BRIDGEPORT – West Virginia School of Nursing said Tuesday it will open a branch campus in the new $23 million addition under construction at United Health Center in Bridgeport by spring 2023.
Tara Hulsey, WVU School of Nursing’s vice president of Health Promotion and Wellness and dean of the WVU School of Nursing, said there has been a lot of demand for nurses in the Bridgeport area.
“This is an exciting time for nursing,” said Hulsey, adding there is already a waiting list of applicants. “This will be a fast-track program.”
The program, which can be completed in 18 months or five full semesters, is open to students who already have a four-year degree, which does not necessarily have to be in a medical field. Hulsey said the class is limited to 24 students.
“There is a high demand for registered nurses around the Bridgeport area and we wanted to offer a geographically accessible, high quality option to those with an existing BS/BA degree who are interested in becoming nurses,” Hulsey said.
“This new campus is another way for us to help our communities provide quality health care to citizens.”
WVU plans to occupy 5,000 square feet on the fifth floor of UHC’s new east wing. WVU’s space will include two classrooms, a skills lab, conference rooms, a student lounge, plus offices.
That addition, first announced in April 2020, will be 40,000 square feet and will house support services and a new women’s health center.
“The shared mission of United Hospital Center and the WVU School of Nursing presents a unique opportunity for collaboration, enabling us to groom future generations of nurses who can meet the health care needs of our region,” said Michael Tillman, president and CEO of UHC. “Skilled and compassionate nurses are critical to our mission, especially nurses who have academic and clinical training that allows them to successfully adapt in a rapidly changing health care environment.”
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