Celebrating National Nurses Month: Nurses Make a Difference
The WVU School of Nursing joins the recognition and celebration of nurses and the nursing profession during National Nurses Month in May.
The American Nurses Association has selected a theme of “You Make a Difference” to honor varying nursing roles as well as the positive impact nurses have on everyone's lives.
“Our nursing students, faculty and alumni make differences in the lives of others every single day,” said Dr. Tara Hulsey, WVU School of Nursing Dean and E. Jane Martin Endowed Professor. “Nurses touch the lives of their community members, their patients and countless others. During Nurses Month and always, we thank them for everything they do.”
Community Impact and Beyond
Students, faculty, staff and alumni from all five WVU School of Nursing campuses (Beckley, Bridgeport, Charleston, Keyser and Morgantown) go above and beyond to meet the healthcare needs of our communities throughout the state of West Virginia.
Bi-annual health fairs are led by the WVU Student Nurses’ Association, offering campus and community members an opportunity to receive free health screenings, education and hands-on learning experiences.
The WVU School of Nursing also supports the Multidisciplinary UnSheltered Homeless Relief Outreach of Morgantown (MUSHROOM) Project, which brings together medical, nursing, dental, social work and other health professional volunteers on "street rounds" to serve individuals experiencing homelessness.
The Faith Community Nursing initiative, led by Dr. Angel Smothers, has trained more than 100 nurses nationally and more than 50 from West Virginia. Through this training, nurses in the rural reaches of the state are offering nurse-led care in areas that need it most, including health screenings, walking groups and more.
The School of Nursing’s reach extends well beyond West Virginia, as nursing students are invited to experience study abroad and global outreach opportunities in the Netherlands, Brazil, London, Honduras and Panama, Cyprus and more. In a partnership with Hamamatsu Municipal Nursing College in Japan, nursing students from different parts of the world are connected to learn from one another.
Going First in Research
Research in nursing is essential to unlocking best practices for patient care. The WVU School of Nursing is home to many experts who are available to discuss their respective disciplines, including women’s health, chronic disease, telehealth, pediatrics, end-of-life care, and much more.
Recent publications from our nursing faculty span dozens of topics, including substance use disorder, dementia, disabilities in children and more. Demonstrating the WVU motto of “Mountaineers Go First,” Dr. Marian “Marnie” Reven is studying aromatics and the impacts aromatherapy can have on individuals experiencing substance use disorder.
The School of Nursing also encourages student researchers to pursue scholarly work. Two nursing students in the past two years have been selected for the Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences (SURE) program. Both undergraduate and graduate students have opportunities to pursue their research interests.
Excellence in Education
The WVU School of Nursing has a rich history of academic excellence. Established in 1960, the School of Nursing now offers undergraduate and graduate programs across five campuses and online. Many graduates apply for licensure in the state of West Virginia so they can serve rural areas throughout the Mountain State.
Showcasing excellence in education, two WVU School of Nursing programs recently reported 100% first-time pass rates on their respective licensure exams. Graduates from the Class of 2022 in the BS/BA to BSN program, also known as the Fast-Track program, earned a 100% first-time pass-rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), and our Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner Class of 2022 received a 100% first-time pass rate on the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners certification.
The Bridgeport Campus, which offers the Fast-Track program as part of the WVU Medicine United Hospital Center location, welcomed its first cohort of students in January 2023. The School of Nursing also recently graduated its first class of DNP Nurse Anesthetists, all of whom have since passed their licensure exams and received jobs in the field.
Seeing the need to provide additional paths for nursing education, the School of Nursing recently announced the development of an LPN to BSN program as part of its Keyser Campus, located at WVU Potomac State.
“The WVU School of Nursing will continue innovating and growing programs and campuses as the needs are identified,” Dean Hulsey said. “Nurses have been ranked the most trusted profession for the past two decades, and the demand for high-quality nurses only continues. Our expert educators equip our graduates with the knowledge, skills and compassion to provide the highest levels of patient care.”
To learn more about the WVU School of Nursing, visit nursing.wvu.edu.
-WVU-
CONTACT: Wendy Holdren
Director of Communications and Marketing
WVU School of Nursing
304-581-1772; wendy.holdren@hsc.wvu.edu