your curriculum can include courses like Health Assessment and Communication, Foundations of Nursing Practice, Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice, Pharmacology, Ethics in Health Care Careers, and Nursing in Community Systems.

Nursing Schools in West Virginia

Whether you’re interested in becoming a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or nurse practitioner, your path to a nursing career may start at nursing schools in WV. The field of nursing requires collaboration between nursing professionals at all levels of education. By comparing various healthcare degrees, you may figure out which degree is aligned with your career goals.

West Virginia LPN Programs

Admissions requirements: High school diploma or GED, physical exam, and criminal background check
Credit hour range: 30 to 40 credits
Online degree options: Unavailable, since students must meet clinical experience requirements
Licensing exams: NCLEX-PN

Perhaps the quickest way to get involved in the field of nursing is to become a licensed practical nurse. If you attend school full-time, you may graduate in as little as one year. Typically, LPN programs lead to a diploma or certificate. You may choose to earn an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in the future, and you may even be able to transfer your credits to your future education.

BSN Programs in West Virginia

Admissions requirements: High school diploma or GED, physical exam, and criminal background check
Credit hour range: 120 to 130 credits
Online degree options: Unavailable, although some schools do have blended degree options available
Licensing exams: NCLEX-RN

If you want to become a registered nurse, there are several options you may pursue. 2-year RN programs in WV lead to an Associate’s degree. However, many students choose to go straight to a Bachelor’s degree in nursing. This degree includes experience from a wide variety of nursing specialties, so it’s optimal for those who want to work in a specific setting after graduation.

West Virginia MSN Schools

Admissions requirements: West Virginia nursing license and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree
Credit hour range: 30 to 60 credits
Online degree options: Offered in some areas of study
Licensing exams: Determined by each national certification agency

Upon completion of your Bachelor’s degree, you may qualify for acceptance to a graduate program. At many of the best West Virginia nursing schools online, you can do some or all of your coursework online. Online courses are more prevalent in specialties like nursing leadership, nursing informatics, and nurse education. Keep in mind that most graduate programs do still require at least some clinical work.

DNP and PhD Nursing Programs in West Virginia

Admissions requirements: West Virginia nursing license and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree
Credit hour range: Up to 90 credits
Online degree options: Limited, due to clinical and research requirements
Licensing exams: Determined by each national certification agency

Research is an incredibly important part of nursing, which is why many of the best nursing schools in West Virginia have well-known PhD and DNP programs. There are a lot of similarities between these programs, although PhD programs tend to be more concentrated on research and teaching. On the flip side, DNP programs concentrate on clinical applications of research.

Are you ready to become a nurse and start making your mark on the world of healthcare? Take the first step now and get in touch with nursing schools in West Virginia.

Nursing Colleges in West Virginia with Nursing Bridge Programs

Bridge programs are growing quickly in availability and popularity in West Virginia. They provide a seamless way for working nurses and professionals from other fields to transition into a new nursing role. For example, consider second degree BSN programs. These options are ideal for those who have non-nursing Bachelor’s degrees. Rather than starting over and taking four years to earn your BSN, you can spend between 12 and 24 months in an accelerated nursing program and get your nursing license. This accelerated program requires at least 40 hours of work per week, so it demands commitment and dedication.

RN to BSN programs are accessible at many of the best online nursing programs in West Virginia. Typically, you need at least one year of full-time nursing experience to attend an RN to BSN program, so you may be able to skip some or all of your clinical hours. RN to MSN programs generally last between three and four years, since they combine graduate and undergraduate courses into one streamlined degree. Similar to these programs, LPN to RN and LPN to BSN programs are offered at some WV schools. You could finish your ADN in less than one year through a bridge program. LPN to BSN degrees last between two and three years.

Tips for Choosing the Top Nursing Schools in West Virginia

How do you find the right nursing school and make sure that you are using your educational time wisely? It’s all about assessing each school and thinking about what matters to you in your education. When you start receiving information from West Virginia schools, you may be able to cross some schools off of your list. It’s recommended that you write a list of questions to ask each school, whether you’re looking for the best West Virginia nursing degree online or in person.

Questions to Ask West Virginia Nursing Schools

Is the school approved by the West Virginia Board of Nursing? Is there assistance provided for students who are navigating the licensing process?
What is the NCLEX pass rate?
How does the school help students get ready for the NCLEX? Are there study groups or review courses?
Is the school accredited by the ACEN, the CCNE, or a different agency?
Does the school award any financial aid? Which types and how many students qualify for school financial aid?
Are there online degree options? If there are no degrees that you can do entirely online, are there online courses available in traditional programs?
What is the acceptance rate for the nursing program?

2018 Career Outlook for Nursing Professions

Before you jump into a nursing career, you likely want to make sure that you are using your training time in the best way possible. It’s encouraging to know that you may look forward to a strong job outlook or high earning potential after graduation.

Are you planning on attending a licensed practical nursing degree program? You may start working in nursing homes, hospitals, and more after you pass the NCLEX-PN and become licensed. This field has experienced steady growth in recent years, and O*Net predicts a 9% boost in job openings by 2024 (2017). The average income for a West Virginia LPN is $36,050 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017).

You could become a registered nurse with an Associate’s degree or Bachelor’s degree in nursing. Registered nurses play a crucial role in most healthcare settings, which is why job growth may hit 8% between 2014 and 2024 (O*Net, 2017). West Virginia registered nurses report an average income of $59,380 (BLS, 2017).

If you want to go into primary care, you may attend a nurse practitioner training program. Reaching the graduate or doctoral level in your training may boost your earning potential. The average income for a West Virginia nurse practitioner is $92,890 per year (BLS, 2017). Through 2024, demand for nurse practitioners may increase 17% (O*Net, 2017).

As a working nurse or nursing student, you may be able to benefit from a wide variety of networking opportunities. One of the largest organizations for nurses in WV is the West Virginia Nurses Association.

Ready to take the first step toward a conventional degree or online nursing degree in West Virginia? Contact nursing schools near you and request more information.

Expert Advice from the West Virginia Nurses Association

We reached out to the Director of the West Virginia Nurses Association, Ruth Blevins, to provide you with honest information on the industry today in WV. Be sure to read through all of her answers, and click the links below for schools that accept from your area.

What is the outlook for people who are interested in nursing careers in West Virginia?

Nursing is a growing career field, and there is ever more need for registered nurses in West Virginia as the nursing population is aging and starting to leave the field. All across the state there is a very favorable outlook for nurses looking for jobs, including a great need for Nurse Educators.

How does your organization help those who have chosen nursing as their career?

The West Virginia Nurses Association is the voice for all nurses in the state. The organization aids the nursing industry by protecting the quality of the industry through various forms of legislation. It is the only accredited organization approved by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in WV to provide quality nursing education.

The WVNA is a membership organization that can be obtained through an annual fee. The benefits of joining the WVNA can be very rewarding. Membership entitles you to a say in the direction that the association heads when it comes various health policies. Members also have the opportunity to be appointed to various health care board positions. Additionally, membership allows you the ability to hold a position on the WVNA board and the American Nurses Association board. Finally, members can earn over 40 free continuing education credits and receive reduced rates on certifications.

The association also maintains a list of various nursing scholarships, grants, and loan forgiveness programs. There is also great opportunity to receive school loan assistance for nurses that choose to work in under-served populations of West Virginia.

What advice do you have for individuals trying to choose the right program?

Many that choose to go into nursing often do so because of a connection of a family member or friend that already works in the industry. These individuals often have an idea of what they want to do before they pursue their education. Often, these individuals will choose to start with their basic education at the vocational or practical nursing level to get into the industry more quickly. From there they will choose to continue their education starting at the RN level and working their way up. This route allows nurses to work in the industry first to really get an idea of the path that they wish to take, which can sometimes deviate from their original intentions.

Nursing has come a long way, and there are various types of specialties an individual can pursue as well as a variety of places to work. Whatever the specialty, nursing is considered a lifelong learning industry whether it is through higher education or just continuing education programs.

What are some of the benefits of choosing a career in nursing?

Nursing is a very rewarding career and you can see the results immediately. It’s a field that shows continual compassion, and you get to constantly educate your clientele. It has been said that nursing is one of the top ten most trusted professions in the country because of the constant contact and care that nurses provide to people, always trying to keep a patient’s best interests at heart. Nurses are advocates for patients who deserve safe, affordable, compassionate healthcare.
– Ruth Blevins, Director of the West Virginia Nurses Association