PARKERSBURG W.Va. — More funding is going to the expansion of nursing education programs across the state.
Gov. Jim Justice announced the continuation of the Nursing Workforce Expansion Program in a visit to WVU Parkersburg Thursday.
The $48 million program was created in 2021 during the pandemic when nursing shortages became more evident. Federal pandemic relief money was used originally. A total of $20 million was proposed by Justice and approved by state lawmakers for the program in the new state budget that begins July 1.
“Not only have we done, but we will continue to do, and that’s what makes the wheel turn,” Justice said during Thursday’s announcement.
The program allows for the recruitment, the support, and the training of nurses.
Since the program’s first-year, 810 new nursing students have entered the field.
LIVE: Gov. Justice announces expansion of nursing workforce initiative at WVU Parkersburg https://t.co/HLZ2xQlxA9
— Governor Jim Justice (@WVGovernor) April 6, 2023
A WVUP nursing student, Sydney Tennant who graduated in 2022 with an associate degree, spoke at Thursday’s event. She’s now working as a nurse at WVU Medicine Camden Clark while pursuing her bachelor’s degree, she said she was grateful for the support the program was able to provide.
“You could say my nursing education was slightly different than the norm as I attended nursing school during the height of the pandemic, however, the staff here at WVUP made sure that myself and my peers were supported,” said Tennant.
House of Delegates Finance Committee Chairman Vernon Criss, R-Wood, who was at Thursday’s event, said he was happy with what Justice was able to accomplish with getting the program underway.
“I am so proud with what the governor has done with the dollars available to him under the Cares Act, to look forward and see in the future,” Criss said.
In addition, Justice alluded to the partnership between WVUP and Chemours, a chemistry company, had made nearly a year ago, which is now providing the opportunity for over 300 West Virginia Chemours employees to earn their associate degree through the college. To fund it, WorkForce West Virginia awarded $1.2 million and the Community and Technical College System of West Virginia awarded $377,000 to WVUP.
Justice said such achievements are making the future of West Virginia a brighter place to work and live.
“West Virginia is this bright future that you can see across all of yall, you see it in your eyes, absolutely, without any question, West Virginia is the diamond in the rough that everybody missed,” said Justice.