KEYSER, W.Va. — Enrollment is now open for the new Licensed Practical Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered by West Virginia University School of Nursing at WVU’s Potomac State College.
Department Chair and Tenured Associate Professor of Nursing April Shapiro said employment forecasts show 200,000 nurses will be needed nationwide over the next 10 years.
The programs was put together using the results of interviews of LPNs working in the field and the companies they are working for. Shapiro said they build on what nurses already know and have been able to develop a program that can be completed in less than three years.
“We’ve really streamlined the progression plan to be less than three years,” Shapiro said. “We offer the didactic portion online so they have less travel and we’re giving face-to-face clinicals here in the evenings and on weekends to try to accommodate their schedule.”
Among the offerings is the Nursing Transition course designed to prepare people who have been out of school for a period of time. Shapiro said they plan to provide accommodations for students completing overnight clinicals and many opportunities for tutoring and online resources to ask questions.
“We will award them 22 escrow credits when they complete the degree, so that’s 22 college credits they don’t have to take,” Shapiro said. ” So, we have really kept the practicing LPN at the forefront in our development of this program.”
The application period has been open since the beginning of December and Shapiro said sign ups are steady. Shapiro has nearly 20 years helping to prepare nurses and urges any professional thinking about elevating their degree to make contact or go to the website.
“A student who applies and meets the admissions criteria is going to be offered a seat right then and there,” Shapiro said. “And we’ll follow that process until the cohort is full, so I would encourage people to go online now and read about it.”
During the most recent WVU Faculty Senate meeting President Gordon Gee said at WVU Medicine alone there are about 700 openings for nurses across the system. Pay for the positions is very competitive as organizations have many more positions than qualified people to fill them.
“Many of these organizations are offering sign on bonuses and incentives to get individuals to come to their facility because of that dire need.”
Nurses can work in many more places than just doctors offices and hospitals, according to Shapiro. The opportunities for nurses can range from direct employment by a manufacturing company, some special events that require a medical professional or even consulting in some legal issues.
“Also, in skilled nursing facilities, clinics, and other places in the community like health departments, schools, and even traveling throughout the state,” Shapiro said. “This is such an important step for an LPN to take.”