On Aug. 15, nine students from BridgeValley Community and Technical College were accepted into the WVU Medicine Aspiring Nurse Program, which provides each student with up to $25,000 to support their day-to-day expenses as they attend school.
Dr. Greg Rosencrance, president and CEO of WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals said this inaugural cohort shows the organization’s commitment to nursing careers.
“We strive to be the best place to receive healthcare and also the best place to work in healthcare,” Dr. Greg Rosencrance, president and CEO of WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals said. “This program is a reflection of our health system’s commitment to our nurses and works to provide a foundation for a successful nursing career.”
Each student accepted into the program will receive their funds over four semesters, including a sign-on bonus in exchange for a three-year work commitment following graduation.
Casey Sacks, Ph.D., president of BridgeValley, said this initiative aims to address the financial challenges faced by nursing students by creating a pathway for them to excel in education and career.
“By offering financing support and recognizing the real challenges faced by nursing students, this program will help alleviate the financial stress students often experience while they are studying,” Sacks said.
Students accepted to the program will also receive support from academic success coaches and complete clinical rotations at Thomas Hospitals to ensure they receive hands-on clinical immersion experiences to assist them as they transition to professional nursing practice.
BridgeValley Community and Technical College was selected as one of the first two community colleges to participate in the program, which was made possible by the partnership between WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals and BridgeValley.
For more information on the WVU Medicine Aspiring Nurse Program, visit WVUMedicine.org/Aspiring-Nurse-Program.