LPN to BSN program ranks No. 1 in West Virginia by PracticalNursing.org

KEYSER, W. Va. – The WVU School of Nursing’s LPN to BSN program, located on the Keyser Campus, has been ranked No. 1 for 2026 in West Virginia by PracticalNursing.org for licensed practical nurses to become registered nurses.

WVU’s program first opened in August 2024, and will graduate its first LPN to BSN students in May 2027.

“We are known for our excellence in education at the WVU School of Nursing, and our LPN to BSN program is certainly no exception,” said Dr. Tara Hulsey, Dean and E. Jane Martin Endowed Professor. “Providing this pathway is especially important for nurses who want to grow personally and professionally, provide higher levels of patient care, and climb the clinical ladder.”

The LPN to BSN Program at the WVU School of Nursing’s Keyser Campus offers courses on afternoons, evenings and weekends at WVU Potomac State College to accommodate the working LPN’s schedule. Didactic nursing courses are online, with hands-on clinical experiences in state-of-the-science skills/simulation labs and healthcare facilities in the region. Also, class sizes are small so students can receive one-on-one support.

"We are so honored to receive this ranking from PracticalNursing.org,” said Dr. April Shapiro, Keyser Campus Chair. “It is a testament to the hard work our faculty, staff, and students put into this program and reflects our commitment to top-notch education and outcomes for our future RNs."

Shapiro said many faculty hired to teach in the program were once LPNs themselves, so the need for support is well understood.

One course in the program is specifically designed to help the LPN transition from practical to professional nursing, focusing on assessment, advanced skills, and clinical judgment. Additionally, students are granted credit for their LPN experience, roughly a semester’s worth of work.

Anyone interested in learning more can contact Dr. Shapiro at ashapiro@hsc.wvu.edu or visit the LPN to BSN program page.

-WVU-

MEDIA CONTACT: Wendy Holdren
Director of Communications and Marketing
WVU School of Nursing
304-581-1772; wendy.holdren@hsc.wvu.edu