MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — After assisting during an emergency medical situation, West Virginia University freshman Ava McMullen knows nursing is the right path for her.
McMullen, a direct admit student at the WVU School of Nursing, was walking to her statistics class when she heard someone screaming for help.
“My boyfriend started directing traffic and I started talking to the lady about what happened,” McMullen said. They called 911, and with the family member’s permission, McMullen acted quickly to assess the man’s condition. With her quick actions, the man regained consciousness.
“I kept talking to him, telling him that he was safe and people were coming to help him,” McMullen said. She continued to monitor him until emergency medical responders arrived.
“Once I wasn’t needed on the scene, I stepped out with his family member and prayed over her. I stayed with her until they got him in the ambulance and she followed.”
McMullen works as a respite care provider for a child with disabilities, so she had previously received training and certification in CPR and First Aid for both pediatrics and adults. Although she had never needed to put her skills to work before, her training kicked in when an emergency arose.
“This was a new experience for me,” she shared. You think when you go through the trainings, ‘How am I going to remember this?’ But my training kicked in, and it was just straight instincts.”
Choosing Her Path
Although McMullen is now certain that nursing is the right major for her, she had initially set her sights on a career in law, specifically in prosecuting abuse and neglect cases.
After a high school internship during the summer of her sophomore year at a prosecuting attorney’s office, she decided she wanted to pursue a career where she could provide more direct help to kids in need. Her mom suggested that she consider pediatric nursing.
“At first, I was unsure, but I started to really like the idea of being in a hospital setting, caring for kids who are struggling,” McMullen said.
Just like nursing wasn’t her initial choice, neither was WVU. She thought she wanted to be farther away from her hometown of Fairmont. But when she toured her top nursing school, she didn’t feel any sort of connection or sense of belonging.
She reluctantly took the WVU tour her mom signed her up for, and everything clicked.
“I took the WVU tour and fell in love with the campus and the people,” McMullen said. “I felt at home.”
After she learned about the direct admit nursing pathway, she applied and was accepted. She’s currently taking her freshman year pre-requisite courses, and she’ll start her nursing specific courses in Fall 2026.
She’s also become highly involved in student life, including being elected as an at-large senator for the Student Government Association for next year and being elected as the next president for A Moment of Magic, a nonprofit that aims to improve the quality of life of vulnerable and underserved children and inspire them through fun and engaging social wellness activities.
She is especially eager to start her clinical experience next year with the School of Nursing, including learning and practicing at the WV STEPS Center. After graduation, she hopes to work in pediatric oncology at WVU Medicine.
She said her recent emergency encounter solidified her decision to pursue nursing at WVU.
“It definitely made me feel like I’ve chosen the right path,” McMullen said. “This is where I’m supposed to be. In college, a lot of times you think, ‘Did I make the right choice? Did I pick the right major?’ Reflecting, I know I’m in the right place and I’m doing what I need to be doing, and it makes me excited to continue providing care for both the people in need and their family members, who can sometimes be overlooked in those situations.”
-WVU-
MEDIA CONTACT:
Wendy Holdren
Director of Communications and Marketing
WVU School of Nursing
304-581-1772; wendy.holdren@hsc.wvu.edu