NP or nurse practioner programs are for registered nurses who would like to become advanced practice nurses or APNs. Other APNs include the CRNA, the CNS and the CNM. All of these nurses have earned master’s degreee, the difference has to do with [...]
Nursing Schools in West Virginia
West Virginia, nicknamed “The Mountain State” because of its rugged highlands and lush forests, is home to more than 17,000 nurses who enjoy the outdoor recreational activities that this state offers. They also get to render excellent patient care to the state’s quite homogenous patient population. But this lack of ethnic diversity has not prevented nurses from other states to start their careers here.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the state has the third-lowest per capita income in the country. It is also the state with the fewest number of adults with bachelor’s degrees. But these somewhat discouraging facts may work well for nursing graduates. The shortage of nurses, especially those who are BSN-prepared, means that they are highly in demand in the present West Virginia economy. Because they are highly-educated, there are very good jobs waiting for them as soon as they pass the NCLEX.
There are over 30 nursing schools in West Virginia offering many nursing programs. Traditional nursing assistant, LPN, diploma, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate in nursing programs are offered. Innovative bridge programs are: LPN to RN – Alderson Broaddus College, LPN to BSN – Mountain State University, LPN to AD – Fairmont University, and the BSBA to BSN – West Virginia University.
Several of these schools offer in-campus, online, and mixed-method learning options for students. West Virginia nursing schools have been hampered by a shortage of qualified nursing instructors. Along with other reasons, this problem has resulted to having fewer slots for many applicants to compete for. Many students are either denied or put on waiting lists for long periods of time.
It is recommended that applicants to these nursing schools find the best way to qualify as students. Despite efforts by nursing educators in West Virginia, the state’s NCLEX passing rate is just 85.08 percent, much lower than the national rate of 88.43 percent, according to 2008 data from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).
Nursing schools in West Virginia have had mixed results with their nursing graduates. While some schools consistently register 100 percent passing rates, others have dismal rates as low as 33 percent. Because of the varying quality of nursing instruction, students need to do some careful research about the passing rates and the overall quality of prospect schools.
Nurses here may earn less than their counterparts in other states. But the cost of living in West Virginia is much less too. Plus, they may be a little less stressed than other nurses in the country. There is a state law that allows nurses to refuse overtime unless it is an emergency situation. Also, there is a mandatory eight-hour rest period for those who work for 12 straight hours. This measure was passed to lessen errors in nursing care and to achieve positive patient outcomes.
For nursing students and established nurses, West Virginia can be an enjoyable place to be a nurse. The nursing shortage ensures that they will have plenty of nursing positions to choose from.
Employment: 17,340
Hourly Mean Wage: $25.50
Annual Mean Wage: $53,030
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
State Nursing Board: West Virginia RN Board
State Nurses Association: West Virginia Nurses Association
State Hospital Association: West Virginia Hospital Association
West Virginia Nursing Schools
School Name: Academy of Careers and Technology Address: 390 Stanaford Rd, Beckley, West Virginia 25801 Contact: (304) 256-4615 x302 Website: wvact.net Type of School: < 2-year, Public Program Types: LPN/LVN Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: Alderson Broaddus College Address: 101 College Hill Drive, Philippi, West Virginia 26416-2035 Contact: (304) 457-1700 Website: www.ab.edu Type of School: 4-year, Private not-for-profit Program Types: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, LPN to BSN, RN to BSN Accreditation: NLNAC accredited |
School Name: B M Spurr School of Practical Nursing Address: 800 Wheeling Ave, Glen Dale, West Virginia 26038 Contact: (304) 843-3255 Website: Type of School: < 2-year, Private not-for-profit Program Types: LPN/LVN Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: Blue Ridge Community and Technical College Address: 400 West Stephen Street, Martinsburg, West Virginia 25401 Contact: (304) 260-4380 Website: www.blueridgectc.edu/ Type of School: 2-year, Public Program Types: Associate Degree Nursing, LPN to ADN Accreditation: NLNAC accredited |
School Name: Bluefield State College Address: 219 Rock St, Bluefield, West Virginia 24701 Contact: (304) 327-4000 Website: www.bluefieldstate.edu Type of School: 4-year, Public- Program Types: Associate Degree Nursing, RN to BSN Accreditation: CCNE accredited, NLNAC accredited |
School Name: Cabell County Career Technology Center Address: 1035 Norway Ave, Huntington, West Virginia 25705-2827 Contact: (304) 528-5106 Website: boe.cabe.k12.wv.us/ctc Type of School: 2-year, Public Program Types: LPN/LVN Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: Davis & Elkins College Address: 100 Campus Dr, Elkins, West Virginia 26241-3996 Contact: (304) 637-1900 Website: www.davisandelkins.edu Type of School: 4-year, Private not-for-profit Program Types: Associate Degree Nursing, LPN to ADN Accreditation: NLNAC accredited |
School Name: Fairmont State College Address: Fairmont, WV Program Types: LPN to ADN, RN to BSN Accreditation: CCNE accredited, NLNAC accredited |
School Name: Fairmont State University Address: 1201 Locust Ave, Fairmont, West Virginia 26554-2470 Contact: (304) 367-4000 Website: www.fairmontstate.edu/ Type of School: 4-year, Public Program Types: Associate Degree Nursing Accreditation: NLNAC accredited |
School Name: Fayette Institute of Technology Address: 300 West Oyler Avenue, Oak Hill, West Virginia 25901 Contact: (304) 469-2911 x7104 Website: fit.faye.tec.wv.us Type of School: < 2-year, Public Program Types: LPN/LVN Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: Fred W Eberle Technical Center Address: Rte 5 Box 2, Buckhannon, West Virginia 26201 Contact: (304) 472-1259 Website: fetc.edu Type of School: < 2-year, Public Program Types: LPN/LVN Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: Garnet Career Center Address: Garnet Career Center Contact: (304) 348-6195 Website: kcs.kana.k12.wv.us/garnet/ Type of School: 2-year, Public Program Types: LPN/LVN Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: James Rumsey Technical Institute Address: 3274 Hedgesville Road, Martinsburg, West Virginia 25403-0259 Contact: (304) 754-7925 Website: www.jamesrumsey.com Type of School: < 2-year, Public Program Types: LPN/LVN Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: John D Rockefeller IV Career Center Address: 95 Rockyside Road, New Cumberland, West Virginia 26047 Contact: (304) 564-3337 Website: Type of School: < 2-year, Public Program Types: One but less than two years certificate Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College Address: 103 Cole Complex, Institute, West Virginia 25112-1000 Contact: (304) 766-5765 Website: www.kvctc.edu Type of School: 2-year, Public Program Types: Associate Degree Nursing, LPN to ADN Accreditation: NLNAC accredited |
School Name: Marshall University Address: 1 John Marshall Dr, Huntington, West Virginia 25755 Contact: (800) 642-3463 Website: www.marshall.edu Type of School: 4-year, Public Program Types: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Masters in Nursing, RN to BSN ONLINE PROGRAMS OFFERED Accreditation: NLNAC accredited |
School Name: Mercer County Technical Education Center Address: 1397 Stafford Dr, Princeton, West Virginia 24740 Contact: (304) 425-9551 x126 Website: Type of School: 2-year, Public Program Types: LPN/LVN Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: Mineral County Vocational Technical Center Address: Keyser, WV Program Types: LPN/LVN Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: Monongalia County Technical Education Center Address: 1000 Mississippi Street, Morgantown, West Virginia 26501 Contact: (304) 291-9240 x223 Website: www.mtecwv.edu Type of School: < 2-year, Public Program Types: Less than one year certificate; One but less than two years certificate Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: Mountain State University Address: 609 S Kanawha St, Beckley, West Virginia 25801-9003 Contact: (304) 253-7351 Website: www.mountainstate.edu Type of School: 4-year, Private not-for-profit Program Types: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, LPN to BSN, Masters in Nursing, RN to BSN, Second Degree BSN Accreditation: NLNAC accredited |
School Name: New River Community and Technical College Address: Summersville, WV Program Types: LPN/LVN Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: Opportunities Industrialization Center-North Central West Virginia Address: 120 Jackson St, Fairmont, West Virginia 26554 Contact: (304) 366-8142 Website: www.oicwv.org Type of School: < 2-year, Private not-for-profit Program Types: Less than one year certificate; One but less than two years certificate Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: Pierpont Community and Technical College Address: 1201 Locust Ave, Fairmont, West Virginia 26554 Contact: (304) 367-4692 Website: www.pierpont.edu/ Type of School: 2-year, Public Program Types: Less than one year certificate; One but less than two years certificate; Associate’s degree Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: Potomac State College of West Virginia University Address: 101 Fort Ave, Keyser, West Virginia 26726 Contact: (304) 788-6820 Website: www.potomacstatecollege.edu Type of School: 4-year, primarily associate’s, Public Program Types: One but less than two years certificate; Associate’s degree; Bachelor’s degree Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: Putnam Career and Technical Center Address: 101 Roosevelt Boulevard, Eleanor, West Virginia 25070-0640 Contact: (304) 586-3494 x204 Website: putnam.schoolspan.com/pctc/ Type of School: < 2-year, Public Program Types: Less than one year certificate; One but less than two years certificate Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center Address: 144 Vocational Road, Three Mile Curve, Stollings, West Virginia 25646 Contact: (304) 752-4687 x413 Website: lc2.boe.loga.k12.wv.us/rrwvocat/ Type of School: < 2-year, Public Program Types: Less than one year certificate; One but less than two years certificate Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: Randolph County Vocational Center Address: Elkins, WV Program Types: LPN/LVN Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: Roane-Jackson Technical Center Address: 4800 Spencer Rd, Leroy, West Virginia 25252-9700 Contact: (304) 372-7335 Website: www.roane-jacksontechnicalcenter.com/ Type of School: < 2-year, Public Program Types: LPN/LVN Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: Salem International University Address: Salem, WV Program Types: RN to BSN ONLINE PROGRAMS OFFERED Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: Shepherd University Address: 301 N. King St, Shepherdstown, West Virginia 25443-3210 Contact: (304) 876-5000 Website: WWW.SHEPHERD.EDU Type of School: 4-year, Public Program Types: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, RN to BSN Accreditation: NLNAC accredited |
School Name: Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College Address: Dempsey Branch Road, Mount Gay, West Virginia 25637 Contact: (304) 896-7420 Website: www.southernwv.edu Type of School: 2-year, Public Program Types: Associate Degree Nursing, LPN to ADN, LPN/LVN Accreditation: NLNAC accredited |
School Name: St. Mary’s Hospital and Marshall University Address: Huntington, WV Program Types: Associate Degree Nursing Accreditation: NLNAC accredited |
School Name: United Technical Center Address: Rt 3 Box 43C, Clarksburg, West Virginia 26301-9524 Contact: (304) 326-7580 Website: Type of School: < 2-year, Public Program Types: LPN/LVN Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: University of Charleston Address: 2300 MacCorkle Avenue, SE, Charleston, West Virginia 25304 Contact: (304) 357-4800 Website: www.ucwv.edu Type of School: 4-year, Private not-for-profit Program Types: Associate Degree Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing Accreditation: NLNAC accredited |
School Name: West Liberty State College Address: West Liberty, WV Program Types: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, RN to BSN Accreditation: CCNE accredited |
School Name: West Liberty University Address: Route 88, West Liberty, West Virginia 26074 Contact: (304) 336-5000 Website: www.westliberty.edu/ Type of School: 4-year, Public Program Types: Associate’s degree; Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: West Virginia Northern Community College Address: 1704 Market St., Wheeling, West Virginia 26003-3699 Contact: (304) 233-5900 Website: www.wvncc.edu Type of School: 2-year, Public Program Types: Associate Degree Nursing, LPN to ADN Accreditation: NLNAC accredited |
School Name: West Virginia University Address: Stewart Hall, University Avenue, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-6201 Contact: (304) 293-0111 Website: www.wvu.edu/ Type of School: 4-year, Public Program Types: Associate Degree Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Masters in Nursing, PhD in Nursing, RN to BSN, Second Degree BSN ONLINE PROGRAMS OFFERED Accreditation: CCNE accredited, NLNAC accredited |
School Name: West Virginia University at Parkersburg Address: 300 Campus Drive, Parkersburg, West Virginia 26104 Contact: (304) 424-8000 Website: www.wvup.edu Type of School: 4-year, primarily associate’s, Public Program Types: One but less than two years certificate; Associate’s degree; Bachelor’s degree Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: West Virginia Wesleyan College Address: 59 College Ave, Buckhannon, West Virginia 26201-2994 Contact: (304) 473-8000 Website: www.wvwc.edu Type of School: 4-year, Private not-for-profit Program Types: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Masters in Nursing Accreditation: NLNAC accredited |
School Name: Wheeling Jesuit University Address: 316 Washington Ave, Wheeling, West Virginia 26003 Contact: (304) 243-2000 Website: www.wju.edu Type of School: 4-year, Private not-for-profit Program Types: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Masters in Nursing, RN to BSN, Second Degree BSN ONLINE PROGRAMS OFFERED Accreditation: CCNE accredited |
School Name: Wood County School of Practical Nursing Address: 300 Campus Drive, Parkersburg, West Virginia 26104 Contact: (304) 424-8305 Website: wcvt.wood.tec.wv.us/OLD%20WCTC%20WEBSITE/WCSOPN/WCTC2.htm Type of School: < 2-year, Public Program Types: One but less than two years certificate Accreditation: N/A |
School Name: Wyoming County Vocational Technical Center Address: Pineville, WV Program Types: LPN/LVN Accreditation: N/A |